dual baby shower

sequoia77

Hello-

My sister and I are due within one week of each other.  My mother has suggested a dual shower...has anyone had one or attended such an event?  What are your thoughts/etiquette for a dual shower?

Thanks!

EastCoastBride

I think EVERY guest needs to be a guest that would have been invited to each of your showers anyhow.  When you get into the area where some guests are only for the one mom to be, they may feel like they "have" to get the other person a gift anyhow. 

I would not do this to my guests! 

Also- just keep in mind the gift opening.  I would recommend you both open gifts at the same time.  The gift opening can get realy boring, and if your guests have to sit through TWO.... could make for too long of a shower, and possibly boring.

Lurksgirl

I personally wouldn't do it unless you only plan on having family and mutual friends attend. I know that the cost factor and time involved is decreased by having one shower for the two of you but to be honest despite how close I am to my sister I would want my own day. Maybe I'm just selfish like that though. Either way your guests are having to put out money for two gifts rather than one.

ella.mabel

I think it depends on how many people would end up being there.  If you're talking 30 guests, that would be fine and maybe you guys can alternate opening, but if it means 80 guests, then i think the event would just drag on too long...........

RoxyLynn

I'd feel terribly awkward if I was a great friend of yours and didn't know your sister nearly as well - I'd feel like I had to get both of you the same gift even though we had very different relationships.

jiffy-pop

Dual shower is a bad idea. Never heard of anyone doing one. I agree w/ pp. Some of your friends would feel obligated to bring something for sis. This needs to be a time where each mom gets their time in the spotlight. Do seperate showers at least 3wks apart.

echoudhary

my sister and I had a dual shower two weeks ago. We are both due within 3 weeks of each other. It worked well. It was for all our family on both sides.

My aunts hosted and send out the invites showing both our names. We opened gifts at the same time and it was great. 

We are having separate "friend" showers later...but this was for family. And then the family didn't have to travel for two showers within a couple weeks. They were appreciative. 

sequoia77

echoudhary-

Did your husbands family attend as well or was it just you and your sisters family.  If both attended, how did you word things on the invite (assuming your husbands family would only purchase for you and same for your sis)...hope you don't mind sharing.

 

Thanks

umbcpt

My shower is in two weeks and it is a double shower.  It is for a very good friend of mine that is due two weeks after me.  Initially, I was going to have a separate shower for her, but several factors changed minds.  When my friend that is hosting found out she was pregnant too, she asked months ago if she could do a double shower.  But my friend said she felt awkward for previous reasons stated. I have been on bedrest, so throwing a shower for anyone is out of the question for me.  I also found out about a month ago that her mom was going to be in town for the shower (all of her family is spread all over the country).  I was trying to figure out a way to have a shower for her, but it would be tough and a lot of the same people would be invited to the same event in the same weekend. 

So, we chose to handle it this way.  The hostess of the shower had three sets of invites made up...one for me specifically, one for her specifically, and one for both of us.  That way, no one has received an invite for a person they don't know, and no one would feel like they had to get a gift for a person they don't know.  Plus, her mom would be included in the shower and our mutual friends (more than half the list) would not have two parties to attend in the same weekend, which is burdensome for many reasons.  That made us feel better about the dual shower.  I am super excited, and my friend and I decided that we would love to share the experience together, and we will tell people of the co-shower when they arrive, and my friends and family have always had the attitude, the more the merrier.  I am sure her friends that I don't know are the same way. 

I know some people disagree with me, but I figure it's our shower, and we know our guests better than anyone, and if we want to do it, and our hostess wants to do it, than what is the harm?

umbcpt

Also, I copied this post from a similar topic a week or so ago...it was a cute was of having a dual (multiple) person shower...

 "

My sister, a cousin and I are all due within 3 weeks of each other and so we are doing a combined shower thrown by our aunts.

They sent out one invite listing all our names and calling it a Baby Shower Open House. They are having a brunch and inviting relatives from all groups and saying something about coming to celebrate the mama that you know. That way people don't feel obligated to bring gifts for each of us.

It is our first baby for each of us - there are 7 of us pregnant right now between our families - so a combined or joint shower saves everyone time! Hope that helps.  "

sequoia77

umbcpt (and all others)-

Thanks for your input...very helpful!

echoudhary

the invite was worded as a Baby Shower Open House and listed our names.

My husband's family did not attend because they live in India...but my sister's did and any family in between. The hosts left it completely open for anyone to attend that knew either of us. It was very informal and worked out well.

KendraJoette

I had a dual bridal shower at my church with a girl that was getting married a week after us.  I thought it was going to be really hard and that people would feel obligated. But it actually worked well. There were people that only got one of us a gift and it wasnt strange, it really suprised me and it was a lot of fun. 

We did open gifts at the same time, which I would recomend if you do it.