Bridal Shower/engagement Party for parents friends not invited to the wedding

My MIL insisted on doing a Bridal Brunch for me and only inviting her friends. None of which were invited to the wedding because neither I or my FH knew them. She is very much into "image" and wanted to use me as a reason to get them all together for a party stating, but they will bring you presents!

I declined the brunch as I didn't think it was right to receive gifts from people that weren't invited to the wedding and knew nothing about me or my FH.

You can have an engagement party. Even Martha suggests that for situations more like elopement to include people. I would say if they know in advance they are not coming and are fine with it then do it but I just feel your mom should not invite her friends to your life celebration. If you want them there that is fine but if you do not then tell her that up front.

To me personally, it's weird to invite people to any wedding related event if they aren't invited to the wedding (so a bridal shower, engagement party, etc.). Can she host something after your wedding and have it be like a second reception in your home town?

I'm in a very similar situation as you! I'm getting married on the opposite side of the state from where I grew up and my mom has some friends that she wants to invite, but can't come to the wedding and we don't have space for. She wants to invite them to a bridal shower, but I was not thrilled about them coming to the bridal shower and not the wedding. A couple points I've learned to consider in my conversations with her:

1. It used to be really common in the Midwest when our parents generation got married to invite people to the bridal shower that weren't invited to the wedding... No breach in etiquette, it was how it was.

2. Allowing your mom to invite friends of hers to a pre-wedding event that aren't invited to the bridal shower is respectful to your parents and acknowledging that they have people they want to be able to celebrate your wedding with since they did raise you.

I would never allow anyone who was not invited to the wedding to be invited to any of the wedding related events. I think it's gift grabby and rude. (I don't mean that harsh but it's the only way I could say it.)