I gave up going to showers because I truly hate those stupid games.

If the honoree is old enough to get married or give birth, she should be old enough to have guests that would enjoy conversation, good food and something to drink.

As I stated earlier, I am definitely not a fan of games. However, I have seen a nice thing that includes everyone at several showers. That is where at some point - usually when everyone is seated at lunch or just before presents are opened, the hostess asks each guest to talk about the first time they met. This leads to some sweet and funny stories -- Aunties talk about the first time they saw the bride as a baby or toddler, college roomates talk about the first impressions in the dorm etc. So although it's not a game, if you simply must do something, this is very inclusive and everyone gets to say something.

Another vote for NO GAMES. I quit going to showers and bridal parties where I know there will be games...and Suck for a Buck..is downright tacky.

Open presents with friends..share some good food and stories and leave it at that..

I was forced to do that awful suck for a buck game at my bachelorette party and it was just horrible---please don't force the poor bride to do it! I usually hate games but we did do a fun one where ahead of time we asked the groom 10 questions and then we asked the bride the same questions-mostly quite personal. It was a hoot after a few drinks-kind of a dirty version of the newlywed game.

Another vote here for no games. Also, while I may be in the minority on this, I wouldn't do anything like go around the room and have everyone share a memory either. It tends to put people on the spot. If the hostess wants to start something like that, fine, but don't ask everyone to contribute-- just open it up for those who want to.

I honestly don't care about the games (I don't participate) as long as I have booze.

Trying to keep this at all travel related - at my husband's company's 100% club trip, usually they do an excursion or two. This year instead of an excursion, they did games on the beach. It was excruciatingly not fun.

I loved all the excursions we did, and exploring new places with my husband's co-workers and vendors. I really missed that this year.

I learned that men cheat at games. Big time. One of the games we had to endure was where 2 teams had to put a large wooden puzzle together. The opposing team when to the other's puzzle to take it apart, then it was a race to see who could put their puzzle back together again first. I caught one of the guys on the other team trying to bury one of our puzzle pieces in the sand. I was suprised and told my husband and our other team member. Both replied that they had buried one of the other team's pieces!

I took an informal poll and at least one man from each team tried to hide someone's piece. And I asked the women if it would ever occur to them to do this, and they all said No. Mars and Venus, I guess!

I was at a shower a while back where one of the ongoing things was where you got a safety pin and you had to try and collect everyone else's? I seem to recall you had to get them to say something, or not say something...seemed kinda goofy.

I'm with the no games crowd - always seems so forced.

Good food is the key. The gals can just hang out and chat, share stories, meet new people.

The bride-to-be gets some gifts, the guests meet some people before the event.

I'm always the "with alcohol" crowd, but either way just relaxing in each other's company is much funner than having to join in juvenile games - and it's less work for you!

Enjoy-la!

No games (how embarrassing).

I agree with NO GAMES.

I was at a baby shower earlier this year. I don't think the mom-to-be wanted games, but we had this disgusting one where the hostess took a diaper, placed in a chocolate bar, microwaved it, and we had to guess the type of chocolate bar. She had about 8-10 different ones. YUCK. It was a waste of chocolate and diapers.

Open gifts, say kind words and NO GAMES

Now that is just plain gross.

If you're old enough to get married you're old enough to have a celebration with your friends in which you just enjoy time with each other - which no one ever seem to have enough of. What's the matter with conversation, memories of the past, plans for the future?

NO games. Unless it pin the tail on the donkey - with the donkey the one insisting on the games.

To each her own.

Plenty of people enjoy party games at bachelorette parties and showers.

Perhaps the guest of honor should decide, instead of a few vocal, boring, over-the-hill "guests"?

If you don't like it, don't play. Or leave.

I don't think I've ever seen so many like-minded people on one thread!

I'll also go no games but great food.

I wonder what the relationship is between enjoying these kinds of inane games and also enjoying brides and grooms smack cakes in each other's faces.

By "like-minded" I presume you mean OLD.

It's not uncommon on this board, unfortunately.

Enjoy your games, lynnejoel1015!

So exactly how "old" is "old" Gekko?

I'm in the "yuck" category too. However, at a recent bridal shower we asked the married ladies to relate a funny story from their married lives. Some were just cute and some were absolutely hysterical. That was the best time I've had recently at a shower.

Pinatas! You could fill it up with condoms, joints, mini bottles, pills, and adult toys and porn!

Now that would liven up a party LOL!