I have been invited to a come and go bridal shower. I have never attended a shower like it, so I am curious to know more about what to expect. For those who don't know what it is, here is what I found out by Googling it:
The event is usually 1-2 hours long. You walk in anytime during the event, hand your gift to the bride-to-be, visit with her, she opens your gift and then you can leave or mingle with other guests if you so choose. There are no games, prizes or meals served.
Thanks.
B....you are hilarious! This whole Come and Go concept is completely foreign to me. You ladies bring up some very interesting opinions on it. I enjoy your feedback.:)
It looks like it's more of an open house format and usually has a large guest list and longer timeline. It's a way to accommodate a lot of people in one party. I would hope there would still be cake and some food involved and it sounds like the guests can stay and mingle after talking with the bride to be. Sounds nice when you compare it to a holiday open house party.
Sounds like the friends get to be a delivery service with a shot at a snack and a bit of chatting.
It's a gift grab and completely tacky.
Weird Al should have included it in his "Tacky" music video.
I would decline this invitation.
I'm seriously trying to think what would be worse (how can you build on this gift grab idea to carry it to it's illogical extreme).
How about the bride sits in a drive through and accepts/opens gifts she demanded via a registry and maybe hands you an order of fries for your trouble?
Wow! I hate the games and prizes, but no meal? Are there at least appetizers? Sounds very tacky - "drop your present and you're free to go!" Although I'm sure they will make it nicer than that.
Hmm. Kinda takes all the fun out of it if you ask me! Lol.
I think the experience will largely depend on your relationship to the person who it is being held for/ relationship with their acquaintances. If you are close friends, or know a few others guests, then it would likely be enjoyable to hang out and chat. I imagine there will at least be light finger foods available, even without a full meal. If you are just an acquaintance or not really that close, it gives you an easy out to leave early without appearing rude.
It sounds more like an open house than a shower.
What's next? A "Mail Your Shower Gift Directly to the Bride So You Don't Waste ANY of her Precious Time" Shower?
(With a registry list included, of course!)
What a grab for gifts!
Some people will stay the full time because it's fun to be with other grown ups for such a fun occasion. Then there will be those who just don't like people and won't want to stay long.
Stay as long as you want. Have some refreshments and some fun. This is actually the better kind of party, you don't have to sit through hours of presents being opened and saying awe.
Never heard of that, sounds like pure greed to me.
I was just thinking about this and it would be completely different if this was an open house to celebrate their upcoming wedding. What makes this so tacky, such a money grab, is that they spell out how you go about presenting the gifts to the queen! That is kind of what this sounds like, back in the dark ages paying respect to a monarchy! You may presents gifts to the queen from here to here, she may smile in gratitude if the gift brings her pleasure.
Wow, we've really become a "show me the money" society.
That's really sad.
Sounds great to me. I hate to be pinned down to anything, and I like to be able to leave whenever I want to. I bet you they will have nibbles and refreshments for guests. It's a function made for a gal like me.
if i had a gun to my head and HAD to go to a shower, this sounds just perfect.
yay for whomever came up with this!
ETA- B, that's already what showers are in my opinion!
khairete
S.
Never heard of it. Wish I could still say that. Sounds tacky.
I personally think it sounds awsome as I do not like sitting around watching the bride open up gifts for 2-3 hours straight. An open house format means that people can socialize, chat with the bride, family, etc. This option is also good for those bridal parties that cannot afford to host a huge meal somewhere, this allows for alot of guest to be invited at a reasonable price point.
I've never attended one, but my first reaction to your post was that it was all about the "gimme" a gift then get out because the host doesn't want to have to spend the $$ or time to plan something.
If it were more like an open house, even like a happy hour cocktail party where only hors d'oeuvres are served and drinks, you visit with the bride a bit and open the gift together, then you go or mingle if you like - then I can see that.
But I think it's really tacky to invite someone to bring you a gift, they have spent their time and hard earned money and probably gave the gift some thought and nice wrapping, then not even offering a bite to eat or drink as you stay and mingle - super tacky.
However, if I didn't know or much like the person - then, yea, get me the hell outta there - I wouldn't care less :)
We opted not to have one. They are dull and the whole gift thing seemed extraneous. We had a happy hour celebrating our engagement instead. Men, women, friends, family, co-workers all popped in, had a drink, stayed a while and went. We were there from 5:30-11ish, which was plenty long.
To each their own.
F. B.
I think this is tremendously tacky. Honestly, I'd just mail a card.
