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Have you ever thrown a bridal shower?
How much money are you expected to spend on throwing one of these things?
The reason I ask? Well... I volunteered to co-throw a shower for a friend. However, the person I am working with is going CRAZY with suggestions for what I thought was going to be a nice, quiet, LITTLE shower.
She is wanting to rent a huge tent for the backyard, rent tables/chairs, cater it, have a bartender with a FULL bar, and Lord knows what else...
Don't you think that is a little much?
Maybe I am just used to SMALL showers -- you know... a cake....some presents...usually at someone's house... a few decorations... play a few games...
Did I mention this party is being thrown in the country in a backyard? I mean, think FARM party....cows, pigs, horses are the closest neighbors... I didn't expect some big fancy schmancy thing-a-ma-gig
Am I crazy? How do I tame down this party?
What is normal? How much do normal people spend on these things? I don't want to sound like a cheapo but I am not going bankrupt over a shower for a friend.
Advise is welcome :)
oh wow...I'm with you on this one. I was supposed to throw a baby shower for a friend, but it fell through (long story) and I was wondering the same things as you. Sorry I'm no help. I guess I'd ask what the mother-to-be wants. She may not even want a huge partay ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow - I have hosted and co-hosted several bridal and baby showers and we've never gone so over the top as to rent out tents, catering, bartenders... isn't that for the wedding? I would suggest having a sit-down with your fellow co-host and explaining that as excited as you are to throw a shower with her, your budget is X amount of money, no more than that, and that you know that between the 2 of you, you can come up with something nice within that range. I've always thought that some of the most fun showers that I've attended were also some of the simplest. I hope things work out!
ReplyDeleteI've never co-hosted/hosted a baby shower before, but I think renting a tent and having a full bar is WAY overkill. I would want something really small too - just a cake and some sweets and something to drink.
ReplyDeleteOh no...yes, I think that this is way overboard. I think that you will just have to be honest and tell her that. Just say this is not what I had in mind! Good luck...
ReplyDeleteThat sounds way overboard to me. I don't have great advice about what you should do, though. That is a tough one. I think you just need to be honest with the co-host. If you are splitting the cost equally then you should have equal decision making power on everything. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThat is WAY too over the top, unless your friend is wealthy and planning to pay for it herself. You definitely need to put your foot down!
ReplyDeleteFirst off where in the heck have you been? I've honestly missed you brat.
ReplyDeleteNow for my thoughts on the above :+) I'd just be honest with the girl that's helping you plan it tell her you were thinking something on a smaller scale. Its not the wedding for goodness sake a bartender? Maybe if hubs wore a bow tie and called himself one that ha ha.
Um...I have been in a bridal party and the bride wanted a HUGE fancy shower. It was way beyond what we could afford, so her mom ended up paying for this fancy country club and all the food, etc. There is no reason you should go broke for a shower or to be in a wedding. How many people are invited to this event?
ReplyDeleteI've thrown several bridal showers- both couples and ones for just the bride. The couples showers tend to cost a little more, but usually you have several couples throwing it so it equals out.
ReplyDeleteFor just a bridal shower, I'd say if there are 2 of you throwing, expect to spend around $100 each. I think a caterer and renting a tent and tables, etc. is over the top.
But, if she's dead set, instead of renting the tent and tables, check with a local church- they'll usually let you borrow! Or, if someone has white tailgate tents, those would work as well.
As for the catering, that's a bit much, I think. There are many people in the blogosphere that can help you out with great finger food ideas so you can do the food yourself.
As for a full bar- I think that's unnecessary. How about a nice champagne punch and then tea and water? I would bet that would suit the bride just fine! Or, if she's more of a beer girl, have some beer in cute buckets and then other non-alcoholic options. But still just have a limited amount. Chances are, people who are coming to a bridal shower aren't expecting such a huge party. Usually those are reserved for the engagement party or couples showers.
Sorry for the long post- but if you need anymore suggestions, please feel free to email me. erourk@gmail.com
Good luck!
wow...I have never heard of such craziness! I like the smaller ones anyways!
ReplyDeleteOh, that is WAY overboard!!! And I have a baby shower horror story for you...
ReplyDeleteOne of my work friends was pregnant last year and my boss decided that I should be the one to throw the shower. FINE!! No biggie. I'm lead to believe that I have a budget.
So I buy a cake, pizza, punch, etc. and try to collect money for presents. (And I should mention that I had to invite everyone in my office. All 175 or so of them!) I sent out an invite to everyone, asking them to drop by and sign cards and hopefully donate to buy presents. People PROMISE that they'll donate. They don't. So I end up buying all the presents. And when I submit the receipts to my boss for the food/drinks/decorations...she tells me that they ran out of money in the budget.
All told - I spent over $500 of my own money. And never got a thank you from ANYONE. Not any attendees or the shower recipient.
OK. I'll be quiet now. :-)
Yeah, that's nuts. Absolute insanity. That's what people do for weddings...
ReplyDeleteI've thrown a whole bunch of showers and I'd say on average I spend $150. I have invested in several things that make it easier to do it all myself, and typically I have help from a co-host, but $150 is average and they're always nice. You'll spend more than double that on the tent alone.
Oh my goodness I was just complaining about this today! I totally agree with you 100%! It is getting out of control!
ReplyDeleteThat's hard, I think those types of things can usually be a decent amount of money but unless the co-host plans on footing most of the bill you're going to have to politely say something to her. Why is a tent important? Can a friend "bartend" and then just keep tips so you don't have to pay them? Is a bartender even necessary? I think NOT.
ReplyDelete