Order of Events (specifically gift opening) at the Baby Shower

rebandy7412

Hey everyone, I have been considering a different order of events for my baby shower and would like some opinions. I have been to only a few baby showers, and for the most part I have thought that the opening presents seems pretty uncomfortable for the mom-to-be, and I keep thinking there must be a better way.

So, my thought is this: Open gifts as people arrive, that way each person gets to see you open her gift, but people aren't just sitting waiting for it to end.

Here's how I am imagining it would work. I would let people know ahead of time (in the invitation probably) that they can expect to find me at a gift opening table when they arrive. Then they can hang out by me and chat while I open their gift and then proceed to tell them how much I love it. This way, it's more personal too and I'm not searching for their face in a crowd to shout "Thanks so much for the nipple cream!" And then if they want to watch other gifts be opened, they're welcome to, or they can just move on. So, there might be a little bit of a line as people get there at the same time, but if someone doesn't really care if they watch me open it, they can just mingle instead. Or make a onesie I am also hoping to have a onesie decorating station, so that could be a filler for people who don't want to wait in line. Then after most people have arrived, the shower would proceed as normal (games, food, etc.) only I could go back and talk to people about their gifts more if I want to, and people wouldn't feel like they NEED to stay till the end to see their gift opened.

Please let me know your thoughts. If you were to receive an invitation that described this would you feel weird? Or would you be uncomfortable with this set up? To me, it makes sense, but I haven't found anything like it on other forums, just stuff on not opening gifts at all, which I don't think is for me. My family will definitely want me to open their gifts.

rebandy7412

Thanks! I have never posted anything on here before and I think it defaulted to this board for some reason.. weird.

rebandy7412

Thank you so much for your input, this was the type of response I was looking for! Also, just to clear up, I am not planning the whole shower, my mom is, but she is very busy and I offered to help. I originally told everyone I didn't really need a shower because we have some things already, but she and my aunts insisted, which I am grateful for, and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. This was just an idea that came to me that I thought was worth considering, and I would just suggest it after getting a few other opinions. But thanks again for responding even though I put it in the wrong spot!

augustusgoose

Is it just me or does this post make you miss the preg experience? It all seems so long ago now.

Hairstylist16

In a way I think its a good idea but you'd probably have a lot of very upset aunts and grandma's that didn't get to watch you open all your gifts and see what you got kind of thing. Plus if someone makes you something special/homemade they enjoy the ooohing and aaahing too.

chaysefaith

augustusgoose said:

Is it just me or does this post make you miss the preg experience? It all seems so long ago now.

I opened this thread expecting to see some flaming. I think J14 has gone soft in its old age.

rebandy7412

So your goal is to be mean..? Good to know for the future I guess. Does anyone know how I can delete these discussions? I am honestly never going to post on thebump again, most people seem pretty judgmental and not very informative (this discussion has been a bit more helpful than the baby showers one) but I will stick to reddit. They're much more welcoming.

texasmama2014

rebandy7412 said:

Hey everyone, I have been considering a different order of events for my baby shower and would like some opinions. I have been to only a few baby showers, and for the most part I have thought that the opening presents seems pretty uncomfortable for the mom-to-be, and I keep thinking there must be a better way.

So, my thought is this: Open gifts as people arrive, that way each person gets to see you open her gift, but people aren't just sitting waiting for it to end.

Here's how I am imagining it would work. I would let people know ahead of time (in the invitation probably) that they can expect to find me at a gift opening table when they arrive. Then they can hang out by me and chat while I open their gift and then proceed to tell them how much I love it. This way, it's more personal too and I'm not searching for their face in a crowd to shout "Thanks so much for the nipple cream!" And then if they want to watch other gifts be opened, they're welcome to, or they can just move on. So, there might be a little bit of a line as people get there at the same time, but if someone doesn't really care if they watch me open it, they can just mingle instead. Or make a onesie I am also hoping to have a onesie decorating station, so that could be a filler for people who don't want to wait in line. Then after most people have arrived, the shower would proceed as normal (games, food, etc.) only I could go back and talk to people about their gifts more if I want to, and people wouldn't feel like they NEED to stay till the end to see their gift opened.

Please let me know your thoughts. If you were to receive an invitation that described this would you feel weird? Or would you be uncomfortable with this set up? To me, it makes sense, but I haven't found anything like it on other forums, just stuff on not opening gifts at all, which I don't think is for me. My family will definitely want me to open their gifts.

QFP

No, the goal is not to be mean.  Many women come here and get offended because of blunt honesty.

rebandy7412

Well, I don't know about other people, but I personally had never posted anywhere before, just read the comments because usually I could find what I was looking for. But after posting on here a friend of mine had directed me to reddit because I found this one mostly unhelpful. (This one being the Baby Showers Board. I had no issue with the responses I got in this thread.)

flerlgirl

Can't delete. Be a grown up.

elsa1688

LOL at reddit being nicer