My sister (9 years younger than me, 23 years old), said she wanted to plan my baby shower when I first announced I was pregnant. My cousin who lives in Baltimore (I live in Virginia), said she would help her since she is the honorary God mother (a childhood promise I made to her). That was when I was about 8 weeks pregnant. Last week, my mom said she knew someone who planned amazing showers and when I said, maybe I should hire her, she said that's what she was going to do. Because, when my sister has her "parties" and "events" they are not put together well. Now my mom had me thinking. My little sister's events are not put together well and I really want a nice baby shower. I have a vision for what I want it to be like and I don't think my sister can deliver, she doesn't have experience putting together really nice, upscale events. SO, when my mom's friend who she was going to hire turned out to be unavailable on the date which is next month, i contacted a friend of mine who owns an event planning business. Even though she specializes in weddings. The plan was not to exclude my sister, the plan was to have a professional oversee and bring location options, etc. the have my sister work directly with her as her right hand, I would still not be involved except for the initial theme and items I really want there. When I talked to my sister about hiring my moms friend and helping her out she was fine. NOW, my mom is telling my sister that she doesn't want to pay someone and telling me the exact opposite. When I asked my sister what she had planned already (the shower date is March 26), she said nothing, she just wants me to get started working on the guest list.

My sister now has an attitude with me because she feels I am doing too much. BTW my mom kept telling me to reserve the clubhouse where I am moving for a location for weeks now. I didn't want to, but I caved and sent her the information. My sister feels like I am too involved and that I shouldn't be involved at all. She feels that since she is sponsoring the shower, she should make all decisions, except of course the theme and she doesn't need to keep me updated on anything because i am the guest of honor. When I asked her about what she already had planned, she told me nothing was planned and when I responded that the guest list she keeps hounding me for takes an hour to do, she said she will just let me handle things and let know if I need her for anything. All the more reason for me to hire a professional because I don't have time to tip toe around her to make sure she doesn't quit. Again today, we had a disagreement and she said she doesn't want to be involved anymore because I am not listening to her perspective on how things should be going. I told her it's MY shower so she should be listening more to me, not the other way around. I don't care about her 23 year old perspective, I have planned MANY events and know how this work. I am not even trying to plan anything, I just want to bring in a professional,even if I have to pay them myself.
Let me ask you, is it wrong for me to want a nice shower and to want a professional to oversee the amateurs? Or should I just shut my mouth and take whatever thrown together shower (although I am grateful, don't get me wrong) that I get from my little sister, who BTW has no kids and has only attended one baby shower in her life? Regardless of the confusion my mom has started, I really want a nice shower for my first baby especially as a FTSM, I could use a nice celebration after dealing with HG, migraines and baby daddy issues all pregnancy. I don't trust that my sister and my mom can pull it off and if it is not nice, I will be appreciative, but not as excited about it, you know? Also, I know that paying a party planner kind of defeats the purpose because I could use that money on baby stuff, which is the whole point of a baby shower, unless it's more of a social event for the mom, versus her just getting items she needs. This is stressing me out at this point
Re: Baby shower Drama
Maybe im just not that particular about events, but for both my bridal and my baby shower friends offered to do it, asked if there was a theme I liked, and I basically just showed up. But I guess I never expected anything fancy.
Unfortunately, I am not that laid back, low key type of person like most women are. I do like upscale, high class things in my life, I don't think there is anything wrong with that personally, because we are all created differently. So I like stilettos during the week and high rise apartments. My family knows that about me and my baby shower, yes I want it to be nice, not bank breaking of course, nothing unreasonable, but still really nice.
If there's any way to apologize and salvage this incredibly kind offer from your mom and sister, I'd suggest doing it and lose the bratty attitude.
If the shower doesn't live up to your high expectations, feel free to use your own money and plan an extravagant "meet the baby" party where you're footing the bill and can oversee all the details.
All I wanted was to hang out with all my favorite women in one place for a little while and that's all I want for my baby shower as well. I'm staying out of it completely.
I don't understand what's wrong with having a desire for the type of baby shower you would want. I guess, I have been looking at it as just a nice party to celebrate the milestone in your life. With nice gifts of things you will need.
This^
And absolutely this^
This is the last I'll say- if I was invited to a shower like you want to have, I'd be so worried about coming up with a "good enough" gift (despite the fact that we're a one-income family) that I'd probably decline the invitation,
or end up sacrificing our grocery budget to find the perfect thing. Just something else to think about.
And FWIW I didn't even have an event planner for my wedding. I did it all on my own and my wedding was a freaking blast. So the idea of you hiring someone to put together a baby shower for you because you think your sister can't handle it is literally laughable for me.
I lurk. I snark. I offer sound advice if you're not BSC. You may not like me. I'm okay with it.
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You sound like a spoiled brat, sorry.
Married 9/1/13
Off OCP 3/1/14
TTC 6/1/14
DX Endometriosis in 2002
Laparoscopy 2002 and 2007
HSG 8/2014, right tube partially blocked
1st BFP 1/5/15 EDD 9/12/15- miscarried 1/8/15
BFP 8/4/16 EDD 3/2/18- trisomy 18 girl- no heartbeat 8/25/17 at 13 weeks d&c 8/28/17
BFP 12/4/17 EDD 8/19/18
Different women, different minds, different lives, all created in HIS image. I learned something from the ladies who were not rude (that's not necessary just because someone is different). Appreciate it and have a great day!