When did bridal showers turn into an extortion racket?

[spinbaby]

Again, I've received an invitation to the bridal shower of a woman I don't know. She's marrying a kid who was in my husband's scout troop a decade ago. I don't know the bride, I don't know the groom, but we've been invited to the wedding and somehow they seem to think that all females invited to the wedding should also be invited to the shower. The invitation, of course, comes complete with a list of where the bride I don't know is registered.

Whatever happened to friends of the bride giving a shower for friends of the bride?

[Jade Fox]

1. The whole wedding "industry" is out of control....

Someone pointed out somewhere that the more unstable marriage becomes, the more elaborate and expensive become the wedding rituals.

[havocmom]

4. Notice that the divorce rate seems to go up as the wedding ritual

customs get more involved? Gee, ya think people might be just a bit outta touch with reality in their expectations?

When the marriage isn't quite as much fun as being the center of attention was prior to the wedding, I think too many people need to blame someone for the fact that life has few fairy tale endings. Too many ego-centric twits taking marketing (and themselves) too seriously?

[tigereye]

2. yeah mine and the ones my friends had

were all simply family and good friends only.

Plus no lists of where to buy stuff....;)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Send a card and your regrets. You're not obligated to give a gift.

[Iniquitous Bunny]

5. People are sleaze.

I'm getting married next year and I have had people tell me how I should have one for "stuff". I smile and politely say "that's not me" and quietly add them to my "idiot list". :7

Were likely just going away with a guestlist of zero and I couldn't be more happy about it. :D