Okay, but what does the bride do at the bridal shower?

Have we talked about how I am really bad at being a bride? Because we are about to talk about it again. I am really great at a lot of things, like listening to people, chatting about ovaries, keeping my face protected while I throw a jab. However, I keep finding that I am really bad at being a bride, at least in the traditional sense. Although, I have talked about this with other women who are in my circle, and it seems to be an epidemic. Maybe it’s a generational thing? OR I am friends with a bunch of independent, career-focused women who never really thought about the intricacies of their wedding until they had already said, “Yes.” I am pretty sure it is the latter, since I have seen twenty year olds on, “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta,” who seem to have this bridal thing down, which I find inspiring/horrifying. 

Every time I think that I have this wedding thing licked, another situation pops up that I have no idea what to do with. Having a vision for my wedding? Sure, I totally have one of those now. Finding a dress that says, “Elegant, quirky, foxy”? Yep, I found one of those too. At this point, I even know how to have a polite yet firm conversation with an overzealous vendor, and I could rattle off five places to have a creative and refined dinner party for a bunch of people. But how to act my first bridal shower? No freaking idea. 

My mom’s friends are throwing my first bridal shower this weekend, and they have worked hard to make it Lauren-friendly. It is going to be at a fun restaurant, which I always appreciate. I think it is going to have a cupcake theme, and who doesn’t love those. It will have brunch food, which is my favorite. I have high hopes that any sort of games will be kept to a minimum. These are all great things. And yet, I am not totally sure what I am supposed to do at this event. I have seen a bunch of internet articles about how to throw a bridal shower and none on how to be the bride at the shower. I know how to mingle and create a fun atmosphere; I am relatively socially adept. But is that all that I do? Am I expected to give a speech? Am I supposed to cry? Do I wax poetic about my fiancé and marriage? Should I not talk about ovaries? (Ha! Joke. We always talk about those.) I guess that I will find out in a few days! 

- Lauren, doing this bride thing one event at a time