Gift Opening at Party?

TexWisJen · March 2014

I am not sure if this has been discussed before but....

Are you planning on having your baby open (you open) their presents at their bday party in front of the guests? Or wait until after the guests leave?

We went to a 1st bday party last weekend and they didn't open the presents while we were there...I never really encountered that before. Anyone else? It was a boy/girl twin party and they were both up (not napping) and in good moods while everyone was there.

I personally like to see the reaction when the child/parents open the gift...especially since I got them a cute personalized gift.

botanicalbliss · March 2014

We'll be opening gifts at the party. I think it's rude not to.

Oohgurl · March 2014

I have seen both. I went to one where it was a huge 'event' 1st bday party. She had face painters, bouncy house, magician. There was a million people there and they did not open presents. I think if it is a smaller affair, it is more than appropriate to open presents.

Kashy · March 2014

botanicalbliss said:

We'll be opening gifts at the party. I think it's rude not to.

this.

Plus I've never been to a b-day party where the gifts were opened later.

smg2302 · March 2014

I've seen it both ways. The argument for not opening them is that if someone can't afford to get the child a gift, that person is not embarrassed or left out. I guess I can understand the reasoning, but if gifts aren't expected, then I don't think it should matter. We will be opening gifts, and I don't think her grandparents would let us have it any other way!

Angela183 · March 2014

We plan to open them.

motang · March 2014

We will open gifts at the party. It's part of the party.

Karicomo · March 2014

Kashy said:

botanicalbliss said:

We'll be opening gifts at the party. I think it's rude not to.

this.

Plus I've never been to a b-day party where the gifts were opened later.

This

c-elizabethf · March 2014

We will be opening them, I have never been to an event where they didn't.

nbatchen · March 2014

I haven't really decided. We are going back home for his party and asking people to either give gift cards or to ship the gift directly to our house due to our lack of space to get everything home. I know some people will bring a gift any way. Still not sure how to handle it.

mammie · March 2014

We will be opening gifts at the party. All of the kids love to see the reaction to their gift and I wouldn't want to take away from that.

MisN · March 2014

I was wondering about this myself. We are planning on putting a "only your presence, not presents is requested" on the invite but people always bring gifts. It is also going to be a large joint part for our older daughter who is turning three. Probably 40 plus people, most of which I know will bring a gift. Opening a lot of gifts all at once is quite overwhelming for DD1 (as we learned from Christmas). I also don't want to make the people who didn't bring gifts feel excluded. Not sure what best etiquette is here. One thought I had is to open any gifts at the party with the person who brought it during the course of the party but not to have a big formal gift opening with a big crowd watching. Thoughts? Sorry to crash your post, O.P.

Oohgurl · March 2014

nbatchen said:

I haven't really decided. We are going back home for his party and asking people to either give gift cards or to ship the gift directly to our house due to our lack of space to get everything home. I know some people will bring a gift any way. Still not sure how to handle it.

Yikes! How do your phrase that in an invitation? I might be a little put off by that.

Boo0512 · March 2014

For DD's baptism we didn't open gifts because 90% of our guests brought a card (with money). I think it would have been awkward for everyone to see who gave $50 vs. $100 etc. I sent thank you cards though.

We do plan on opening gifts at her birthday party. I think it depends on the number of people/the type of party. Presents have been opened at all the kid's birthday's that I've been to and it was so fun to see their reaction

nbatchen · March 2014

SpankingShank said:

Oohgurl said:

nbatchen said:

I haven't really decided. We are going back home for his party and asking people to either give gift cards or to ship the gift directly to our house due to our lack of space to get everything home. I know some people will bring a gift any way. Still not sure how to handle it.

Yikes! How do your phrase that in an invitation? I might be a little put off by that.

Right? That's not at all tacky :-/

As much as I hate doing it there is really no other way. The party is all close family and friends who understand that once you put our luggage, the 4 of us plus our dog in a jeep there just isn't any room. Life was so much simpler when we lived in the same state as our family and friends!

nbatchen · March 2014

beaubecca said:

nbatchen said:

nbatchen said:

I haven't really decided. We are going back home for his party and asking people to either give gift cards or to ship the gift directly to our house due to our lack of space to get everything home. I know some people will bring a gift any way. Still not sure how to handle it.

Yikes! How do your phrase that in an invitation? I might be a little put off by that.
Right? That's not at all tacky :-/
As much as I hate doing it there is really no other way. The party is all close family and friends who understand that once you put our luggage, the 4 of us plus our dog in a jeep there just isn't any room. Life was so much simpler when we lived in the same state as our family and friends!

Why not just request no gifts? My cousin requested gift cards on her wedding shower invite because she lives across the country from everyone else and I didn't mind at all - I shipped directly to her home instead. But I feel like for a 1st birthday it's a little different. People want to get the baby toys. If they don't get to do that what's the point of getting anything. Gift cards seem kind of odd/gift-grabby for a 1st birthday. But that's just my opinion and I know you didn't ask on this thread so I'm not flaming.

That was another thought of ours. Unfortunately we know how out families are and they will bring gifts anyway. Then we have a big issue of how to get the stuff home. It is already cramped in the car for the 9 hour drive home. I am at a loss of what to do. Either we end up not being able to bring the gifts home or we sound tacky. It seems to be a lose lose situation.

smg2302 · March 2014

Have you thought about getting one of those rooftop storage things? We don't live near family either and have been looking into one to have more room for things. It seems like every time we visit, holiday or not, someone wants to spoil DD and have no room left in the car.

nbatchen · March 2014

We have but unfortunately in my hubby's family they like to buy huge things like wagons!

smg2302 · March 2014

nbatchen said:

We have but unfortunately in my hubby's family they like to buy huge things like wagons!

My MIL does that too. I just say, I guess this is a toy we only use at Gammy's house.

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