"Be forewarned: After graduation, you will be invited to wedding, upon wedding until your mid 30s,” a longtime friend relayed, words from her older friend. Like clockwork, a year after graduation, invitations came flooding in. I went from attending two in my lifetime to being invited to three in two months. My impression of the guest experience? There are so many gatherings to commemorate the, hopefully, once-in-a-life moment. First there is the engagement party, then bridal shower(s), bachelorette/bachelor party and finally the wedding. And of course, gifts are expected for all shindigs.

I’ve just experienced three bridal showers and the format humors me. Women crowd around the bride-to-be, waiting for that special look of utter surprise when she opens your gift, as if she would have never guessed you bought her that toaster from her Target registry. One tradition that’s neat is the rehearsal dinner bouquet, made from ribbons taken off the gifts.

I was recently at a shower that included a fun and different activity. Women were divided into groups to create a wedding dress out of toiler paper—Project Runway style. It was for shits and giggles. One model was given an extended derrière, or “bustle.” And the to-be bride’s grandmother strutted her toilet paper-clad “stuff”, attempted to strip down to her clothes. I love when grandmas are the life of the party!