Bridal Shower : Home Or Venue ?

You don' host a shower and then make the guests pay. If the BM's are hosting a shower in your honor, they need to host what they can afford. If that means a shower in someone's home with light refreshments, so be it.

Showers were never intended to be large events in a catered venue. They are a gathering of your nearest and dearest friends and family, not all the women invited to the wedding.

I would tell the BM's that I would not be comfortable with a shower where the guests have to pay, and encourage them to keep it smaller and in someone's home.

I would prefer home, it's more affordable and you usually have more space and more options for bringing and cooking food, and bringing whatever alcohol. And you wouldn't have to ask guests to pay for their own meal. Depending on the time of day, if I was invited to a bridal shower around lunch time I'd expect a meal for lunch and not have to pay for it.

I always prefer showers in someone's home just because I feel like they are more intimate, comfy etc. But I agree with PPs, If I was invited to a shower and was told I had to pay for my own meal, I would not be a happy camper.

I wouldn't go to a bridal shower where I had to pay for my own food. I think the best thing to do is have it at the home of the person who wants to host properly. I don't know much about mine or if I'm even having one but, I'd prefer to have it in a home and not in a restaurant.

I prefer to have it at someone's home if offered.

Exactly this. Let them figure it out as long as none of the guests are paying for anything. If they do have it at someone's home, guests should also not be asked to bring a dish either.