Earlier this week, I shared two of the games we played at the wedding shower we threw for my future sister-in-law (purse raid and the shoe game). About twenty ladies attended, and we enjoyed chatting and laughing together.The theme of the shower was “fall in love.” (It was fall themed, which I’m sure you figured out.) Scroll down to see pictures:
Order of events chalkboard
The “We Do Forever” sign we had left over from my DIY outdoor wedding reception–letters are attached to the board using nails
A closeup of the pumpkin (49 Days Until She Says ‘I Do’)
Bridal shower word search
Guess how many chocolate kisses (winner takes them all home…there were 69)
Random cute chalkboard
Snack table (cobbler bar with your choice of toppings…blueberries sauce, baked cinnamon apple slices, and chocolate sauce) and other munchies
We also held a pumpkin decorating contest. We split up into groups of three or four and decorated a pumpkin to look like a bride. The groom-to-be chose his favorite (the one on the left). My group’s is two from the right, but our face isn’t the greatest. LOL.
Where I'm from (Virginia) when I was younger, it would be considered poor etiquette for family members to host a shower, as it is a shower of gifts and it's not polite for the family to solicit gifts. Typically a good friend would host. Is this no longer the case? Regardless, I love all the decorations and games. Seems liked so much fun!
I agree. Family members shouldn't throw showers for each other. However, family members don't seem to mind breaking this etiquette rule these days, so we as (non-family) guests have to bite our tongues and decide to go to this gift shakedown or not. Too bad, because this is one case where the old rule still fits perfectly and offends nobody.
The worst shower invite I got recently was a huge baby shower luncheon given at a swanky hotel by the grandmother-to-be. It was like a wedding reception, only without the groom. "Grandma" could easily have given what that cost to her daughter and son-in-law and let them buy what they needed for the baby. People are getting parties and showers, and who hosts them, mixed up these days!
It is her future in-laws who threw the shower… so technically not family since they aren't married yet. Are your future family members not allowed to be your friends as well? I think it is very sweet that they wanted to throw her a shower. Any invitation to a shower is always optional, so I don't understand why you would call it a gift shakedown. I have never known anyone to hold a gun to someone's head to make them come to a shower and bring a gift.
Future in-laws = family of groom = family of bride. It's still family!
I don't think it really matters who gives the shower as long as it given with love:).
I think the party was very nice! Good job planning it. Sounds real nice and fun to me:)Thanks for alway sharing! Love your blog.
I don't see anything wrong with family hosting showers.
After all, who better to throw you a shower than family who just wants to show you love and appreciation 💓
If a family member wants to host something, they should throw a party, a dinner, a tea, a picnic, whatever – such as the traditional engagement party, often hosted by the bride's parents. No gifts. This is a way for the bride and groom to be introduced to people. Expect those people to want to be invited to the wedding, though.
If you want guests to bring gifts, then someone not related to the bride takes it upon herself/themselves to host a shower. Her (non-related) bridesmaids, her friends, her co-workers, etc., can host. However, every shower guest should also be a wedding guest, so check the guest list carefully, or be prepared to do a lot of awkward explaining. You don't want to appear to only want a gift from those people without inviting them to the wedding.
If a family member holds a shower, it's like the bride is throwing herself a shower. Family is an extension of the bride in wedding shower etiquette. That's why family should not host.
Yes, rules may be changing, but not always for the better. You won't be accused of doing anything wrong if you stick to the old-fashioned way.
You won't be accused if you do things the old fashioned way? That is not always true. And it is not like the bride throwing herself her own shower. It is simply something her family wants to do for her. I don't think it matters that much.
What is a cobbler bar please? I've never heard of that before…in the UK, a cobbler is a sweet or savoury scone (like your biscuits) on top of a casserole or cooked fruit.
I love all your seasonal decorations!
Bee
I was wondering about the cobbler bar too! Sounds neat!
Where I come from (Qubec), there's often a party to celebrate the bride and groom, where we play games and share a meal. However, there are no gifts during the reception. The gifts are given on the wedding day. The only persons who give gifts at the party are those who won't be able to attend the wedding.
Usually here in thw US we have a bridal shower where we give wedding gift to the couple. Some people will still bring them gifts to the wedding, normally the ones who can't make it to the shower.