No registry, small apartment, why have a bridal shower?

Hi all!
We don't have a registry. FH and I have been together 8 years, lived together for about 4, and we rent a 4 bedroom Brooklyn apartment with 3 other roommates. There is literally no where to put anything from a registry, even if we wanted it. I would have loved to time things so that we were getting a new apartment at the same time as the wedding, and use the registry to fill our new apartment with things we really would need, but it just didn't work out that way. Maybe we can swing a new apartment in another year.

My mom and FMIL asked about a bridal shower... But I said I didn't want one because I didn't see the point, since we don't have a registry and don't need a separate party expense (for ourselves or my mom/ FMIL). We did have an engagement party. I suppose that anyone who gives a wedding gift would probably make it a card & cash.

Is there any reason to have a bridal shower? Could we have something like a "housewarming registry" later? Maybe we'll just put furniture on a baby registry? It all sounds a little bizarre and possibly tacky to me, but I thought I'd put the question out there! Thanks!