I'm hosting a shower for my friend tomorrow. I have been to showers where the guests were asked to write their address down on a provided envelope so when the thank you cards are done they just have to be matched with the envelope and dropped in the mail. I always thought it was weird and am leaning towards not doing it but I see how it could be a help to the mommy to be.
Curious about everyone else thoughts on this? Helpful? Tacky?
Re: Self addressed envelopes?
SUPER helpful...especially if invites weren't mailed and there's no formal mailing list to get from the hostess.
My step-mum did this at my shower over Christmas...and I'm having another shower on Sunday and the hostess just sent me a text today and said she would be taking care of buying the thankyou cards...and using this idea as well.
It's nice not to have to worry about going out and buying cards...and then going to the post office later...IMO. GL!
No offense to others, but i think it is crazy tacky to ask people to address their own thank you notes. Surely someone has a list of addresses -- after all, invitations were sent.
If you wanted to help the mom with this, rather than make guests do it, I would do them for her. That could be a little bonus "shower" gift that you give her when the day is done. But, I highly doubt she will mind writing thank you notes for her friends and family who have come to her shower....
I guess this varies by region, everyone I know would be stunned by this...
I agree with this. I don't think the guests should address their thank you notes. The host could help new mom by maybe printing labels with the addresses on it? To me, that'd be better than having people handwrite their own envelopes.
I had 2 showers. My mom had people address their own TY cards. My MIL did not. It took me about 1 month after the shower to get the addresses from MIL so I could send out the TYs.
My suggestion would be to buy a nice little address book as a gift to the mom-to-be and ask people to write their addresses in it. But as host you should have everyone's address so you could easily give her this list as well.
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
I agree.
Sure it helps the mom-to-be and also only takes a few seconds to write your own address on an envelope. Probably would only take a few seconds to write your own thank you note as well. It is very tacky to ask the guests to write their own address on the envelope. I never ever do it...even if they "entice" me with a possible gift if you win in the drawing. lol
It would be different (maybe) if the shower was like at week 39 or 40...then I could see it. But even then...it is best if the hostess writes out the envelopes. In my family that is what is done and everyone's envelope is put in a basket for a door-prize drawing.
I think it's tacky. You might as well ask them to write out their own thank you notes at that point.
Unless you have zero brain skills, I can't imagine it's that hard to (a) write out addresses or (b) print out mailing labels.
Labor Buddy to Blowfish11
I agree! This simple step takes 30 seconds out of a party that's supposed to be about making the mommy to be's life easier anyway! It's especially helpful for younger moms who maybe emailed or facebooked part or all of their guest list and don't have snail-mail addresses. I don't know, I guess in some circles it's ok and others it isn't'. When it comes down to it it's your shower and your friends and family, they know and love you so whatever you choose I'm sure they'll understand.
Go for it girl!
This is so lazy.
Why not just skip the thank you cards and hand everyone a piece of paper that says "thank you for the gift" as they leave.
yeah this. and besides, i like to address my own envelopes. i'm crazy neat and don't appreciate sloppiness at all....sorry. either way, as teh pp said, it is really tacky
IMHO - kinda tacky. If the invitations were all mailed out, you should already have the addresses.
For my bridal shower - we put the guest address list in excel in a format that's real easy to export to address labels. The hostess printed out a second set of address labels for me when she sent out the invitations. She also had a pre-printed out guest list so when I opened the gifts she recorded everything right on there and sent me home with it. Couldn't have been an easier or more organized way to do it! Since she's co-hosting the baby shower I'm hoping she does the same this time!
Tacky.
If you have "enough time" to sit down and accept free gifts, then you have "enough time" to put address on the darn envelope.
If you do this, just admit you're lazy and don't look for excuses and reasons why "you're too busy" to figure out how to put addresses on things.
Labor Buddy to Blowfish11
When this has been done at showers I've attended, they've "disguised" it by using the envelopes to draw for a prize. I NEVER fill one out. Seriously-I've taken the time out of my schedule to come celebrate and bought you a present, but you can't take 30 seconds to address an envelope. RUDE!
But that's only my opinion.