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Re: no gifts at birthday party

FordlorFordlor member
in Babies: 9 - 12 Months

We are having our daughter's birthday party back in Orlando (our family and close friends still live there) in May.  I think I want to include the "your presence is present enough" type of thing on the invites.  We'll have to fly any gifts we do receive back to Denver, plus we have a small house so I don't really want a gazillion large toys.  However, I know for a fact that my IL's, my parents, and some close friends will give DD gifts. 

How do I handle opening their gifts in front of people that might not have brought a gift?  (FYI- The party will be at a local park)

I've never hosted a party or gone to a party where "no gifts" was an option.

Any advice or information is appreciated.

TIA.

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Re: Re: no gifts at birthday party

  • Hibiscus2007Hibiscus2007
    Don't open this gifts until after the party.  Most of the parties I have attended they open them after we leave. 
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  • jrzbrydejrzbryde
    Can you just not open the gifts at the party? Maybe do it with just family before or after? If you are going to specify on the invite not to bring gifts, I wouldn't open gifts at the party.
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  • FordlorFordlor member

    imageHibiscus2007:
    Don't open this gifts until after the party.  Most of the parties I have attended they open them after we leave. 

    It's not considered rude to the people who brought gifts?  I'm really asking, like I said I've never dealt with this before. :)

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  • mrsdjm07mrsdjm07 member
    My SIL does her parties like that for my 3 yo nephew and some people still do bring gifts sometimes. They just open them near the end before the people who brought the gifts leave.  We normally just do a card, and we don't feel bad at all for not bringing a more tangible gift.
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  • faBriezyfaBriezy member
    Ive never been to a 1st birthday party where gifts were opened at the party so I think its fine to wait until after. I think it would make the people feel bad who followed directions and didnt bring a gift.
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  • IckyThumpIckyThump
    I know it's a PITA, but I wouldn't bother with the "no presents" thing. Like you said, some people will bring gifts, and even if she doesn't open them at the party, they'll still be seen. This will just create an awkward situation and feelings could be hurt.
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  • FordlorFordlor member

    imagefaBriezy:
    Ive never been to a 1st birthday party where gifts were opened at the party so I think its fine to wait until after. I think it would make the people feel bad who followed directions and didnt bring a gift.

    I agree!  Sounds good to me.  We'll wait til after the party.  :)

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  • Hibiscus2007Hibiscus2007
    IMO its not rude not to open the gifts until after the party, but maybe that's just the way they do things around here.  A 1 yr old would need help opening presents anyway and I wouldn't want to sit there and open them all instead of enjoying the party.  Maybe you can ask the ones that do bring a present if they want to see her open it now or is after the party ok?
    Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickersLilypie Premature Baby tickers Beta #1 9/23= 81 on 10dpo 1st u/s 10/1/09=too early 2nd u/s scheduled for 10/14/09=3 heartbeats...OMG 2 BOYS & a GIRL!!!! Triplets born 33w,4 d due to PRE-E 4 pounds, 5 oz. each Image and video hosting by TinyPic
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  • MirandaHobbesMirandaHobbes member

    I've been having a hard time with this too! At all the first bday parties I've been to we DO open gifts. And I know my family will want to give gifts (even though I'd rather them not). My friends will think it is weird that they weren't asked to bring gifts.. especially when they see the other gifts. Anyway, it's a lame idea but I think we're going to do two parties- a very small "family" party (actually it is just going to be an impromptu after church type thing) and then a larger "friend" party that won't be so much of a 1st bday party as an excuse to get together with our friends. No gifts at the friend party. The only problem with this is what happens if my (extended) family finds out we're having a bigger party.. in that case I'm just using the excuse that we're just having a get together with friends and downplaying the 1st bday.

    Complicated- and I'm probably over thinking this!

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