Baby Shower Etiquette Question

So I know this is typically a woman thing, but I'll ask here anyways. The GF is asking me to proof our/her baby shower invite list (which includes some of my friends and friends' wives) to make sure it is appropriate, but I don't know the proper etiquette of whom to invite and whom not to. I hope some of the members here who have procreated can offer their advice.

One the one hand, I want to make sure everyone is included so nobody is offended. Seems like a grey area where someone might be upset that they weren't included.

On the other hand, I'm essentially asking people to give me/us something, which is a bit presumptuous.

How did you guys handle it?

Originally Posted by Douglas

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So I know this is typically a woman thing, but I'll ask here anyways. The GF is asking me to proof our/her baby shower invite list (which includes some of my friends and friends' wives) to make sure it is appropriate, but I don't know the proper etiquette of whom to invite and whom not to. I hope some of the members here who have procreated can offer their advice.

One the one hand, I want to make sure everyone is included so nobody is offended. Seems like a grey area where someone might be upset that they weren't included.

On the other hand, I'm essentially asking people to give me/us something, which is a bit presumptuous.

How did you guys handle it?


go to the bathroom, drop trou, confirm that you have something sticking out between your legs. if you do, don't get involved, its not your job. if you don't, hey, I can't help you.

sorry - this is the type of thing that you can't do right, get a woman to do this.

Originally Posted by globetrotter

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sorry - this is the type of thing that you can't do right, get a woman to do this.

My advice is along these lines. Someone, for some reason, will get pissed off. Knowing this, why give a damn? Just do what you want, and ignore the complainers.

Originally Posted by Douglas

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So I know this is typically a woman thing, but I'll ask here anyways. The GF is asking me to proof our/her baby shower invite list

On the other hand, I'm essentially asking people to give me/us something, which is a bit presumptuous.

I don't know how you pick. You will either offend someone who is left off or you will offend someone who's been asked to buy a gift for someone they don't know that well.

That said: A baby shower is traditionally not thrown by the pregnant couple/woman. Someone else (sister or mother, good friend) organizes this. That way someone else is asking everyone to give you gifts. By throwing your own, I'd say you are begging for stuff--there is other point to the shower.

b

Thanks for the advice, guys. I appreciate it. Sounds like everyone is advising me to steer as clear of this as I can.

A few clarifying points: First, it's my GF's mom who is throwing the event, but of course she asked my GF for a list, who then asked me to take a look at it. So we're not throwing it directly for ourselves, obviously.

Where this started to get sticky is that a female friend of mine asked me if there was going to be a shower for my GF and offered to throw it herself, because I have good friends like that who care. Of course, this girl was not on the original list the GF gave to her mother, as it cleaved a bit closer to family... which led to me asking the GF where the whole thing stood, thus opening the whole damned can of worms in the first place.

hahahaha, it's your own damn fault huh?

As far as this friend of yours goes, if the list truly is pretty much family, then just tell her that your MiL is handling it and that it's just going to be family. That's fair.

b

Originally Posted by Douglas

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Thanks for the advice, guys. I appreciate it. Sounds like everyone is advising me to steer as clear of this as I can.

A few clarifying points: First, it's my GF's mom who is throwing the event, but of course she asked my GF for a list, who then asked me to take a look at it. So we're not throwing it directly for ourselves, obviously.

Where this started to get sticky is that a female friend of mine asked me if there was going to be a shower for my GF and offered to throw it herself, because I have good friends like that who care. Of course, this girl was not on the original list the GF gave to her mother, as it cleaved a bit closer to family... which led to me asking the GF where the whole thing stood, thus opening the whole damned can of worms in the first place.

another thing is that it isn't uncommon for there to be several showers.

but seriously, no good can come to you if you get involved. run!!

Originally Posted by globetrotter

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go to the bathroom, drop trou, confirm that you have something sticking out between your legs. if you do, don't get involved, its not your job. if you don't, hey, I can't help you.

sorry - this is the type of thing that you can't do right, get a woman to do this.

So, when are you guys getting married?

Ya, in my little bit of knowledge about them there are often ones for different groups of people. The family one, where Grandma and Auntie go to with the younger cousins too. Then there will be a friends one, and maybe one by peope at work, etc... So, with that format, it seems easier to figure who ought to go where.

Interestingly, I find it odd that somebody is offering to throw the shower who would be overlooked on a guest list for one.

Originally Posted by Douglas

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Thanks for the advice, guys. I appreciate it. Sounds like everyone is advising me to steer as clear of this as I can.

A few clarifying points: First, it's my GF's mom who is throwing the event, but of course she asked my GF for a list, who then asked me to take a look at it. So we're not throwing it directly for ourselves, obviously.

Where this started to get sticky is that a female friend of mine asked me if there was going to be a shower for my GF and offered to throw it herself, because I have good friends like that who care. Of course, this girl was not on the original list the GF gave to her mother, as it cleaved a bit closer to family... which led to me asking the GF where the whole thing stood, thus opening the whole damned can of worms in the first place.

There are usually a couple. One for family, one for freinds, etc... the more gifts the merrier right? I Am actually going to a diaper party tonight, one of my best freinds is getting ready to hatch next month, so his wife is having the girls 'shower' and we are having a diaper party. Beer, cigars, poker and diapers. cant go wrong with that.

Best thing to do is to have a babyshower that evolves into superbowl sunday which then turns into an all day BBQ!!

that way the girls can come and do their girl stuff then your guy friends can come and drink beer. Afterwards everyone can eat ribs.

I had something like this happen minus the babyshower. A BBQ that turned into a Thanksgiving turkey dinner which turned into everyone drunk. Wasn't planned. Just happened.