Re: Shower Question.....

I think if you plan to have a Christening or a briss, or something like that, you can invite all those people if you want.

IMO a shower should be an intimate event. 110 is a lot - I would not enjoy being a guest, I wouldn't feel special, and with all those kids running around, it would be chaos.

And yes I think people who you KNOW will not make it may see it as a request for a gift - NOT that that is what YOU are doing, as Kate said, but I would see it that way.

I'd keep it to grown women.

You asked for opinions, you got 'em!!

Re: Shower Question.....

I have to agree with most of the people on here...110 is A LOT of people to invite to a shower...even if you know they won't come.
I had several dear friends who live in different states or countries, and while I would have loved to have them at my shower, they weren't invited because I didn't want them to think they had to travel for my shower. And I didn't want them to think I was inviting them, knowing they wouldn't be able to make it, only so I could get a gift from them.
And I do know that the male/female showers are becoming more popular...but if that runs the guest list up that high, I think it neds to be cut back a bit.

Re: Shower Question.....

110 may sound like a lot, but honestly, some people just have big families. my family is inviting about 100 to my shower bc i have a HUGE family (i had about 400 people at my wedding )!
statistically, they say to assume that 15% will respond "no."

also - bc we have so many ladies, but DH & our fathers wanted to be present, we are doing just one table with all the closest men (dh, grandparents, my brothers and the baby's godfather).

Message edited 4/10/2007 5:07:11 PM.

Re: Shower Question.....

Do your friends know the extent of your DH's involvement? Is he paying the majority of the total cost, or just the majority of the catering bill? B/c even taking catering out of the equation, there would still be a sizable decoration/favors/invitations/centerpieces cost that maybe is too much for them to take on.

Re: Shower Question.....

I have a huge family- 32 cousins on one side alone (17 on the other) plus 14 aunts and uncles, second cousins, etc- and I am pretty close to all of them.

That said, I would never invite that many people to a baby shower. MAYBE for the christening/first birthday as that is sort of like the baby's first party. And think about your guests- WHO wants to sit around and watch a person open 110 peoples worth of presents? Even if you had a 20% no show rate, that would take hours.

I firmly believe that baby showers are just for closest friends and family- and when I say closest, I mean people I talk to on a regular basis.
Unless you guys were paying for the entire deal, I totally understand why your friends are complaining. But if it's truly what you want, then go for it but plan to foot the bill.

Message edited 4/10/2007 9:23:46 PM.

Re: Shower Question.....

Out of the 117 we invited - I can tell you that all of them are literally CLOSE friends and family. My mother had to cut out alot of her cousins - and I limited my inlaws list also. Our immediate family alone is around 75 people (men and women) so in our case there is no way to cut anyone out.

As for inviting the men - I think all men are different - but I could never see my husband and his friends sitting through a shower.

My mom showed my dad all the games she printed out last night for the shower (bingo and some famous television parents) and my dad couldn't believe that women actually play these games. He thought she was just being silly. Men don't understand these things the way that women do.

And yes - it def. takes a LONG time to open up the gifts - but I know that my bridal party kicked butt at my bridal shower - so I'll be putting them to work again next week!!