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Are both a wedding/bridal shower and a jack & jill normal?

Amy, on July 28, 2021 at 7:06 PM Posted in Parties and Events 1 12
I am a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding in October. The other bridesmaids and I are in the process of planning for a wedding/bridal shower for the bride in September. Randomly today, the maid of honor sent out a group text asking us what our thoughts are on the jack & jill and when and where we should have it. I am a little taken back and confused ... I thought you do one or the other, not both a shower AND a jack & jill. But maybe I'm wrong? Orrrr, if both events are going to take place, then I thought the groomsmen were responsible for hosting the jack & jill?



I don't want to reply back questioning this yet because I don't want to be seen as the "complainer" if I am indeed in the wrong. It just seems like a lot to me that the bridal party would have to host (financially and dutifully) both a shower and jack & jill as well as buy gifts and contribute to both. We are also having a Bachelorette party too.
This all goes without saying that this couple has been living together for years and already have a house together....which I thought was the main purpose of a wedding shower --- to help them "start out in life together".

Any thoughts/experience/advice on this? I'm not close to any of the other bridesmaids so I don't feel comfortable asking them about this.

12 Comments

Latest activity by Jacks, on July 30, 2021 at 3:32 PM
  • Rosie
    Master February 2022
    Rosie ·
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    Personally, that sounds hugely tacky and gift-grabby to me, but I come from a culture where Jack and Jills are totally not a thing, and nor is a bridal shower, so do take my opinion with a grain of salt!

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  • Jacks
    Rockstar November 2054
    Jacks ·
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    I think it's a lot to expect of a wedding party. Jack and Jill's aren't done here, and they are considered really money grabby by many.

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  • H
    Master July 2019
    Hannah ·
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    Yeah, that seems excessive. Where I'm from a Jack and Jill just means a co-ed bridal shower, so it would be the same as having two bridal showers, which is too much unless they have different guest lists (like if someone from bride's hometown hosts 1 there and then there's another in groom's hometown or something). If it's the kind of jack and Jill that is a "fundraiser" type of party, I personally feel those are in poor taste in general.
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  • AJ
    Super October 2022
    AJ ·
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    Where I’m from Jack and Jills aren’t a thing (but I know what they are) I agree with above posters that it sounds super gift grabby. I say one of the other but not both. If they want to contribute money to both and host both then that is on them. If you can’t afford to pay for two parties, plus gift and bachelorette then don’t. It’s already a lot of time and money.
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  • Katie
    Expert August 2021
    Katie ·
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    Definitely sounds gift grabby. You do one or the other but never both.
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  • S
    Super September 2022
    Sarah ·
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    I’ve never even heard of a jack and Jill but it sounds like just a co-ed wedding shower. Are you sure she was talking about a separate event? Maybe she was interchanging jack and Jill with wedding shower. Otherwise, I agree that both seem excessive.
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  • W
    VIP September 2020
    Willow ·
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    Somebody's gotta speak up and if it's gotta be you, so be it.
    3 parties is a lot. Just say you don't have the resources to host 3 parties, and guests may find a shower and a jack and jill to be redundant
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  • SLY
    Master January 2022
    SLY ·
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    I think it just depends on the group honestly lol. Where I'm from, it's normal to have a couple's shower (j&j), and a bridal shower. Does the bride EXPECT you all to host all of these events, or did the MOH just assume a jack&jill and bridal shower would both be thrown? Because if the bride expects all of these to be thrown, then she needs to be brought down to Earth and realize that it may be asking too much. If the MOH wants to throw it herself, then why not lol? If your issue is contributing financially, then all you have to tell her is that it's a nice idea and if she wants to throw them a j&j, then she can, but you cannot contribute due to all of the other events you will be helping with.

    We're having 2 couple's showers which sound like a j&j. One for friends and one for family. My mom probably won't be able to attend either since she lives in another state, and my MOH offered to throw me a bridal shower with just the ladies in my bridal party, and close family, so that my mom could at least be part of something.

    To me it depends on who this idea came from. If the bride brought up that she wanted a j&j along with her other showers, then I think it's a bit gift grabby and she's expecting too much. But if the MOH is offering and wants to throw the couple a j&j, then I say let her but let her be aware that you can't help with the j&j.

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  • Ashlee
    Super September 2022
    Ashlee ·
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    I'll likely end up with two bridal showers, one in my home state and one where my FH & I currently live (where he grew up) but I can't imagine having my wedding party throw/pay for both of those and a bachelorette. In fact my mom offered to throw the shower in my home state and my FH's mom brought up throwing the shower here.

    I would just be up front with your budget and let them know that while you'd be happy to attend, you're not able to contribute/plan for all of the events.

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  • Allie
    VIP November 2021
    Allie ·
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    A Jack and Jill here is more like a stag, where you sell tickets and have raffles and play games, but it's co-ed vs. just the guys. Most people think it's tacky for some reason...I don't, but they're very popular in my area. However, usually people pick the bridal shower/stag OR the Jack and Jill, not both...at least in my area. People think having a Jack and Jill is money grabby (it's not, it's the same as getting a gift in my opinion), but having both is really gift/money grabby.

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  • Grace
    Super February 2022
    Grace ·
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    A Jack-and-Jill is just a co-ed bridal shower were I live. No way would someone have both!
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  • Jacks
    Rockstar November 2054
    Jacks ·
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    Jack and Jill that I'm referring to is the fundraiser. The wedding party is expected to donate gifts for raffles, there's an entry fee to get in to the party. Kind of like a carnival with the express idea of raising money for the wedding couple. That's why it's seen as a money grab.

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