How to handle any gifts when it's not a shower?

[Deleted User] · August 2011

So my best friend is hosting a party for H and me, and I'm wondering how to handle any gifts people may bring. It's not billed as a shower, so gifts aren't implied, but there will be quite a few people there who weren't at the shower, so I'm guessing we may get a few. Since it's not a shower, I don't really want to display gifts prominently or get everyone's attention to open them, especially since not everyone will bring something.

How would you handle it?

Happily Overwhelmed · August 2011

If possible greet your guests at the door (or have the hostess do this). Any gifts should be graciously accepted then take them to a back room.

Don't open gifts at the event but send nice thank yous later. If anyone asks say you were expecting gifts and don't want to make anyone uncomfortable.

If anyone gets pushy and wants you to open their gift take them to the backroom and open it there.

DiademChi · August 2011

Accept gifts graciously, then put them in a side room with the door closed. Send out your thank you cards promptly, and all is well.

varkeyr · August 2011

Well said by previous posters!

rhubarb123 · August 2011

When we had our Welcome Baby BBQ many people brought gifts but not all. We just set them off to the side in the livingroom (people were outside) and opened them later. We didn't "hide" them. That would have been kind of dumb since others already SAW people bringing them (so it's not like they didn't know some brought gifts and some didn't). There were a few people that wanted to see me open their gift and I just took them into the house and did so. There were a couple people that stayed and wanted to see me open all of the rest...not big deal. I'd say out of 50-60 people we got about 25 gifts.

EastCoastBride · August 2011

Basically what the others said. As far as "hiding" them, I would just put them off in a non-focal area (like, dont' put them on the front table that people will see right as they walk in!) that's convienent for when people hand you a gift (going off to another room might actually be awkward).

If people ask you to open their gift, be quiet about it. And dont' have a "gift opening". If there are people there who really want you to do that, then either they can wait until the really bitter end of the party, or you can say "Oh, I'm not going to do a gift opening. As we actually didn't plan this as a gift giving event, we don't want to make the people who didnt' bring a gift feel awkward!".

Cookie427 · August 2011

I wouldn't necessarily think you have to hide them. Even if I was going to a party that wasnt a "shower", I would still bring a card at the least. I think you'll find most people will bring a little something. I wouldn't open them at the party for sure, but put everything on a table on the side. And then, as everyone above said, open after and send thank yous.