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Baby Showers
papergirl17
member
Belly Dancing at a Baby Shower?
papergirl17
member
in Baby Showers
Hi ladies! Soooo, I am interested in some feedback from some others. My family and friends are hosting a baby shower for me, and while I love all gatherings I go to, I want mine to be a little more unique or "switched up" a little. We are not doing the traditional opening of the gifts, and most of the time will be spent mingling, eating and just enjoying the company. BUT... I wanted to have something for these guests to possibly partake in, if they so choose. I am really not fond of the baby games, or baby activities... I have seen them done and it doesn't really seem to be fun for the guests. I wanted something truly fun for them! My idea is this: have a belly dance instructor come in and offer to teach some basic belly dance moves to those who wanted to join in. It wouldn't be a whole big show of belly dancers or anything like that, more instructional to get the guests involved. Also, I did some research and it turns out that belly dancing started off being called "womb dancing" and celebrates the pregnancy and Mommy-To-Be... so it actually kind of ties in too. Thoughts??? Too weird? Fun? Thanks for your feedback 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Belly Dancing at a Baby Shower?
I wouldn't get up and participate at a baby shower...not enough booze at that venue to get most women to do more than sneer and laugh at the idea for fear of embarrassment.
Call me old fashioned but I would much rather watch a gift opening than an awkward belly dancing session.
___________________________________________________________________________
Trying for #1 since May 2010 l DX ~ Unexplained Infertility June 2011
IUI #1&2 = BFN; IUI #3 = BFP, m/c @ 6 weeks
November '11 ~ IVF#1 ~ ER 11/18 (29R, 17F) ~ 5dt of one beautiful blast on 11/23 = BFP!!
Beta #1 9dp5dt = 116, P4 = 28 ~ Beta #2 13dp5dt = 700 ~ Beta #3 20dp5dt = 9500, P4 = 26
1st u/s 12/27 - hb of 156!! EDD 8.10.12
**TEAM GREEN!**
Sweet baby boy born 8.18.12
Trying for #2
FET #1 - October '13 - c/p l FET #2 - December '13 - cancelled
l FET #2.2 - 1.30.14 - BFN
~ More testing - hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy & more b/w - all normal / negative~
Surprise BFP while waiting on FET #3 ~ beta #1 500; beta #2 1600; first u/s 4/3 - measuring 5w5d, no hb yet!; 2nd u/s 4/10 - hb 132, measuring 6w6d - EDD 11.29.14
**TEAM GREEN!**
Beautiful baby girl born 11.24.14
For a baby shower, I'd find this really weird.
If you want something to "do" - open your gifts. I mean, really, think about it. You're trying to claim "Oh, we'll be mingling and eating", but having a belly dancer there will be even more distracting than the gift opening. At least w/ a gift opening, I can nibble on food and chat w/ the people I'm sitting next to while the MTB opens her gifts....
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
___________________________________________________________________________
Trying for #1 since May 2010 l DX ~ Unexplained Infertility June 2011
IUI #1&2 = BFN; IUI #3 = BFP, m/c @ 6 weeks
November '11 ~ IVF#1 ~ ER 11/18 (29R, 17F) ~ 5dt of one beautiful blast on 11/23 = BFP!!
Beta #1 9dp5dt = 116, P4 = 28 ~ Beta #2 13dp5dt = 700 ~ Beta #3 20dp5dt = 9500, P4 = 26
1st u/s 12/27 - hb of 156!! EDD 8.10.12
**TEAM GREEN!**
Sweet baby boy born 8.18.12
Trying for #2
FET #1 - October '13 - c/p l FET #2 - December '13 - cancelled
l FET #2.2 - 1.30.14 - BFN
~ More testing - hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy & more b/w - all normal / negative~
Surprise BFP while waiting on FET #3 ~ beta #1 500; beta #2 1600; first u/s 4/3 - measuring 5w5d, no hb yet!; 2nd u/s 4/10 - hb 132, measuring 6w6d - EDD 11.29.14
**TEAM GREEN!**
Beautiful baby girl born 11.24.14
Who is gift viewing trendy and popular for? I presume the MTB who gets the benefit of the gifts without the work rather than the guest who gets to watch the MTB open her gift and see her reaction. It's your shower, do what you want, but I disagree that its nice and not offensive.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
to everyone that wrote regarding the gift viewing, the ENTIRE purpose is for the MTB to actually have enough time at her shower to go around and have in depth/lengthy convos with each and every one of her guests instead of being rushed through the entire thing and barely be able to say hi to everyone. It's meant to be more intimate not just so the MTB doesn't have to sit and open the gifts or what you referred to as "work"... a lot of people being invited to my particular shower I hardly get to see (family out of state, etc), so it would be really nice to have the time to sit and chat with them instead of them having to run out the door once my "job" is done. In my personal opinion, I would never be offended at this, and most of my friends and family feel the same. Funny how the belly dancing question turns into a "trash the gift viewing" idea forum instead.
***thank you to the few that were objective enough to give your honest opinion on the belly dancing idea (and didn't just write "weird, or wtf"). I knew it was a weird, out of the box idea... which is why I second guessed it. I too agree that it's a cool idea, just not at a baby shower.
I guess I am weird because I would actually really enjoy this. I have taken belly dancing before and it is pretty fun.
That being said, if you have a group of girls that are really outgoing and don't take themselves too seriously, this would be fun.
If the group of girls are shy and need a ton of liquid courage to dance then I would say that is probably not a good idea.
Baby Boy born on 1/14/13
You wrote it, it's fair game to comment on. Like I said, your shower, your choice but I can't say I'd be thrilled at the opportunity to belly dance instead of watching you open gifts which actually doesn't give me much time to mingle and talk with the MTB.
How is watching you belly dance going to give you more time to socialize with people than opening presents? At least while you are sitting opening presents there is no music and you can converse with the giver as you open their present. Unless you are having a massive 100 person shower, there should be plenty of time for you to talk to people and open gifts.
I never understand when people say there won't be enough time to do both.
All of this. How is belly dancing going to give you more time with the guests? All it would do is create a very awkward situation where the teacher is trying to get people to participate and your guests feel obligated to embarrass themselves. All with loud music in the background.
To be fair, you asked for feedback, and you got feedback. I think it would be really weird to have belly dancing at a baby shower. It seems more like a bachelorette party kind of thing - you know, everyone's having a few drinks and learning how to do something fun and sexy. It doesn't seem like a baby shower kind of thing. If you post on a public forum with an idea that you realize is a little "out there," you have to expect that people will have opinions that you don't like.
He's the single greatest thing I've done in my life and reminds me daily of how fun (and funny) life can be. He's turned out pretty swell for having such a heartless and evil mother.
Lol. You asked for opinions. Sorry you didn't like them.
And it would only be about 30-40 min to open gifts, so I ask you again, what's the difference in the amount of time it would give you to socialize?
I don't find it that awful to have belly dancing at a shower but I think it would be a waste. In a baby shower atmosphere I wouldn't really participate and I don't know many who would.
I don't like the gift-viewing idea. I love wrapping presents and making them look beautiful and I love to watch the gift get opened. (I actually hate being on the other side, can not stand having people watch me open them) For a bridal shower I had asked what people thought of not opening the gifts and it was not looked well on. I get that now and I agree. Just open the presents and let people see you.
Stick with the regular shower stuff.
Because it's such a difficult task to open presents that were graciously given to you by friends and family.
You asked people to comment on your awful ideas and we did. If you don't like what we have to say you can make inquiries with your many friends and family that you need tons of time to socialize with. Surely you must respect them.
Two things: first, if you want to have a more personal party and spend time with your guests rather than opening presents, simply tell them that they don't need to bring presents. That way, no one will be offended by their gift not being opened & admired by you personally while they sit on a table like an offering. Sorry, that's exactly what that will look like.
Second, I'm not that weirded out by the belly dancing thing. I have a lot of friends who do drum circles, hula hoop marathons, all sorts of eccentric things and since I know them, wouldn't surprise me if they wanted to do something like belly dancing or henna tattoos or whatever at their shower. If you invite folks that really know you and to not expect a mainstream tea-sandwiches-and-punch kind of shower, I wouldn't sweat it. Just don't surprise folks, that would be uncomfortable.
Wow - this has to be MUD right? No one would actually think that baby shower guests would rather Belly Dance than watch the MTB open gifts. Right?
I would love to be a fly on the wall at this shower to hear what everyone will be saying behind the MTBs back.
You may not like our opinions, but at least we are being honest. Being honest is not being rude. Telling you that your choices might not be appropriate is not rude. Telling you that you are ridiculous and stupid is rude.
There it is! GBCB... Boohooo...
You asked for opinions and you got them, not our fault that you don't like them. Plus you didn't say that it was going to be a quick little thing. You implied that it was going to be most of the shower (that was the impression that I got at least). You can't expect us to be able to read your mind. Give us the whole story up front so we can actually give an informed opinion.
I have to be honest and say I did not read all of the posts. As far as the gift opening part...I would personally bring the gift I purchased wrapped. I wrap all gifts regardless of any request on an invite. I would also request that the MTB open the gift. Also, I would NEVER expect the MTB to have an in-depth conversation with me or other guest at a shower. Unless you are having 100 or more people there I think you'll have plenty of time to speak with everyone. I've hosted showers up to 75 people and the MTB never had a problem speaking with each one of her guests.
As for the belly dancing. That is really weird and would certainly put a lot of people off. That would probably be my cue to leave. I would certainly not participate and would find amusement in other people being silly (trying to do the dance) not to mention how boring it would be.
I would not do the "gift viewing" unless you KNOW every guest invited has participated in such a shower before and doesn't have a problem with it.
I would not do the belly dancing - it is off-putting.