Who Hosts the Bridal Shower? (Hint: It’s Not Mom)

You might be surprised with the answer. (Sorry, Mom, you’re out!)

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Dear mother-of-the-bride: According to proper etiquette, a shower should only be hosted by friends and is inappropriate for a relative. Everyone invited to the shower must be invited to the wedding. Under no circumstances should anyone (e.g., mother of the bride) put pressure on the attendants and coerce them to throw a shower. A shower is voluntarily and should not be viewed as a prerequisite for getting married.

If a family member would like to host a party, without presents, for the bride or the couple, that’s fine. (The emphasis here is “no presents.”) I think it outrageous, and I know many will disagree, that the same people are invited to multiple showers. It’s just not fair to expect an engagement gift, several shower gifts, and a wedding gift from the same person.

Readers, what do you think? Write your thoughts below.

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