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Wedding Woes

Bridal shower when mother and bridesmaid do not get along...

Hello all. I'm trying to do a little pre-planning for my bridal shower, which probably won't be for another 9 months or so.

I'm having a very small wedding party, basically just my sister as MOH and my good friend as a bridesmaid. Since my sister is younger than me and still in school in another city she can't afford/doesn't have the time to throw the shower, so my bridesmaid has offered to have it at her house.

The problem is, my mother has had a distinct dislike for her since high school. I don't really know why, she was the opposite of a bad influence on me, and has generally been a good friend for many years. She just doesn't like her personality I guess, and has had made this very clear for a long time. I'm very worried this will create tension or awkwardness which I'd really rather avoid entirely.

Honestly I would prefer to not have any family at all at my shower- I like to keep family and friends separate. But everyone says you must have your immediate female family and in-laws at your shower. I know my mom will be upset if she's not invited, but she'll be upset that my bridesmaid is hosting it at the same time. I'd love to have a separate family shower, but my family is scattered around the country, so it would probably only be my sister, mother, and MIL who could make it in my hometown.

How ok is it to simply not bring it up and hope she forgets about the shower entirely, and have it without telling her or my sister? Or just a little white lie and say I don't want a shower and have it without her knowledge?

Re: Bridal shower when mother and bridesmaid do not get along...

  • Suck it up, buttercup.

    "Hey mom, X is hosting the shower.  Here's the date, hope you can make it!"

    You don't have to have family at the shower, the invite list is your decision.  But if that's the only one you're having, I don't think it'd be worth hurting anyone's feelings over not being invited.

    If mom hates it so much, she can host her own.  Everyone can wear their adult underwear and act mature.
  • I think if your mom and sister find out that you had a shower and lied to them about it, they are going to be really hurt.  Just tell them your bridesmaid is hosting it (or let them find out when they get the invitation), and they can decide whether or not to attend.  But the subterfuge seems silly, kind of childish, and above all potentially damaging to your relationship with both of them.  What is your mother going to do, ground you because she doesn't like the person who's hosting your shower?  She can deal, or she can sit it out.


  • How ok is it to simply not bring it up and hope she forgets about the shower entirely, and have it without telling her or my sister? Or just a little white lie and say I don't want a shower and have it without her knowledge?
    It's actually not ok at all.  It's pretty concerning that your go-to is to lie.

    Everyone involved is an adult, right?  That means everyone can behave as such and be thankful that you have someone in your life who is so generous to throw you a shower.

    Please do not lie or "forget" to tell your family about the shower.
  • OK - how do you propose to explain to YOUR MOTHER that you forgot to invite her to your shower?  What a heartbreaker that would be for her.  Make sure she knows when and where the shower is before she gets the invitation.  You don't have to tell her right now but don't let it be something she learns about by opening the mailbox.
  • This reminds me of that Friend's episode where Monica forgets to invited Rachel's mom to Rachel's baby shower.  Don't do that to your mom on purpose. 

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  • A. Why are you planning your own shower?  You shouldn't be doing that.  Either someone else offers to throw you a shower, and you stay out of the planning other than providing a guest list, or you don't have one.  You don't get to plan yourself a party and then ask a bridesmaid to "host" whatever you've planned at her house.

     

    B. It's fine to have separate showers for friends and family, but it's not fine to lie to your mother about that.  You can tell her that your BM is having a small shower for friends only and leave it at that.  If your mom wants you to have a family shower, she can offer to throw it for you.  But it is kind of bush league to not invite your mom, sister, FMIL, and FSILs (if any) to your shower.

     

    I'm having two separate baby showers - one hosted by my mom for my family and one hosted by my SIL for their family.  But my mom and sister and MIL and SIL are invited to both (even though they probably will only attend one or the other - i doubt they want to travel several hours to one shower when they'll already be at the other one).

  • Brakes....  Of all the etiquette "no no's" out there across demographics and regions - planning your own shower is a pretty big one... 

    And I agree with the PP - invite your Mom, not telling her is rude and childish...

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  • tiffanyesstiffanyess member
    Third Anniversary First Comment
    edited February 2015
    I never said I was planning my own shower. I was planning the guest list for the shower. The question was about the guest list.

  • Hello all. I'm trying to do a little pre-planning for my bridal shower,

    I never said I was planning my own shower. I was planning the guest list for the shower. The question was about the guest list.

    This is where you said it - your first line...  Hence why everyone assumed as much. 

    In reference to your guest list, YES, include your mother!

  • Ok I am doing a little pre-planning of the GUEST LIST for my shower, better? I also went on to say that my bridesmaid OFFERED to throw it for me. The question was obviously about the guest list. Sheesh.

  • VarunaTTVarunaTT member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    edited February 2015

    ETA:  NO ONE here is going to tell you it's okay to "tell a little white lie and say I don't want a shower and have it without her knowledge".  If you're looking for validation for a horrible idea, you probably need to go elsewhere.

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