Opening Baby Shower Gifts

kika1075 · July 2015

I have a predicament. I was originally intending to open my baby shower gifts with a bingo game so it isn't as boring for those guests that don't care for it. However we had a problem with the venue and we're going from having a 4hr baby shower to a 3hr baby shower. We also have a big guest list - about 60 people! So now I don't know if to forgo the opening of gifts because of the lack of time or if it will be rude not to open them. Any thoughts!?!?

brite12 · July 2015

My shower list is long also,50 people. About 2 and a half hours. It's at a venue. I dnt think I'll open gifts, let everyone mingle, eat and relax . I'll tear thru them once I get home

LULULEM0N · July 2015

I have been to a few showers where gifts were brought unwrapped. Might seem a bit tacky but I never minded it. So much better to just have a nice time with people talking than watching boring baby gifts being opened. So all of the gifts are displayed instead of opened. Just an idea!

VioletandRose · July 2015

I went to a bridal shower where they didn't want wrapped gifts. The invitation said "display shower," like it is some common term. Maybe it is and I just didn't realize it, but I had to google it. Basically it just means, bring your gift unwrapped. You can put a bow on it or something else decorative, just no paper.

casserole27 · July 2015

Do whatever you like but I think you could probably still unwrap gifts with that time frame if you wanted. I know I like to see my gift be opened, its the best part of giving.

basdenjn6 · July 2015

A friend of mine had her sister/ close friend open envelopes and undo any tape/ ends of wrapping and then passed gift to mom and dad to open. That way they still got to open everything but it went super quick for guests.

kika1075 · July 2015

I just don't want to offend anyone. The reason we have a large party is because we took a while to get pregnant so all of our family and friends are just as excited about our little one as we are. Some people have literally invited themselves! So we feel very blessed and grateful and don't want people to think we are ungrateful for their generosity if we don't open them there. On the other hand, we feel bad having them sit there for an hour while we do it.

MommaGin · July 2015

My husband and I have been married 5 years and have tried many times to become pregnant. As of now, our list has 32 confirmed guests and invitations haven't even been sent out to everyone! I work at a restaurant, so we are doing it there in order to have enough space, but it's nice so my coworkers can attend too! And I agree with watching a gift be opened. It can be boring to watch, but I always enjoy it! I have learned about so many cool "things" for babies. And let's not forget about the adorable little clothes! Everyone loves baby clothes!

casserole27 · July 2015

kika1075 said:
I just don't want to offend anyone. The reason we have a large party is because we took a while to get pregnant so all of our family and friends are just as excited about our little one as we are. Some people have literally invited themselves! So we feel very blessed and grateful and don't want people to think we are ungrateful for their generosity if we don't open them there. On the other hand, we feel bad having them sit there for an hour while we do it.

Ours will be pretty big as well. Most of the time while you are opening everyone kinda chats and snacks together while you unwrap. They aren't usually just sitting there bored out of their minds. I think they will be ok. People generally expect to be watching you open presents for some time so I don't think they would complain.

leighann1 · July 2015

casserole27 said:

kika1075 said:
I just don't want to offend anyone. The reason we have a large party is because we took a while to get pregnant so all of our family and friends are just as excited about our little one as we are. Some people have literally invited themselves! So we feel very blessed and grateful and don't want people to think we are ungrateful for their generosity if we don't open them there. On the other hand, we feel bad having them sit there for an hour while we do it.
Ours will be pretty big as well. Most of the time while you are opening everyone kinda chats and snacks together while you unwrap. They aren't usually just sitting there bored out of their minds. I think they will be ok. People generally expect to be watching you open presents for some time so I don't think they would complain.

I agree. A shower is a gift-giving event by nature, so it is definitely expected. I would probably be more offended if my gift wasn't opened, tbh. There are ways to keep it entertaining like bingo, but with a group that size, people will find their own ways to entertain themselves and snack.

danixbanani24 · July 2015

I think you can still do it in that time frame. Have your bridesmaids/close friends/family help you open them. I've done it before where I open an envelope, make a little tear in the wrapping paper, etc and pass to the person of honor so it goes a little quicker. Then have someone on the other side take the gift/card from you and organize properly and easily. You can still do the bingo during this time too just have a dedicated person handing out prizes.

kika1075 · July 2015

Thanks ladies! Appreciate the feedback

jenspeake · July 2015

Just do less games during the shower. Spend the first hour mingling and eating cake. Then just do the bingo game while you open. I know sometimes I feel I have the most awesome present or something super cute and would want to see the person open it! Just maybe save cards for the end if you run out of time.

rue:D · July 2015

I would still do it - people like to ooh and ahh over all the cute stuff, and they can still talk and mingle while you open things

millette2015 · July 2015

I think it's entirely your call - showers are becoming much less traditional. That being said, I think seeing all the gifts is my favourite part of a shower (WAY better than games!).

tate62610 · July 2015

Make time to open your gifts. Most guests come to see your face when you open their gift to you.

dparker721 · July 2015

I agree about making time to open the gifts. I like to see the gifts when I attend showers. Also, I'm not sure how else I would fill 3 hours otherwise.

CCasey2015 · July 2015

At my previous showers & a few others that I have gone to, the serving of the cake is done while the gifts are being opened.

DylansCandyBar · July 2015

dparker721 said:
I agree about making time to open the gifts. I like to see the gifts when I attend showers. Also, I'm not sure how else I would fill 3 hours otherwise.

This. Make time to open gifts. As far as display showers go, I wouldn't do it, just because telling people how to give you a gift seems rude. Especially on an invitation.

BabyOIsComing · July 2015

I think it's up to you. I like mingling better than watching gifts get opened, so I didn't open them at my shower, and it seemed like everyone still had a good time. I got straight down to the business of writing thank you cards afterwards to show my appreciation.

babyvelasquez2015 · July 2015

My shower is one shower 75 people. No one wants to be bored with gift opening. I am not opening gifts at the shower but opening them the next morning. That way I can better organize and keep track. Put aside any duplicates/returns. I've had a lot of people say they secretly dread gift opening when it's so long. After the first couple they are ready to go. So I don't think you will offend anyone. Just let them know.

loveleighmami · July 2015

Most showers I have gone to they don't open the gifts at the shower. Typically people give money though there are some gifts. I enjoy watching people open actual gifts, but I guess it would be awkward with the money thing. If one person gives you $20 and another $150 the person who gave $20 shouldn't have to feel embarrassed. Besides it would be boring to watch someone open a bunch of money cards, maybe you're situation is different if your crowd is more into giving gifts and not cash.

JaqiDec04 · July 2015

I'm not really sure what you do at a shower, if you aren't opening gifts. Thats the whole point of a shower.

I would definitely open gifts. You can do it during a game, or while they eat cake, or whatever.

wassuphoes · July 2015

As a guest, I would find it very off putting to attend a shower where the gifts aren't opened.

loveleighmami · July 2015

The whole point to a shower to me is definitely not the gifts. It is about celebrating and visiting with friends and family. I didn't open gifts at my bridal shower, by the time I had a moment to visit with everyone individually at the shower, ate lunch, played lotería, cake, etc, there was no time for opening gifts. And like I said, I can always open the gift, I don't always have time with so many special people. And I make it a point to make sure to send a thank you card with a personal note pertaining to the gift, and even if they didn't give a gift, thanking them for celebrating at the shower with me. Do y'all open gifts at weddings? A shower for us is about the same scale as a wedding.

KLHauck12 · July 2015

I think that most people enjoy watching gifts being opened at a baby shower. But you could always make it an optional thing. I went to a couples baby shower that was pretty large. The men didn't really care about watching...so they announced that gifts were being opened on the other side of the room for anyone that wanted to watch. It made it optional and those that didn't want to watch the presents being opened just ate, drank, & mingled.

DylansCandyBar · July 2015

@BrooklynBroussard i think I love you. That is all. :x

loveleighmami · July 2015

I'll let my 62 year old mother in law and her friends know that they are being too trendy/ young in the showers they throw

. That's how they've done showers forever, not opening gifts at the shower, so I don't see how they're breaking tradition? People need to realize there are different cultures, regions, standards, etc. It's not just black and white as to what is acceptable and what's not.

lmazurek14 · July 2015

The bingo game sounds cute, can you share?

DylansCandyBar · July 2015

@loveleighmami The difference is that's traditional for your circle so you obviously would not have to ask for advice or worry about offending anyone. Obviously not the case for the OP, for whom the advice was directed.

Sbrouwer0706 · July 2015

loveleighmami said:
Most showers I have gone to they don't open the gifts at the shower. Typically people give money though there are some gifts. I enjoy watching people open actual gifts, but I guess it would be awkward with the money thing. If one person gives you $20 and another $150 the person who gave $20 shouldn't have to feel embarrassed. Besides it would be boring to watch someone open a bunch of money cards, maybe you're situation is different if your crowd is more into giving gifts and not cash.

Do people actually pull money out of a card when they open it?! I just read the card, keep the money and gift card inside, and place is back in the envelope. I have never seen someone pull money out of a card while opening gifts.

wassuphoes · July 2015

Sbrouwer0706 said:

loveleighmami said:
Most showers I have gone to they don't open the gifts at the shower. Typically people give money though there are some gifts. I enjoy watching people open actual gifts, but I guess it would be awkward with the money thing. If one person gives you $20 and another $150 the person who gave $20 shouldn't have to feel embarrassed. Besides it would be boring to watch someone open a bunch of money cards, maybe you're situation is different if your crowd is more into giving gifts and not cash.

Do people actually pull money out of a card when they open it?! I just read the card, keep the money and gift card inside, and place is back in the envelope. I have never seen someone pull money out of a card while opening gifts.

It would be gauche to do that.

One of the many reasons you don't request money as a gift. Everyone knows money is a great gift, but no one wants to go to a party to see you open cards stuffed with money.

jenspeake · July 2015

I usually just open the card and say "gift card!" or "money!" so the person writing gifts down knows.

leighann1 · July 2015

jenspeake said:

I usually just open the card and say "gift card!" or "money!" so the person writing gifts down knows.

At my wedding shower, I would say something like "Thank you! We can use this for the bedroom set we're wanting" or something like that, to avoid the awkwardness of pulling out the money. I would probably say something similar if I receive a monetary gift at my baby shower. "Thank you so much, this will really help out our diaper budget" for example.

gograce · July 2015

@leighann1 how tactful! At my wedding shower, I just kind of whispered it to my sister who was writing, and told the gift giver "this is so thoughtful" or generous or something like that.

jennylynn103 · July 2015

I would be upset if someone didn't open the gift I gave them at a shower. At the last baby shower I went to they started to not open gifts because some people left early, and it really hurt my feelings. I was so looking forward to watching my friend open the crocheted blanket I had made for her baby in her favorite sports team's colors (she and her husband are huge sports fans). Thankfully they decided at the last minute to go ahead and open the presents, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her open my present (and all the other presents!). All that to say, yes your friends and family want to see your reaction to their present. If you have too many people at your shower to make that happen, then unfortunately you just have too many people.

kika1075 · July 2015

Again, thank you all for your feedback and words of wisdom. We have decided to open gifts with a bingo game to make it fun for our guests. Also, my husband will open gifts too so we can move along a bit quicker.

kika1075 · July 2015

@lmazurek14 You can find pre filled bingo cards on Etsy. Search 'baby shower bingo" Each box has the name of a baby gift item. For example: diapers, onesie, pacifiers, etc. Each time you open a gift that's on their card they mark it just like a regular bingo game. I plan to have chocolate kisses to use as markers. The first person to complete a line (vertically, horizontally or diagonally) and yells Bingo! wins a prize. Or it could be the first 2 or 3 people so you can have several winners.

shantyrae · July 2015

I personally would be bummed if I attended a shower and didn't get to see the gift opening! A shower is intended to "shower" the person in gifts and love.

jem89 · July 2015

I had about 100 people at my shower and I had no problem opening gifts in a 3 hour span. I had the food served right away and then once everyone had their food, I opened them. I am not a fan of games so we didn't have any (just gave everyone a prize). I think it's a bit rude not to open gifts.

jenn2132 · July 2015

Personally watching the gifts being opened at a shower is my favorite part! I put a lot of thought into my gifts so I enjoy seeing the mom to be's reaction and of course all the other cute things she received from other guests.

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