One of the things I love most about living in America is the freedom we have in making choices as we live our daily lives. Anything goes in this day and age and you can be free to be as traditional or non-traditional as you want to. If having a formal bridal shower and bachelor party are not your thing, consider having a Jack and Jill wedding shower.
Jack and Jill showers are great because they include the groom and the other men in the family who also want to be part of the festivities. These parties can be formal but usually are more casual since you are likely to have a large group (BBQs are fairly common) and after all, there is a wedding to follow which is typically more formal. Since these parties aren’t traditional, fun photo party invitations can be used to showcase the unique event.
Hard and fast rules do not really apply to this type of shower, but there are a few guidelines:
- Make sure that the party invitations are clear that it is not a women-only shower and men are invited as guests.
- Some advise against having parties in general when there are major sporting events on, so you might want to consider this if you want a good turnout.
- If you are asking your guests to share a piece of sound marriage advice or perhaps a favorite recipe for the couple, or you are incorporating a theme which requires participation from your guests like a “stock the bar” or “fill up the tool box” gift theme, be sure to include this on your invite as well.
For the party itself, you might want to play some games to get the party going. Just be sure that you are considering both the men and women when making your plan. One great game to play is the Newlywed game, which can be played by just the couple getting married or include guests that are in a relationship.
Since Jack and Jill showers usually replace other parties such as engagement parties and bridal showers, your guests will want to give a gift, though it should never be a requirement. Let your guests know where the couple is registered if applicable or any other preferences the couple may have for gifts such as gift certificates or honey moon donations. Most people will appreciate being given guidance for a gift rather than trying to decide on something on their own, but this is also a touchy subject so it should be handled delicately as you don’t want anyone to feel obligated to give a gift if they do not wish to do so.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I really hope I never get invited to a Jack and Jill shower of any kind. Women don’t even want to go to these parties…why would men?
Jack…. Can i call you jack? Good thanks. Can i ask you what exactly that contraption is on your head? It looks like some sort of night vision goggles yet yet here you are sitting in the wilderness during the day. So why exactly are night vision goggles needed during the day? Maybe they are to protect you from that hot food you are cooking in which case they are a great investment. Can those be worn underwater? If so would you mind leaving a comment under mine to tell me where you got them from. There have been a couple of times i wish i had a pair of night vision goggles that i could wear during the day while cooking underwater. Not a big fan of guys going to showers though. Leave that to the bachelor party.