Hey all,
Have any of you had a shower and none of your bridesmaids showed up? My dad's side is throwing me one next saturday and oonly one of my bridesmaids will be there. Plus, my FI's mom and step-mom both won't be there. I'll be honest, I'm kind of hurt.
On a related note, I have two incredibly shy maids. One is a jr, so I understand her, but my other one refuses to come to my showers b/c she doesn't know anyone. She has four kids (one's a newborn) so I understand it's hard to get out of the house, but I still can't help but feel a little hurt.
I'm not looking for anyone to be snarky back, just looking for similar stories,
Re: Shower/ bridesmaid rant
[QUOTE]Hey all, Have any of you had a shower and none of your bridesmaids showed up? My dad's side is throwing me one next saturday and oonly one of my bridesmaids will be there. Plus, my FI's mom and step-mom both won't be there. I'll be honest, I'm kind of hurt. On a related note, I have two incredibly shy maids. One is a jr, so I understand her, but <strong>my other one refuses to come to my showers b/c she doesn't know anyone</strong>. She has four kids (one's a newborn) so I understand it's hard to get out of the house, but I still can't help but feel a little hurt. I'm not looking for anyone to be snarky back, just looking for similar stories,
Posted by TallyKyle[/QUOTE]
That's a silly excuse. I mean, I'm super shy with very bad anxiety, but I wouldn't miss a dear friend'sshower because of it. I mean, she'll be spending time with these people at the wedding, a shower is a good place to at least make it so that their faces are familiar.
The sitter thing is way more understandable, though.
I wouldn't sweat it. I mean, yeah, it sucks, but it's not like they're mandatory or anything. Just enjoy your shower with those who do show up! :)
[QUOTE]Hey all, Have any of you had a shower and none of your bridesmaids showed up? My dad's side is throwing me one next saturday and oonly one of my bridesmaids will be there. Plus, my FI's mom and step-mom both won't be there. I'll be honest, I'm kind of hurt. On a related note, I have two incredibly shy maids. One is a jr, so I understand her, but my other one refuses to come to my showers b/c she doesn't know anyone. <strong>She has four kids (one's a newborn)</strong> so I understand it's hard to get out of the house, but I still can't help but feel a little hurt. I'm not looking for anyone to be snarky back, just looking for similar stories,
Posted by TallyKyle[/QUOTE]
<div>A perfectly good reason.</div><div>
</div><div>Incidentally, only my MOH made it to my first shower, and none of them came to my second. They all lived at least an hour away (even MOH, technically, since she's in college) from either location and I didn't expect any of them to make it. It was not a big deal. The important thing was being at the wedding, plus they all were at the b-party/lingerie shower two days before it and the rehearsal as well.</div>
I'm really hurt that my girls aren't even willing to help. Isn't it the "norm" for MOH to write down names and gifts, another maid hands me and FI gifts, and another makes the bow bouquet for the rehearsal? None of them did anything. Only my moh wrote down the gifts. My aunt had to step in and help. I need help with this and I feel like NONE of them want to help.
How do I tell them this? I don't want to be a bitch, but I feel like my maids don't care.
How do I tell them how I feel?
[QUOTE]I honestly don't know who else to turn to. I don't have any friends that I can talk to about this. I'm really hurt that my girls aren't even willing to help. Isn't it the "norm" for MOH to write down names and gifts, another maid hands me and FI gifts, and another makes the bow bouquet for the rehearsal? None of them did anything. Only my moh wrote down the gifts. My aunt had to step in and help. I need help with this and I feel like NONE of them want to help. How do I tell them this? I don't want to be a bitch, but I feel like my maids don't care. How do I tell them how I feel?
Posted by TallyKyle[/QUOTE]
The first thing you need to know is that your bridal party is not required to help you with anything. You didn't ask them to be in your wedding because they are great at throwing parties, or can hand you gifts at your shower, or can write down the names of the gift giver...you asked them because they are your nearest and dearest. You need to know that just because you are getting married doesn't mean that their lives stop for the year or so leading up to your wedding to be your indentured servant. They are not required to attend your showers or even throw you a shower or bach party. The only thing that they are required to do is to buy the dress and show up the day of your wedding put together, sober and smile for pictures.
I know this may all may be coming across harsh but it is the truth. If you need help with your wedding talk to your fiance since it is his wedding too.
As far as the bridal shower jobs you mentioned...anyone in attendance can do those and having a bow bouquet for your rehearsal isn't required so don't stress over something so silly.
I understand that you want your friends there but sometimes life just doesn't work the way we want it to.
Posted by TallyKyle[/QUOTE]
<div>Not really, no. Every wedding party dynamic is different. The wedding industry would have you believe these things are all traditions set in stone...because the more they can convince you is required, the more money you and they will shell out. The truth is that even the shower and bachelorette are optional gifts to you, and do not need to be thrown by the wedding party - or even thrown at all.</div><div>
</div><div>It sounds like you've gotten some bad advice, and absorbed a skewed idea of what a wedding party is for. Rather than looking for a way to confront your friends, you need to confront your expectations. Think back as to why these people were important to you, and why you chose them. Hopefully, it wasn't because of their willingness to assume a laundry list of duties, or march in a carefully choreographed routine through months of wedding preparations. </div>
If this is a family party, you will know everyone there and should be able to have a great time without your other friends there. And like pps said, someone else can write down names. It isn't a requirement and I'm sure that a relative would be honored to do it for you.
P.S. Just what is a "bow bouquet"?
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]
It's a bouquet for the rehearsal made out of the bows and ribbons taken from the gifts at shower(s).
Most of the times I've been a BM, there have been multiple showers, and there has never been an expectation for all of us to be there. We've always tried to make sure at least one of us was there, and that's about it.
Another thing to consider is that maybe they're strapped for cash, and that puts them in awkward spot where it would be obvious if they didn't bring a gift. I wouldn't say anything to them at all!
1st shower, thrown by my aunts 2 MOHs and 1 BM attended (1 MOH for sure was only there b/c the b-party was that night, otherwise I'm sure she wouldn't have flown in). They did help with all those little tasks you mentioned, but because they volunteered. 2nd shower, thrown by MIL only the groomswoman attended. MIL, mom, and GW did those little tasks. Oh, also - if you have any child guests they will be MORE than happy to help you get gifts, unwrap, gather paper, etc.
Here's the thing - they all knew other people at the shower they chose to go to. GW came to MIL's shower b/c she knows MIL and several of H's other family members quite well. My other three had mutual friends present at my aunts' shower. The 5th one couldn't make it to either, and life went on. I wouldn't necessarily skip a shower just because I didn't know anyone else, but if it was already really inconvenient for me to go I wouldn't make as much effort to rearrange my schedule. Try not to worry about it.