Parties?

Engagement party is totally optional. A small bridal shower is always nice.
I agree, having all 3 is a bit too much. Also that's money that could go towards your wedding budget.

I think all of those are optional. I've seen brides not have any of them. I had a shower and bachelorette party and they were fun

I’m not having any. Completely optional. I think is nice if you have someone else plan it but for those of us without that someone the money and time is better spent on my actual wedding.

A wedding shower and bridal shower are the same thing. All parties are optional, and they are also thrown by others in the couple's honor, so if no one offers, you don't get one.

All ore wedding parties are not mandatory. The shower is usually hosted by someone or if you wanted to do it yourself do a bridal brunch w no registry. A couple can throw their own engagement party. Do you want any of these parties?

A wedding shower and bridal shower are the same thing, the only difference is the guest list. All pre-wedding events are optional and whether or not you have them depends on if someone offers to host them and if you accept.

I'm not doing any of these. I'm having a comedy night and dinner with bridal and groom parties

They're all optional. I didn't have any of them.

We did not have an engagement party. I believe a wedding shower and a bridal shower are the same thing but a wedding shower is technically for the couple not just the bride. I think a wedding shower would be nice but I’m not asking for it. But as PP’s have said they are all optional

You can do whatever you want and whatever makes the most sense for you. We aren't the excessive party type, so one party for each of us (shower or bachelorette for me, bachelor party for him) followed by the wedding is really the most we would want.

We had zero desire for an engagement party. They aren't common around here and it just seems like attention grabbing behavior to me, plus our engagement is shorter (nine months).

I don't want a bridal shower because my FH and I have lived together for years and have more than we need already, and I really don't want useless gifts. We are not having a wedding registry. My FH and I are in our mid-30s as well, so if we decide to try for kids it will be shortly after the wedding, and I'd much prefer all my friends save up and splurge on us for a baby shower because then there will be things we don't have and actually need. Plus my mom and MOH live out of state and don't have connections to my friends from home or other walks of life, so it would be difficult for them to plan a bridal shower for me.

I would like a bachelorette or girls night, but it's not super important to me. Of the three events that is the one I would most enjoy though. However, I think it's probably unlikely that I will have one since my MOH lives out of state and I don't have any other bridesmaids.

If someone offers to throw you all 3, then yes! We had a bridal shower, that's it. Typically I've only seen people do a bridal shower or a couples shower, not both.

You don’t “have” to have anything (we’re not) or you can have them all! Totally up to you.

All pre-wedding events are optional. We did not have an engagement party. We didn't see the point.

Girl no lol. I had mini engagement parties . I think a bridal shower is a little weird (like you could just wait on the wedding to give gifts ) and of course you have to do the bachelorette party. Just kidding lol. I’m not even expecting my bridesmaids to do a bachelorette party (huge) let alone a bridal party:

My FMIL hosted an engagement party. I'm opting to skip a bridal shower because the people attend literally just to give you gifts. It's a waste of time and money for my bridesmaids, in my opinion (who will be coming from all over and would need a hotel room). I am having a 'destination' bachelorette (I live in DC. bach party is in Virginia Beach ~ 3 hours away). Again, something my bridesmaids have to pay for, but at least it will be split evenly among all of us, and it's something we all enjoy.

We didn't have an engagement party, but I am having two bridal showers lol. I think it depends on your friends and family. I didn't want to stress about an engagement party because mine and my FH families live far apart. We are having two bridal showers because multiple people wanted to throw me one (I have let my bridesmaids know then do NOT have to come to both). The bachelorette party is the one I am most excited for! A weekend with my best friends!!! Don't force parties. Just do what comes naturally.