Bridal Shower Question....

[alongroadahead08]

I'm attending a Bridal Shower this weekend and it got me thinking of my own. My sister (which I know is a breech of etiquette but she's also my MOH) is throwing it for me with some help from my other BM's. I was thinking of a list of women that would maybe attend and by the time I got done...the list was kind of long. So i'm wondering, if you don't mind sharing, how many people attended your bridal showers, and/or who did you invite? EX: Did you just keep it to immediate family and close friends, or go out a little into aunts and cousins? I'm just really curious how that all works!
Thanks ladies!!!

[justnmary]

Hmmm......we had a bunch of Justin's aunts (that I've never met) plus my side I would say a total of about 30 people.

[ladedah]

Well....I had four showers....but only one where I chose the guest list. One of DH aunts asked to throw me a shower for just his side of the family (about 12 people there)....it was aunts and cousins. Then my moms best friend wanted to have a shower back in my home town...so it was my mom's friends and my mom's side of the family (about 20 people there)....then my MIL has a close knit group of friends that wanted to have a shower (about 12 people there) and my BM's had a shower with about 20 of my friends there...and then we had the bachelorette party afterwards....well, we were drinking at the shower so that really started the party....but that was the only party that I helped with the guest list....

Four showers were too many for me to really enjoy...but how do you say no to someone who is gracious enough to want to throw a shower...and it wouldn't have worked to get everyone all together for one....

[Julz518]

We're inviting Rick's aunts & cousins b/c they are local. Luckily, none of my family is, but if they were we'd invite them too... which would make for a HUGE shower!

I started out by making a list of everyone I would LIKE to invite (including out of town friends who *might* come in). Then I parsed it down into who I thought would and wouldn't come (like Rick's one aunt who is totally unreliable, and his counsins that I've never met). Only about 2/3 of the people on my "invite" list were people I thought would actually come. I think it's turned out to be 40 people.

What you might want to consider is "hoping for" TWO showers, if you really WANT to invite everyone, but it's not possible. Our original idea was that Marge would just throw a shower & invite my close friends, and then leave it up to someone in Rick's family to throw a shower for all of them (which his sister - another BM, or his cousin - who I'm close to, probably would). Now, I know your sis can't actually THROW two, and you shouldn't expect two, but if you think someone in your FH's family will want to throw you one anyway, this might be a good solution.

A friend of mine wasn't going to have ANY shower b/c she lives here and her whole family is in Massachusetts. But her FH's family is local, and so her FMIL is throwing her a shower. I don't know if that is a breach of ettiquette or not, but basically what it came down to was that her FMIL wanted to show her off to all her friends and family! Maybe your in-laws feel the same?

[alongroadahead08]

Julz...now that you bring that up...having two...it's making me think. Ok...my sister would throw one for my side and my friends because with the exception of the farthest one away is only about 20 minutes so everyone should (if willing) be able to come. Steve's family is scattered all over Ohio. His aunt (who happens to be in my wedding as a BM...and altho another breach in etiquette) would probably be more than willing to throw one. Altho I could never ask her, I have a feeling this might come up with her. She loves arranging that kind of stuff. That would help out a lot...like you said... i'll be completely grateful for one...but 2 would make it easier. I guess I'll see how it goes huh? LOL