Hi Ladies,
I am wondering what everyone's thoughts are on opening gifts at a baby shower. I know its tradition, but is it necessary? My mom suggested we don't do it at my shower because she thinks it might make some people who buy small (inexpensive) gifts feel uncomfortable. My mother in-law agreed and she said it happened to her once, were they opened her small gift after 2 very big ones. They also think it takes too long and teh guests may get bored.
I am expecting about 50 people at the shower. I have a clubhouse with a time limit of about 3 hours.
Would it be OK to open gifts in private and just send thank you cards??
Re: Opening gifts at a shower-Poll
Me - DX Hashimoto's Disease, Hypothyroid, Rheumatoid Arthritis
DH - DX Azoospermia - Sertoli Cell Syndrome
DS-IUI #1-4 BFN IVF #1 - BFP! It's a boy!!!
IMO, no. It's a shower... an event focused solely on presents. People will expect to see you open their gift at the shower.
Serve dessert right as you start opening presents and just keep plowing through the pile. You'll be fine.
If it helps, at my shower my sister served cake and my mom passed around little games for people to do while i was opening presents... just in case anyone got bored. There was jar of M&Ms being passed around for people to guess how many and a word scramble.
http://pandce.****/index.cgi#general
11.10.10 from my belly to my heart at 11wks 5days
THIS exactly. Whether or not it's enjoyable for everyone there, it's part of the whole 'shower' thing. Just do it.
Agreed. It's a shower- the primary purpose is to 'shower' you with gifts. If you're concerned about them being too bored, maybe serve dessert or something right before so that they can at least munch on cake or something. Really though, I'm pretty sure everyone expects to sit through the gift opening.
www.cozylittlecave.com
The Bee Hive Blog
"So I sing a song of love, Julia"
06.10.10
BFAR:We Defined Our Own Success!
25 Weeks - GOAL MET 52.2 Pounds gone! 27 Weeks Total Pounds Lost: 54.0
No it is not OK and yes it is necessary. JMO
I'd be kind of p$ssed if I spent hours picking out a gift, wrapping it and going to a shower and the mom-to-be can't take the time to open it in front of me (not to mention possibly having to rearrange my schedule and find a babysitter). If your mom and MIL would rather you didn't open your gifts why bother with the shower? Just send out a list of the things you want and ask for them to be sent to your house.
Trust me, people are well aware that you are going to open gifts. If you want it to be less "boring" for the guests play Gift Bingo during that time. I've hosted a few showers that had 50 and more guests and it didn't take that long to open gifts - maybe 45 minutes max. You just can't spend a long time trying to open the box and not tear the paper, not break the ribbon (have scissors handy), and spend a few seconds ohhing and ahhing and move on. A lot of people use gift bags to put things in so it makes it even faster.
"Yes everyone hates watching other people open gifts and thinks showers are dull as hell but you HAVE TO DO IT OMG!!!@#*($&*(#^%(@"
hahahahahahahahaha. people are funny.
Yes, I think it's necessary, and at my shower on Sunday, I had a few cheapies. Nonethelss, for every gift I opened, I quickly showcased it. I expressed how useful each item will be to me no matter how many I already just received (ex. This will be the one I travel with!), and I even acted relieved to have it. In some instances, I even added who recommended I register for the item or how I learned it was a good product. People were honestly entertained and interested. My mom even told me later that guests really felt appreciated.
I think if you are worried about time then you should just start the present opening as soon as possible. Are you doing food for everyone? If so then as soon as you are done eating, start the gift opening. If not start the opening as soon as you have made your rounds to say hi to everyone. Try to have a game going as you open your presents like present bingo or something to keep people entertained. pass out desserts while you are opening the gifts as well. Take a quick break half way through to play another quick game like mommy trivia or something. For all of the games have little prizes for the winners. Little things like that make a big difference
I got dragged to a shower once for my SIL's SIL (ummm why was I invited? I don't know). But they waited about 45 minutes and then served lunch and then waited until every single person had finished eating before they started opening the gifts ( you know so all eyes could be on her and not on their plates). We were 4 hours into this thing and she still wasn't done so I finally left haha.
for 50 guests? Seriously? Lets say it takes 2 minutes a gift (*by the time you read the card, un wrap it, oooo and ahhhh and put it down). Thats over an hour and half of gift opening.
At my bridal shower from my IL's my bridesmaids and I set up an assembly line where one would have already opened the card and set it on the gift, passed it to me while I opened it up had my MOH write on the card and attach the card to the gift, another bridesmaid took the gift away while another announced what it was and from who.
Mind you I had 75ple at this shower, but that could be a plan you could have family help you do this.
DD2: February 2014
Thanks for your opinion ladies....
totally have to have an assembly line- someone who pulls the card out & cuts ribbons, pulls tape for you and someone you hand it off to for it to be put back in teh box w/ the card inside & piled up somewhere nearby.
but yeah, you have to open them like everyone said. if it is in a setting where everyone can sit around & talk to each other & are eating or whatever while you do it, that is ideal. maybe you could even do it in stages if you're doing a more formal sit down meal, like in between when they're serving different things...
Not opening the gifts at the shower is totally rude to those who put the time into picking a special gift for you.
50 people at your shower? Yeesh. Sounds like a ton of people for a baby shower!
If somebody gives you a present they are expecting you to open it so they can see your reaction. It would be very rude of you not to open it!
Plus with 50 people at a shower....I doubt it will be that boring! Lots of gossip!