Illinois-Chicago

Wedding Showers/Engagement Parties - How many & who is hosting?`

I am just wondering how many wedding showers/ e-parties/ pre-wedding parties you all are having?

The other day, FMIL said, "Well you will probably have 4 or 5 showers, so you need to register for A LOT."

I think this is a CRAZY thought.  We are having 3 showers (no engagement party) and I think that is pretty nuts.

My MOH (and my Mom) are hosting a couples shower @ a restaurant in Oak Brook, my FI's aunt is hosting one in Columbus, OH at her home, and FMIL's girlfriends are hosting one at a home in Hinsdale.

What are all of you doing?
image **Married 7/9/11**

Re: Wedding Showers/Engagement Parties - How many & who is hosting?`

  • aimers1525aimers1525 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Hmm...I'm not sure yet.  My parents threw us an engagement party--with just our families.  I'm sure that my BM's will throw me a shower and bachelorette with just friends (that's wht we've done in our circle with other weddings) and I'm guessing my mom or FMIL will throw another shower for family. 
  • edited December 2011
    We are definitely having two showers.  One is being hosted by my mom's group of friends...the "aunties" and will be for all of my american friends and family.  The second is being hosted by our koumbara....the sponsor for our wedding and will be for all of the Greek family and friends.   

    My FMIL had mentioned hosting one for all of their family and friends in Iowa, but I haven't heard anything since she first mentioned it.  

    We are inviting 358 people to our wedding and about 35 women will be at the first shower and about 25 will be at the second shower. 
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  • edited December 2011

    aperitisa - My Columbus shower is an "auntie" shower....FI has 7 aunts on his dad's side.  It's going to be so much fun!!

    image **Married 7/9/11**
  • edited December 2011
    we had an engagement party right after we got engaged (thrown by his parents, no gifts) and we're having 2 showers.

    one up here- thrown by my mother in law, sister in law and bridesmaids, and one down in so. illlinois (where i'm from) thrown by my mom and aunts.

    and that seems like a lot. 4 or 5? whew!
  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_wedding-showersengagement-parties-many-hosting?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:7eca5e21-932b-47d4-9a40-949752d61897Post:c7616fe5-fc90-46b7-8b7b-63122bfddb08">Re: Wedding Showers/Engagement Parties - How many & who is hosting?`</a>:
    [QUOTE]aperitisa - My Columbus shower is an "auntie" shower....FI has 7 aunts on his dad's side.  It's going to be so much fun!!
    Posted by PenelopeSnuz[/QUOTE]
    aww fun!  my "aunts" are really just my moms best friends....which is great because I'm not close to my real aunts.
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    250 will be there!image
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    RSVP Date: December 15th
  • edited December 2011
    We had 2 showers. One was thrown by my mom and it was afamily shower. The second was thrown by my MOH and was all my friends.
  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_wedding-showersengagement-parties-many-hosting?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:72Discussion:7eca5e21-932b-47d4-9a40-949752d61897Post:255ee456-f278-4ba1-8a4b-367410110673">Re: Wedding Showers/Engagement Parties - How many & who is hosting?`</a>:
    [QUOTE]we had an engagement party right after we got engaged (thrown by his parents, no gifts) and we're having 2 showers. one up here- thrown by my mother in law, sister in law and bridesmaids, and one down in so. illlinois (where i'm from) thrown by my mom and aunts. and that seems like a lot. 4 or 5? whew!
    Posted by mirandarocks[/QUOTE]

    Yes, it IS a lot...which is why I told her she is crazy!! In a nice way, of course!!<img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />

    So we settled on 3. And they are in 3 consecutive months in the Spring.  It's going to be A LOT, but probably so much fun!

    <strong>Another question:

    What are your thoughts on a "Display Shower", where it is more of a cocktail party and people don't wrap gifts (so there is no opening), but rather gifts are displayed?</strong>
    image **Married 7/9/11**
  • aimers1525aimers1525 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Hmm I've never been to a "display shower." While I think it's annoying sometimes sitting and watching people open gifts at showers, if you are worried about it eating up a lot of time, there are definitely ways to do so efficiently. Have your BM's/kids line up and open gifts assembly style. Bride opens card, BM/MOH writes down what it is/who it's from, the next person holds up the gift or passes it around, the next person grabs the wrapping or stuffs it back in the bag/box, the last person puts it back in the pile/on a table.

    When I threw my MOH's shower I brought blank bingo cards and guests filled in presents they thought she would receive. That also "helps" keep things interesting and is a little more interactive.
  • edited December 2011
    One Shower, One Bachelorette, and one E-party.... The shower is being thrown by the bridesmaids and my mom. The bachelorette is by the bridesmaids. We had a casual drink/hors d' oeuvres party at our house when we were just engaged.

    Good Luck!
  • mrs.rabmrs.rab member
    Fourth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    FMIL emailed me back this a few weeks ago!

    The way I figured it out, is thinking about the other showers that I have been too.
    You know, the ones that there were wayyy to many people at and you had to sit there for HOURS waiting for all the presents to be done.

    I don't want that.

    FMIL is throwing one with just his side of the family (it is huge).
    And my Mom is throwing one with just my family (really small) and all of my girlfriends.

    The Bach party is being thrown by my bridal party :)
    imageimageAnniversary
  • edited December 2011
    My parents threw us an engagement shower and I have a total of 3 showers.  And yes, I agree that it is crazy but everyone really wants to do something so we went along wit it.  My Maid and Matron threw 1 shower (in Chicago where our wedding is), my FMIL's friends threw another (where he is from in Minnesota), and a local bridesmaid threw another (i live in nashville where she is).   The really crazy thing is that the Minnesota shower I cannot even attend.  They are calling it an absentee shower.  I feel pretty uncomfortable about it actually,but they did the same thing for my Fiance's younger sister when she was married.  She lived out of town and she couldn't make it so they threw it anyway.  My Fiance's two sisters who are also bridesmaids will be attending and opening gifts for us. Pretty weird.
  • edited December 2011
    The traditionalists among your guests won't like the display shower idea.  They want and expect you to open gifts, and would very much like to ooh and aah at every one.  If nothing else, they may think that since they did it, you should do it, too! 

    We had an engagement party (no hosts, no gifts-- just an excuse for our families to meet to which good friends were also invited) at a bar in Wrigleyville.  I had three showers; one in Chicago, where my husband and I live, one south of Boston (where I grew up and my family still lives), and one in Omaha (where my husband grew up and his parents still live). Because of the geography involved, it made sense.
    image
    Wedding Date: January 16th, 2010

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    Cycle #5: BFP on June 14, 2011 -- Due Date: February 23, 2012 -- Born: February 26, 2012
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