Invite - no gifts wording POLL

joy143dh

I already printed his invites (3rd Birthday at a Bouncy house place), but I've decided to ask for no gifts.  I know our family will be bringing him gifts and we will open those at the house AFTER the party at the bouncyplace.  We are inviting all 20 of his preschool classmates and I just want them to come and have fun and do not want the parents to feel like they need to buy him a present. 

I am going to buy little circle stickers and run them through the printer with a saying about no gifts.  What should I put on that is polite but gets the point across?

[poll]

joy143dh

Or maybe something like "My family has already spoiled me, please just come and have fun with me. No gifts, thank you"  << maybe too long for the sticker though... ?

Andrewsgal

NO NO and NO again. I answer this question daily on the 12-24 board. It is rude to tell people what to bring or what not to bring. I went to a "no presents" party a couple of weeks ago and about 80% of the people brought gifts anyway, the ones that did not fet horrible.

It puts people in a horrible position. If you have too many toys donate some, but you should not dictate what people do or dont bring. I for one will always bring a gift no matter what.

AnnapolisLari

I think that a birthday party = presents, and has since the dawn of time.

It's rude, no matter how you phrase it.

winery

Ditto the pp.

If you don't want gifts, don't have a party.

People are supposed to bring gifts to parties.  Not even birthday parties, but people bring hostess gifts to just regular parties, so asking people not to is in poor taste.

joy143dh

really? I had no idea it was rude to ask for no gifts!  I thought I was being considerate figuring I don't know any of the parents.   I googled this earlier and other message boards seem OK with it.   Hm, ok, guess I'll think about this more...

Temp86398625009737

I agree, puts people in a wierd position..I would then still need to get a gift and keep it the car or something til I saw what others were doing. 

Andrewsgal

joy143dh:

really? I had no idea it was rude to ask for no gifts!  I thought I was being considerate figuring I don't know any of the parents.   I googled this earlier and other message boards seem OK with it.   Hm, ok, guess I'll think about this more...

It just puts people in a really odd position, some will bring gifts (I always do no matter what) some will follow your instructions and won't. Those that don't feel horrible.

Why not just donate extra toys and books to a childrens shelter or local hospital?

amiamish

Andrewsgal:

joy143dh:

really? I had no idea it was rude to ask for no gifts!  I thought I was being considerate figuring I don't know any of the parents.   I googled this earlier and other message boards seem OK with it.   Hm, ok, guess I'll think about this more...

It just puts people in a really odd position, some will bring gifts (I always do no matter what) some will follow your instructions and won't. Those that don't feel horrible.

Why not just donate extra toys and books to a childrens shelter or local hospital?

ditto. Let him have fun and have new toys, donate the old ones-or even some of the new ones- somewhere.

camrude

I've done the "no gifts" thing (DD's 1st bday) and it was awkward for those that did not bring anything because MANY people did.

I wish there was a way to make the whole no gifts thing work, but I have yet to figure it out.

Basically, I'll never request no gifts again.

Temp108743750006959

people will bring gifts regardless. I'd just let them bring them and put them away (so you don't open them during the party, nor are they there as a reminder). Then donate if you really didn't want gifts, but let you kid have a few.

joy143dh

It's not that I don't want DS to get presents... I just thought that by inviting his whole class, it looks like I'm asking for presents.  KWIM?

npeacock

What about instead of the no-gifts thing, doing a gift exchange? It sounds like most of the kids will be close to the same age, so ask everyone to bring a book and exchange the books with all the kids there.