Wedding season is upon us, and that means your weekends are booked solid with other people’s “big day”. While the occasional weekend wedding is no big deal, and can actually be a lot of fun (open bar, single bridesmaids, and free food, anyone?), the list of events you’re required to attend in preparation for the big day is about to get longer.
On the typical wedding prep agenda already is the engagement party, a stag and doe, bridal shower, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and the rehearsal dinner. But someone just realized that the bride gets an extra day all to herself where all her friends and family celebrate her and her decision to get married. Is it really fair that the bride gets a shower, but the groom doesn’t? Well maybe it isn’t fair technically, but I’ve personally never met a guy who cared. Of course, that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
BuzzFeed recently did a story on wedding showers they threw for a couple of their employees, and they decided it was time to coin the term “bro-dal shower”. One of the themes was lumberjack, with a cake that resembled a tree stump. Activities included DIY beard decorating , and a temporary tattoo station. The food played on the lumberjack-camping theme with s’more dip, trail mix, and corn on the cob. The whole thing was very loyal to the original “lumberjack” theme, and was probably a lot of fun.
But how many guys out there really want a full on Pinterest-inspired party in their honour? Most guys are satisfied with a case of beer, a decent whiskey, and a barbecue-style feast. Of course, a bro-dal shower doesn’t have to be as heavily catered and decorated as BuzzFeed’s example. There are a lot more low-key options that could include beer pong, a pot-luck style meal, and crowding around the TV for a baseball game. But then… isn’t that just like any typical Saturday?
Women have traditionally been the ones to excited about every aspect of wedding planning. Part of the experience of getting married has always included all the events leading up to the big day. But these days, there are a lot of men who are just as excited to get married as their brides are. So why shouldn’t they get to celebrate too? If someone wants to throw you a bro-dal shower, who are you to stop them?
But now, a lot of people are deciding to opt-out of some wedding traditions for the simple fact that no one wants to make an appearance at 10 different pre-wedding events. Your guests are already shelling out for a couple different gifts, the bachelor/bachelorette party events, and possibly travel and hotels if your wedding is out of town. Adding another “fun party” to the mix ends up feeling like an obligation for a lot of guests, no matter how happy for you they are.
So go ahead, green light the bro-dal shower, but don’t be surprised if the list of RSVP’s is a little heavy on the “sorry, can’t make this one, bro” side. People have better things to do than pose for photos in plaid with a machete as a prop.
