1St Wedding Shower Looking Very Dismal!! Help!

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses various experiences and concerns related to hosting bridal showers, particularly focusing on the challenges of ensuring guests purchase from the bride's Pampered Chef registry. Participants share their personal experiences, frustrations, and strategies for encouraging guests to adhere to the registry wishes.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a host, expresses concern about guests calling the bride to ask if they must purchase from her registry, leading to uncertainty about the shower's success.
  • Another participant shares their experience of successfully encouraging guests to buy from the registry, resulting in a qualified show.
  • Several users mention the confusion among guests regarding the registry and the expectations set by the invitations.
  • One participant discusses the difficulty of getting RSVPs and the challenges of communicating the registry details effectively.
  • Another participant notes that they had to take initiative in creating the bride's wishlist due to lack of response from the bride.
  • Some participants suggest making follow-up calls to guests to clarify the registry and encourage purchases.
  • One user shares their positive outcome despite initial worries, highlighting the importance of maintaining a positive attitude.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the effectiveness of communication strategies with guests regarding the registry. Some participants found success with follow-up calls, while others faced challenges with guests not understanding the expectations.

Contextual Notes

Participants are primarily Pampered Chef consultants hosting bridal showers, sharing personal experiences and insights about managing guest expectations and registry purchases.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants preparing to host bridal showers may find these discussions relevant as they navigate similar challenges and seek strategies for successful events.

heat123
heat123
Silver Member
Messages
6,922
Man have any of you ever had this problem...???

I have a shower of 25 expected guests. I am the actual host (this is my best freind's wedding shower). I sent out invites using the one I found here at CS, stating not to bring any gifts that she is registered with TPC etc.

Well the Bride is getting calls for all or most RSVPs (and I listed my name and # to RSVP to) which I thought very strange and she's getting a bunch of calls asking if "they have to" purchase off her PC registry!? She doesn't want to be rude and say "yes you must or else" so she thinks everyone will just bring a gift from random places with gifts she doesn't even want!!

So needless to say, I don't have high expectations for my first bridal shower and and hoping it qualifies :( !
 
You could try making the follow-up calls to everyone invited yourself and re-enforce how excited the bride and groom are about stocking their kitchen with great kitchen tools! Put her wish list on your website and directly them there to view all of the great tools she wants. Maybe if they see there is something for every budget they will be more open to purchasing at the shower. You could also suggest that give cash and also the bride to shop.

I hope it all works out.
 
Also...maybe if you explained to each of them that also she wants certain items that she cant afford & doesnt want her guests to pay for them, so by buying the items she has specified she will get X amount of items free!!! Then NO ONE has to pay for them..;)
 
I like Shari's idea. Make follow up calls. Tell them your friend is really excited about receiving PC gifts and you hope they can come.

I've only had one bridal shower and I thought it would be a flop. The bride only registered for $300 because she was already having 4 other showers. She ended up getting everything she registered for, plus the guests bought so much for themselves the show was a little over $600.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #5
Well I had the shower this weekend and it went so much better than I had anticipated it would! Of the 18 guests (kids incl) from the 22 people expected all but 2 of her aunts ordered from her PC wishlist! Wheewww, what a relief!

She closed at $433 so I am glad that it was able to qualify and she received $500+ in PC products to fill her kitchen! Overall it was a good first PC bridal shower experience in the end! THank Goodness!
 
heat123 said:
Man have any of you ever had this problem...???

I have a shower of 25 expected guests. I am the actual host (this is my best freind's wedding shower). I sent out invites using the one I found here at CS, stating not to bring any gifts that she is registered with TPC etc.

Well the Bride is getting calls for all or most RSVPs (and I listed my name and # to RSVP to) which I thought very strange and she's getting a bunch of calls asking if "they have to" purchase off her PC registry!? She doesn't want to be rude and say "yes you must or else" so she thinks everyone will just bring a gift from random places with gifts she doesn't even want!!

So needless to say, I don't have high expectations for my first bridal shower and and hoping it qualifies :( !
Click to expand...

My first bridal shower went great--only one brought a gift out of 18--$800 show--I used the order form I got on here --there are 5 lines to buy FOR THE BRIDE and like 5 line FOR MYSELF!!!
got 3 bookings and a lady that heard about the show had a small one and signed up!!

stay positive
 
I have my first wedding shower planned for next month, it's for my youngest sister. I sent out the invitations that I got from PC. I've had the strangest rsvp's. One called and asked where she's registered- so she could buy a gift. I explained that they were registered with PC and she could make a purchase off their wish list and she asked me if the bride was ok with not having gifts to open that day ??? :confused: Another called my grandmother and asked if it was ok to buy whatever they (her and 3 daughters) wanted, since PC was too expensive. I told granny that over 100 items on wishlist were $30 or less and asked if I should call and explain. Another one called me to say she couldn't make it and her and her girls would just buy them something at WalMart. :eek: When I explained to her she could still get a gift off their wish list, she chuckled and said she'd send a gift to my mom's for her. I'm quite puzzled by this since I thought the invitation was pretty straight forward. Heck, I even asked my husband to read it. After he did I asked him what the people who were invited were supposed to do, his answer was "bring a favorite recipe and buy a gift from their wish list, which you will supply and something for themselves if they want". Now I thought that if my mostly unsupportive ( for PC that is) husband got it, that it's pretty clear.
The other problem is that 80 people have been invited and you all know how many people have actually responded- 12 so far and some of them called the bride, not me to rsvp. I want this to be a sucess so that my sister and fiance can get the things that they want but I'm not sure what to do. My director always said that a wedding shower was the easiest shower you could ever have but from past experience this is not easier it's much more aggravation. Thoughts?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #8
I had the exact same problem. As posted on my orignal thread. I could not understand why people were calling the bride directly to RSVP (when my name and # was listed on the invite) and they were asking the bride directly if it was ok not to go off her wishlist???!!!!

I was just baffled by the responses! But in the end after talking to the bride, I explained to her to tell further guests to either call me to explain the wishlist gift purchase or just explain to them that she was really excited to recieve the PC things she had registered for! So they would get the hint to not buy an outside gift!

Luckily, only 2 ended up not going off her PC wishlist! And everything went ok in the end!

Good luck to yours! Hopefully it goes well for you!
 
How did you do her wish list? I dont have the time to make the picture index cards...I am thinking about make a list of the things she wants but I am not sure what to put on the list--do I put the price???
 
Beth,

You can make index cards by cutting pictures out of the catalog. Glue to card stock (or cardboard) -- that's what I've done (I tell my guests that this is as close to artistic as I get).

I would include the price of the items . You can do this by cutting out the picture and the description of the item, including # and price).

Be sure you don't put all of the wish list items on one page. You want to have cards/pages so that more than one guest can review wish list products at one time. That being said, don't circulate duplicate lists! If you do this, you'll get multiples of items that were supposed to be singles.

I hope this makes sense. . .I'll keep an eye on this thread and see if I confused you completely.
 
omg.after reading all these posts im getting worried! I have my first bridal shower(which the bride gave me 1wk notice)this saturday! I have been trying to contact this girl over & over & no response then BAM an email stating we're having a house warming/bridal shower this date this time.So i said ok lets kick it in gear,did you mention that PC will be there & to buy gifts thru them?? She said yes but she is just sooo difficult hasnt even done her wishlist yet! if it isnt done by tomorrow i'm doing it for her!!!!
 
i have one august 12th that i am very worried about :( . this is my first bride and she is a friend of the family. i got ropped into actually hosting it too. she told my mom that i said we were giving her a PC shower when i actually told her if ANYONE wanted to give her one i would be glad to come do the presention, but there was no way to get out of it. now that we have gotten the guest list, i know the people and most of them NEVER go to showers nor send gifts. we tried to encourage inviting others but when we got the list they had not. i am keeping my fingers crossed that this is one of those i am dreading that turns into awesome!! :o on a much better none, i have a mom that called to set a registry up for her daughter that told me she would get back with me today with an order about $400 just from her :D for her daughter and they still want me to come do a family shower. so, i do see they are not all bad - that can be encouraging!!! i am gong to enter this mom's order in as a show b/c i feel if she is spending that much the least i can do is work it where she gets the benefits from what she is spending. and i know this can create some lifetime customers by doing the little things to help them get more for their money.:cool:
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some creative themes for a wedding shower to make it more exciting?

Consider themes like a "Cooking Class" where guests can participate in making dishes using Pampered Chef products, or a "Garden Party" with outdoor games and floral decorations. A "Recipe Exchange" theme can also encourage guests to share their favorite recipes, making it interactive and fun.

How can I encourage guests to participate and engage during the shower?

Incorporate interactive activities such as cooking demonstrations with Pampered Chef tools, games related to the couple, or a DIY station where guests can create their own kitchen gadgets. Offering small prizes for participation can also motivate guests to get involved.

What are some easy and delicious recipes to serve at the wedding shower?

Simple recipes like mini quiches, stuffed mushrooms, or a charcuterie board can be crowd-pleasers. You can also prepare a signature cocktail or mocktail that fits the theme of the shower, ensuring that the food is both appealing and easy to manage for guests.

How can I make the wedding shower feel more personal and special for the couple?

Incorporate personal touches such as a slideshow of the couple's journey together, a guest book for attendees to leave messages, or a memory jar where guests can share their favorite moments with the couple. These elements can create a warm and intimate atmosphere.

What should I do if I feel overwhelmed planning the wedding shower?

Start by creating a checklist of tasks and prioritize them. Don’t hesitate to delegate responsibilities to friends or family members who are willing to help. Additionally, consider simplifying your plans to focus on a few key elements that will make the shower enjoyable without adding unnecessary stress.

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