Is she asking for gifts?

I always tend to not follow tradition either by choice or circumstance. When I married DH, we had a fairly large wedding (by our terms it was large) but requested no gifts. It wasn't a first wedding for either of us and we wanted people there to celebrate (neither of us had a "real" wedding before) but we didn't want to ask anything of them except just to be there.

Maybe this bride wants a shower? It's not my type of thing but I can see the attraction. Maybe she wants female bonding, games, and fun. Maybe she's lonely and if her bridesmaids are fighting, that could make it all the worse for what should be a fun time in her life.

Unless the price of admission to the shower was cash or something bought from an expensive registry, I applaud her. If people wait for someone else to make things happen, then there is the chance your life won't go the way you want it to and then there would be regret. I think she's brave, especially seeing all the potential criticism that could happen.