So why have a bridal shower?

The only point is to get presents. Skip it or keep it short. My Aunt insisted on throwing me one so we had family only to keep it small and I agreed to one game. Entire shower was over in 2 hours.

The purpose is to "shower" the bride with gifts. My bridal shower was actually really fun. We played a game where everyone had to answer questions like "find someone with two kids" or "find someone with a black shirt" so everyone could meet each other. Then we had brunch. FH and I are long distance so my cousin had him send her selfie videos of him answering questions like "what is Sarah's favorite color" and "what was your first date" and "what is Sarah most excited about in being married" and if i answered the same as him, the girl who asked me a question got a prize. It wasn't weird or girly. Then I opened presents. It was honestly a wonderful morning/afternoon to relax and recharge with my girlfriends and not have to think about the wedding. Plus, a few of the girls got me tons of stuff that totally helped with my move and my FMIL even flew out for it.

We ended up having a co-ed shower and it was a blast! We did the I Do BBQ theme.

I feel the same way you do. I don't care for the games and I find it awkward opening presents in front of everyone and holding a huge smile on my face the whole time. My mom and sister threw me one on the east coast when I was visiting and it wasn't all that fun for me, but looking back I'm thrilled about all the cool gifts I got. My FMIL is so excited to throw me one in a few months and I'm more doing it for her because she's really into it and I get gifts which we need. So works out.

I feel like a lot of older generations feel it customary

We didn't actually play any games at mine beyond one. My bridesmaids set a timer and if I was opening your present when it went off then you got a prize. Other than that people just drank and ate. A shower really only exists to get presents so if you don't want any then don't have one. Mine gave my family a chance to meet some of FH's, which was nice.

You have a shower to stock your home with household items to start your life as a married couple. You don't have to have games. It should be hosted with food and drinks. If you don't want a shower, decline.

The purpose is to shower the bride with gifts. Our families got the chance to mingle with each other (my shower was women only), we ate lunch, played a couple of games, and then I opened gifts. FH showed up with a 1/2 hour left in the shower to thank everyone for gifts.

We're doing "no gifts" for our wedding, but my friend still wanted to throw me a shower. So we ended up doing a co-ed event with snacks and drinks and mingling. It was super fun and I received a couple lovely cards, but didn't need to open gifts publicly or play weird games. And my FH got to come!

I hate showers too! my MIL wants me to have one too but I do not enjoy them usually.

Not a big fan of all the attention being on me, super awkward. I kinda looked at it as a way to have all my chicks in the same place. I was super nervous but it ended up being really fun. Glad I got talked into doing one!

My FH's family hosted a pampered chef bridal shower for me. There were no games, just the pampered chef demo and people could buy products for themselves and/or buy me something from my PC registry. Then also we earned free stuff based on how much money everyone spent, same as with a normal PC party (with cooking demos, etc.). So it was mostly about eating/drinking/visiting, and it went really smoothly and was a lot of fun.

I also don't like typical shower games, but I don't live close to my family/friends so really appreciated the excuse to have everyone together for a party, and would have been just as happy with no gifts and just the get together.

Have you ever been to a bridal shower?

You don't have to play games. We didn't play games at my shower - I think the games are outdated and corny, I haven't seen games played at the last several showers I've been to.

We socialized, ate, drank, and I opened gifts. Not sure what "other really girly stuff" you are referring to, lol.

It was a nice time to bond with women who are important and close to me. But if you don't want one, then by all means, decline the offer.

With my older sister's, us bridesmaids were responsible with at least one aspect of the shower. I needed ideas, so I went to The Knot to find an appropriate game. I hosted "Wedding Pictionary" with customized whiteboards!

I have a hard time relating to those who think Bridal Showers are just about gifts, they are not. I am not big about showers/bachelorettes but they don't have to be just about gifts. I think it is a nice opportunity to get together with friends and families and socialize. If you don't want gifts, then politely ask for no gifts. There is nothing wrong with wanting to celebrate getting married.

No I have never been to a bridal shower the 5 female friends I have are my bridesmaids.

My MIL loves games and every time we are over we are forced to play something so I know if she hits it that's all where going to do.

She's also would never be down for co-ed. When my FH had hers she made the men leave.

If you don't want all the gifts, you can hold a recipe shower. I think they are fun and meaningful, and you don't have to sit around opening gifts.

It's to shower the bride with gifts. It also gives families a chance to meet and mingle before the wedding. I had one game at mine. It was jeopardy. Kinda awkward at times, but the host made it fun. I'm happy someone threw one for me. Someone asked, I said yes, handed them a suggested guest list, gave them some ideas on what I'd like (i.e. gifts, since FH and I had a small registry), then I just showed up. I didn't try to dictate anything. All the guests put together a recipe book and wrote down memories of FH and me. It was awkward and fun, but most importantly the guests and hosts had a blast.

My MOH insisted but I didn't want a big fancy thing. We are doing brunch and maybe a game or two but that's it.

Ours was really fun and didn't have any games. We had both men and women there. Lots of people are doing couples showers these days.