Planning a Bridal Shower

Jobear81

I'm a MOH,and in the early stages of planning a bridal shower for my friend.  We have locked down a venue for next Oct. My dilema is the bride isn't registering.  We (mother of the bride and bridesmaids) wanted to do someting special for her in this very important time of the brides life.  How can we get creative with how people can "gift" the bride to be?  I suggested her register for a wine registry as her and her fiance in the process of building a wine cellar.  Is it too cheesy to have people gift off their honeymoon registry?  Any other creative ideas???

mgietler76

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_planning-bridal-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:357Discussion:48b43dc9-d3a7-4532-9347-58cff61ec14ePost:8e4ed7b0-9a53-4cf7-a56a-27806d3f15d8">Planning a Bridal Shower</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm a MOH,and in the early stages of planning a bridal shower for my friend.  We have locked down a venue for next Oct. My dilema is the bride isn't registering.  We (mother of the bride and bridesmaids) wanted to do someting special for her in this very important time of the brides life.  How can we get creative with how people can "gift" the bride to be?  I suggested her register for a wine registry as her and her fiance in the process of building a wine cellar.  Is it too cheesy to have people gift off their honeymoon registry?  Any other creative ideas???
Posted by Jobear81[/QUOTE]

If your friend is having a HM registry (which IMO is tacky and rude) than you should NOT be throwing her a shower. The point of them is to "shower" the bride with gifts, how awkward when there aren't any gifts to give. My advice is don't throw her a shower.

marissa_claire

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_planning-bridal-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:48b43dc9-d3a7-4532-9347-58cff61ec14ePost:000d5fe5-ca30-4a61-957e-3b6e67e642ee">Re: Planning a Bridal Shower</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Planning a Bridal Shower : If your friend is having a HM registry (which IMO is tacky and rude) than you should NOT be throwing her a shower. The point of them is to "shower" the bride with gifts, how awkward when there aren't any gifts to give. My advice is don't throw her a shower.
Posted by mgietler76[/QUOTE]

<div>My thoughts exactly.  If she isn't registering, then people will bring rando gifts to the shower and it seems kind of pointless.  Using it as another excuse to get more $$ is kind of stupid, IMO.  I'm sure you guys want to plan a little party, but in that case just plan a wedding celebration-type party and don't call it a shower.</div>

waltzingmatilda13

If she's not registering then she obviously doesn't want gifts. She seconds this by having a (very tacky) HMR. Don't throw the shower.

aerinpegadrak

The point of a shower is to watch the bride open physical gifts.  If the bride opts out of gifts, she opts out of a shower.

I won't touch on how it's inappropriate to have any sort of cash registry, presumably the other girls will cover that well enough.

vannymuse

 If you are planning the shower for next October, isn't it a little early to worry about presents? She might end up wanting to register for gifts closer to the wedding.

mkrupar

If there are no gifts requested, what will you be showering the bride with? That's the point of a bridal shower. Also, don't force anyone to buy her anything of her (tacky) HMR. That's essentially asking for cash and considered rude to a lot of people.

Also, why are you worrying about this now? The shower isn't for almost a year. Some people take half that time to plan their entire wedding.

2012JulyBride

I threw a shower with very few people who could make it (mom, grandma, one other bridesmaid other than me, and 2-3 friends). She did not receive many gifts because of that but we held it at a local restaurant and spent most of the time talking. I had some games with me, and we played a few, but with only 5-6 people there, it definitely didn't go as planned. I wouldn't necessarily call it a Bridal Shower, but it doesn't hurt to throw a get together in honor of the bride and play a few games, eat, and talk. Since the Bridal Showers are theoretically supposed to include the close family and friends, this should not really be a big deal. IF someone feels the need to bring a gift, let them (they should be close enough to the bride that they can ask her specifically what she might want or need OR might know her or the couple well enough to make a gift decision). If anyone calls to RSVP and asks about a gift, I would tell them that a gift is not necessary...the couple is not registered anywhere. That may result in a gift card or cash but you just leave it up to the guest that way.

filaw

I like the wine theme.  I went to a shower once that was "tea party" themed.  People brought the bride various teas and tea drinking accessories (mugs, fun tea tools, etc.).  It didn't have to be expensive or elaborate.  I can definitely see the same thing working with wine.

bablingbrooke

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_planning-bridal-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:48b43dc9-d3a7-4532-9347-58cff61ec14ePost:8e4ed7b0-9a53-4cf7-a56a-27806d3f15d8">Planning a Bridal Shower</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm a MOH,and in the early stages of planning a bridal shower for my friend.  We have locked down a venue for next Oct. My dilema is the bride isn't registering.  We (mother of the bride and bridesmaids) wanted to do someting special for her in this very important time of the brides life.  How can we get creative with how people can "gift" the bride to be?  I suggested her register for a wine registry as her and her fiance in the process of building a wine cellar.  Is it too cheesy to have people gift off their honeymoon registry?  Any other creative ideas???
Posted by Jobear81[/QUOTE]
PLEASE don't do a themed gift party.  I was invited to an around-the-clock shower where I was told I had to buy something for a specific time of day.  Setting aside the issue that I had already RSVP'd no and was still assigned a gift, I found it very off-putting that the MOH was telling me what to buy.<div>
</div><div>HM registries are frowned upon in general.  Let the bride know that before she creates one.
<div>
</div><div>The bride should register and you can disseminate her registry info.  Beyond that it would be extremely inappropriate to tell people what kinds of gifts to buy.</div></div>

lalap69

Do you know for sure that she's not planning to register or has she maybe just not gotten around to it yet?  Next October is a long way away.  I'm getting married in July and I haven't registered yet.  We're going to, it's just not a priority right now.

hlq2011

As others have said, it's really early to think about throwing a shower, even if the bride was registered.

I think it's great that you want to do something for your friend for her wedding, but if she isn't registering, you shouldn't host a shower.  Host a party that isn't gift-oriented, or a luncheon, spa day, something like that.