Bridal Shower/Reception?

SamiJoeB

My Mom and her BFF want to throw me/us a shower/reception/party in NC around our 1 year anniversary or our PCS.  Since we got married in WA and only my immediate family were invited (seriously, only 5 of our 45 guests were mine.. the rest were all H's family and friends), we talked about it with family and friends and no one was going to fly across the country the week before Christmas, so I was like, that's cool, whatever.  Well now our family wants to come up and celebrate and give us gifts and such.  I feel awkward because.. We're married.  I don't want to be like "No! that's stupid", but at the same time, it feels like a lot of fuss for us, when we're already married.. Should I just politely say No thanks, because I don't want to seem like we just want presents..

They want to have it either around our 1st anniversary (H won't be here for), or when he comes home in Feb..  I just don't know what to do or say about this whole thing. On the one hand, I'm really touched that people want to do this for us,  but on the other I don't want people to get the wrong impression...

KendallR10

What if you had them change it to a PCS/Housewarming party? Idk how much stuff you got for your place from your wedding. But this could help a little. 

SamiJoeB

We had a really small registry. I mean really small like dishes and towels, thats it.  We asked that our guests donate to Toys for Tots (because it has such a HUGE place in our hearts) instead of giving us gifts that would have to be in storage for over a year.  So I mean, on that front it would be really helpful, but at the same time, I don't want it to seem like we're just asking for stuff..

iluvmytxrgr

They are offering, you aren't asking. I think it's sweet that they want the chance to celebrate with you.  I don't think there is anything wrong with your family wanting to have that chance that they didn't get before. 

calindi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_bridal-showerreception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:00d0edf6-0a3e-4bc1-abe7-4be3c954bb4cPost:b17a84ad-e275-4999-9dbb-f1c4de72dabd">Re: Bridal Shower/Reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]They are offering, you aren't asking. I think it's sweet that they want the chance to celebrate with you.  I don't think there is anything wrong with your family wanting to have that chance that they didn't get before. 
Posted by iluvmytxrgr[/QUOTE]

This. Your family clearly missed celebrating with you the first time - if they're offering because they want to celebrate, then go for it! Don't feel guilty about people being happy for you. I'd say it's probably best not to register, though.

kara811

That's very sweet of them Sami! I think it would be more appropriate if it was celebrated as an anniversary party. You can always push it off until your H gets back. If you were to have invites it can say " Come join us in celebrating a year of marriage..." or something along those lines. 
Like PPs said, they are offering this, so you shouldn't worry about being gift grabby. They are the ones who would like to give you the gifts! Like Calindi said, do not register though. I don't think registering is appropriate. Just make sure you word the invites nicely, IMO it shouldn't read as a Bridal Shower since others might read into that and say "We have to bring gifts" 

SamiJoeB

See, H won't be coming home until Feb.. so then it would be like "join us in celebrating a year and a few months" ? I wish he would come home sooner but it does see sort of silly for him to come home for a week or two, and then again a month later.  Although I have to admit, every time I think about spending our first anniversary, and Christmas without him, I almost cry...

Thanks Ladies, ya'll made me feel soo much better about this!!

kara811

I guess I forgot to add that, how about treating it as a belated anniversary/going away party? 

I'm sorry you feel that way sometimes, I don't know yet what H's new ship will be like. But I would probably also cry if I were to find out we'd miss our first anniversary and Christmas together. 

sallysmith&&&

OH PUHLEASE!!!

SarahP787

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_bridal-showerreception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:00d0edf6-0a3e-4bc1-abe7-4be3c954bb4cPost:8c19d0b0-55c0-4d35-854b-95ea4f161d19">Re: Bridal Shower/Reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]See, H won't be coming home until Feb.. so then it would be like "join us in celebrating a year and a few months" ? I wish he would come home sooner but it does see sort of silly for him to come home for a week or two, and then again a month later.  Although I have to admit, every time I think about spending our first anniversary, and Christmas without him, I almost cry... Thanks Ladies, ya'll made me feel soo much better about this!!
Posted by SamiJoeB[/QUOTE]

I don't see a problem with celebrating your aniversary after the fact... you're still celebrating the 1 year, it's just that it's already happened! For instance, hardly anyone has graduation parties on graduation day - lots of people do it weeks or even months later, but it's still celebrating graduation.