I'm glad you're doing what's right for you and your fiance.

I am wondering though if you're interpreting the questions of your friends as "pressure to conform" when actually they might merely be asking because they associate these events with fun times and they want to be a part of them and make sure not to miss them if you do have them? For example a lot of people see wedding showers as fun. A lot of women see dress shopping as fun. Doesn't mean you have to, but maybe your friends were asking in the same way as one might ask "are you going to see X attraction?" when they hear you're going to a specific holiday destination.