Bridal Shower for Someone Who Has What They Need

Does she like to cook? My matron of honor did a recipe exchange for me. I loved it! I would also personally enjoy a nightie/negligee themed shower. I'm not much for teddy's or lingerie, but do like pretty nighties.

What about "entertainment night" where you tell the guest to give theater tickets, dinner tickets, baseball, basketball, football tickets. Be creative.

N.

Lingerie in her/his favorite color--Fun to see just how imaginative some can be with the color restriction.

"Stock the Bar"--Whatever you can think of to go behind the bar. (I almost did this for my then future SIL. I bought coasters that were also picture frames. I gave them to someone else.)

Socks--Ask everyone to give her socks that she can lounge in at home. You'll all try to outdo each other with fuzziness and zaniness.

Make-Up--Have a glamour party where you all try looks that you wouldn't necessarily do on your own, and then go out that evening.

Fashion--Same as "Make-Up" above but with clothes. Maybe you combine the different outfits to create one that the bride must wear out (in public) that night.

Recipes--If she likes to cook, add to her recipe book.

Make it more about her interests and having fun together than buying her more stuff.

I would just ask HER what she wants as far as gifts (maybe she can register somewhere) & that will help you choose your theme. Does she want a bachelorette/bridal shower combo party and then gifts along the lines of what Reverend Ruby suggested?

Or maybe she wants a more traditional bridal shower so she can register for the things she does need.

There's tons of ideas online for bridal showers but you need to know if she wants the bachelorette type of bridal shower with lingerie/personal type gifts or a more traditional bridal shower with household gifts.

Lingerie shower?
You can't have too many pretty underthings :)

I opted not to have one. I really had to fight hard against an Aunt who was pretty persistent about having me have one. My MOH and mother took me at my word and let it go. We were in our mid 30s, we had already set up house, we didn't want or need for anything.

Weddings can be really expensive propositions for guests, and for female guests. Between the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, the wedding attire and transport and gifts, it can be really prohibitive.

We did register for the wedding though, as some people think it crass to give cash gifts. We still make use of the cutlery, the kitchenaid stand mixer, the cuisineart coffee pot. The best tangible wedding present though, was a GPS from my brother- "to help us navigate our course through life."

If you are going to go ahead with your party, gifts notwithstanding in deciding your party theme, consider your SIL, and your target audience. We've been to ones at a crab shack on the beach, co-ed at an aquarium, tea with the ladies at a local hotel, featuring bourbon at the top of a trail head, at an afternoon concert in the park, in a restaurant's private party room, at the yacht club, at the ball game, at a soup kitchen.

Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

I don't know if I am wording this correctly but how about a romance shower. Gifts could include scented candles, lingerie, bubble bath, new sheets ect. I think every couple should start out with new bedding, but that may just be me.

Ask her if she's registered anywhere, then add that information to the invitation. Make sure to include the name the registry is under so the guests can find it easily. My husband and I lived together for about 6 years prior to our wedding. We registered for everything, because even though we had stuff, it was all crappy hand-me-downs or college stuff and we wanted nicer stuff once we were married. I have a friend who got married older than most, and she really did already have all the household stuff she needed, so they registered instead for outdoorsy, camping, and leisure stuff, so there's an idea.

Do a theme shower around thier favorite recreational activity or hobby together. If they like to go camping, register at REI or if they are golfers, runners, etc. register at Sports Authority. Whatever it is be creative and fun.

I'm a newly married. We're both in our 40's. I was a single Mom of 4 for 10 years. So we have the basics for a household already.

Friends threw me a fun shower: A gift card shower. Some cards were personal like: Charming Charlies, DSW Shoes, etc. Some were practical like: Home Depot, Target. Some were date night related: Olive Garden, Movies, etc. Some were specific to the honeymoon: A restaurant where we were staying and even an attached coupon.

It was perfect!

What are their hobbies/interests? Honey moon plans?
How about $$ towards their getaway?

If she is registered, you can include that on the invite or on a separate piece of paper. I have seen that around here lots of times even when they have lived together for an extended period of time. What is she into? Any movies you could make the theme after? Hobbies? Specific colors she really loves? What about food? You could do a Mexican theme, Italian, etc and ask the guests to dress accordingly. If she has 'everything' you could put wording on suggesting gifts to make the honeymoon fun (lingerie, lotions, etc) but not sure how many kids you will have there (some people are uncomfortable with this). We did a tea party theme for mine - sweet treats, tea, water and punch.

They really should register even if it is at Home Depot. There were 80 people at my shower and it would have been ridiculous if everyone bought lingerie, socks, candles etc.

If she's registered somewhere it's easy to direct people to the registry. Hopefully she registered for things. Even if their household is set up, there are always things to replace or upgrade! Or, ask her if she'd like lingerie or personal care products or something like that.

I married late in life. My bridal shower was a personal one. I received gifts such as sleep wear and things I would personally use such as a nice soap set.

You can take something you know she likes and turn it into the theme...music, Mexico, Italy, tea party, flowers, etc.

As for gifts...I am of the opinion (even when they are registered) that the bridal shower is for the bride while the wedding gift is for the couple. I would suggest, if asked, lingerie, gift certificates for manicures, pedicures, hair salon, massage, restaurant that she likes...if you the perfume or lotions she likes that is good too.

They will need stuff.
Everyone I've know that has lived together before marriage, still needed
things.
They might not need the basics but there is always something that comes up that they need.
I say still throw the party.

Even though they have lived together, you're still honoring their happy
moment and their choice to get married starting a life together.

It's a celebration. Honoring one of those few happy stages in life!

Still give her a bridal shower.

Is she registered anywhere?

You haven't said what the bride would like... ask her first and respond accordingly. Even if you think they're household is all set, they might want to upgrade.

If she's already told you that she's uncomfortable registering somewhere, suggest that she pick a charity for guests to support.

Or if you know they need cash for a honeymoon, suggest she register with a site like honeyfund.com where guests can give money toward their vacation fund. Although LOTS of people have problems with the bride and groom asking for money -- they offer some decent suggestions on how to say, "We don't really need anything, but if you insist, here's the best way to do it."

Regardless of what she chooses to do, it's OK for you to include registry or donation info with the invitation -- generally on a separate sheet. People want to give something and will choose random stuff if you offer no suggestions, so don't waste everyone's time and money.