Photo: Lisa Blume Photography
Bridal showers are the perfect pre-wedding celebration that’ll bring together the women who cherish and support you the most in this world. But, sometimes these pre-wedding festivities aren’t for everyone. Whether you find that planning a bridal shower is eating up too much of your (or your MOH’s) time and money or that most of the people you’d like to invite live too far away, it’s OK to skip having a bridal shower. Here are five reasons to not have a bridal shower (that are totally legitimate).
1. Guests Live Far Away
If your family and close friends live in a different state, country or just somewhere that’ll be tough for them to drive in for the weekend, you may want to skip a bridal shower just out of sheer logistics. Instead, do a spa day or lunch with your girls the day before the wedding when everyone is in town.
2. Time is of the Essence
If your wedding is a few months away and you haven’t had a chance to think about a shower or can’t find a single free weekend or weekday to have one, you may want to just cross this off your list. Save your free time and brain power to focus on your wedding and to try and relax before the big day arrives and your guests shower you there.
3. Planning Makes You Crazed
Sometimes planning a bridal shower can feel like you are planning a second wedding, especially if you don’t have any family members or friends to pitch in and help. If you find yourself in charge of planning the shower and it’s making you extra stressed, you may start to see that it’s not worth it to throw another party.
4. You’d Rather Do Something Else
If you roll your eyes at the idea of getting all the women in your life together to open presents, eat lunch, and play some games, that’s okay. Instead, plan an event that’s more your style, whether it’s an afternoon of bowling or an outdoor potluck.
5. Not Looking for Gifts
One of the main reasons brides have a shower is to score some gifts from their registry. If you decided to not have a registry or feel like you don’t want your guests to bring gifts, you can ask them to make a donation to a charity instead — or just do away with a traditional shower.
Jen Glantz is a “Professional Bridesmaid” and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She’s the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.
See More: What Should You Do if No One Has Planned Your Bridal Shower Yet?