Open House Shower was a Success!

karah0011

My shower was this weekend and hosted by my mom and sister.  It was open house style and it went fantastic! I was nervous about the present situation, but I opened most peoples presents when they arrived and I greeted them. We set them out so everyone could see them and many people watched me open gifts but did not have to if they did not want to.  It worked out beautifully! We invited about 65 guests ( I have a large family) and about 55 people came between the 4 hours we had set.  Food was great and everyone was having a conversation with someone the whole time.  To sum it up, Open House Showers can work very well!!!!

Brandy Glover

Can you tell more about open house showers b/c I also have a big family also and I am interested in doing this.

karah0011

Sure! We decided to do this because we invited so many people and my moms house was not big enough to hold 65 people at one time.  It was very casual which is more our style anyways. We set the time up for 4 hours and people came and went as they wanted.  Some stayed 2 hours and some stayed 30 minutes depending on what they wanted.  As guests arrived I opened their gift when I greeted them or before they left.  We had all the normal baby shower food, someone even asked if it was catered. My mom and sister did an amazing job.  We did not play any games which we got a lot of compliments on! Everyone knew people there, so they were conversating with people and I could walk around and have personal converstations with everyone at some point.  It was exhausting after it was all said and done, but it works well if you have a lot of people  and want a more casual shower.  I would be happy to answer any more questions!

StarBe

this sounds like a wonderful option for a "bed rest" MTB!

Glad it worked so well for you

caladpi02

karah0011:

Sure! We decided to do this because we invited so many people and my moms house was not big enough to hold 65 people at one time.  It was very casual which is more our style anyways. We set the time up for 4 hours and people came and went as they wanted.  Some stayed 2 hours and some stayed 30 minutes depending on what they wanted.  As guests arrived I opened their gift when I greeted them or before they left.  We had all the normal baby shower food, someone even asked if it was catered. My mom and sister did an amazing job.  We did not play any games which we got a lot of compliments on! Everyone knew people there, so they were conversating with people and I could walk around and have personal converstations with everyone at some point.  It was exhausting after it was all said and done, but it works well if you have a lot of people  and want a more casual shower.  I would be happy to answer any more questions!

This is not a real word. Please do not use it.

karah0011

YES MAM! Wow! Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed!

karah0011

Just wanted to share my success since so many people on here think its a bad idea.  It does work and everyone commented on how great it was and plan on doing it in the future for their shower.  I know other people have other opinions but all the guests were happy with the flexibility.

rhubarb123

I'm glad your shower was a success.  Since you said some people wanted to hang out and watch you open gifts might actually tell you (or others) something.  People like to see the gift opening (even gifts that they themself didn't bring).  Also, you were fortunate that everyone knew someone.  That is not always the case at showers I've atended.  I would have definitely been one of those who came, watched you open my gift, maybe got a drink and left - basically 15-20 minutes max. lol  Four hours is a hellava loooooong shower...even for 65 people.  I had about 50-55 at a regular shower and it was only 3 hours.  I was tired at the end, I didn't have to go around greeting guests (like couples do at wedding receptions).

lexyraejay

MandJS:

Okay, seriously. If you're going to have an open house because you are inviting "so many people", then MAYBE you should pare down the guest list. It's a shower. NOT a wedding. I'm glad it worked for you, but I'd still side eye it big time if I were invited to such an event.

I will have the same problem she did. If only the aunts and female first cousins from my side of the family come to my baby shower, that's 40 people right there. It customary in my family to invite the aunts and female first cousins and also close family friends...it ends up being big without the possiblity of paring anything down!

kimmarie1105

caladpi02:

karah0011:

Sure! We decided to do this because we invited so many people and my moms house was not big enough to hold 65 people at one time.  It was very casual which is more our style anyways. We set the time up for 4 hours and people came and went as they wanted.  Some stayed 2 hours and some stayed 30 minutes depending on what they wanted.  As guests arrived I opened their gift when I greeted them or before they left.  We had all the normal baby shower food, someone even asked if it was catered. My mom and sister did an amazing job.  We did not play any games which we got a lot of compliments on! Everyone knew people there, so they were conversating with people and I could walk around and have personal converstations with everyone at some point.  It was exhausting after it was all said and done, but it works well if you have a lot of people  and want a more casual shower.  I would be happy to answer any more questions!

This is not a real word. Please do not use it.

 

Unfortunately, it is.