K.G. asks from Los Angeles, CA on November 09, 2011
Display Only Baby Shower
I'm co-hosting a baby shower for a good friend and she wants to have a display shower. It will be in the evening and is intended to be more of a gathering of friends to celebrate and socialize instead of traditional games and opening presents. etc. As I understand it, guests bring unwrapped gifts (decorations ok) which are put on display for everyone to view and enjoy during the party. The little bit of online research I've done suggested that we include something with the invitation - like a gift tag - that guests can somehow affix to their present to 1) make sure we can identify who brought what and 2) to add a little decor to the display. Does anyone have experience with this type of shower? Sample wording for the invite? Am I missing anything else? Thanks!
2 moms found this helpful
So What Happened?™
I SOooo wish I had done this for my baby shower :) I heard about it after and was happy to share the idea with my expectant friend. I love the wording suggestions, the idea of making it 'green', and also providing an envelope for guests to include gift receipts etc. Brilliant. Thanks ladies! I'll keep you posted.
Featured Answers
M.C. answers from Washington DC on November 09, 2011
You could make it 'green'
'as to be kind to the environment the mom-to-be requests any gifts brought to the luncheon be unwrapped but creatively labeled. Gifts will then be displayed for everyone to admire.'
6 moms found this helpful
J.K. answers from Milwaukee on November 09, 2011
To be honest, when I first read the idea, it sounded rude to me. However after thinking about it--wrapping paper is so expensive and such a waste...therefore, if you focus on that aspect, I think it is a GREAT idea!!
1 mom found this helpful
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☆.A. answers from Pittsburgh on November 09, 2011
You know, back in the day...all wedding gifts used to be displayed at the home of the bride...so I like this idea!
Here's one example I found for the wording: ”At the request of the bride, this will be a casual “display” shower. Please bring your gifts unwrapped, so that Lisa has more time to enjoy your company.”
7 moms found this helpful
M.C. answers from Washington DC on November 09, 2011
You could make it 'green'
'as to be kind to the environment the mom-to-be requests any gifts brought to the luncheon be unwrapped but creatively labeled. Gifts will then be displayed for everyone to admire.'
6 moms found this helpful
M.L. answers from Houston on November 09, 2011
great idea, thoguh it comes from a bridal shower site:
” At the request of the mom to be, this will be a casual “display” shower. Please bring your gifts unwrapped, so that "name" has more time to enjoy your company.”
or this poetic version:
“The adorable baby gifts will be put on display – So no need to wrap in any way- a ribbon or twine will do just fine, leaving us free to visit and dine! ”
I would still decorate the gift and food table though to make it cute and colorful.
http://weddingbellesonline.com/2008/08/02/invite-wording-...
this idea was cute:
"I attended a baby shower last year and it was my first “display” shower. I was very impressed with how the set up was done. I will be duplicating this same set up this year with my best friend’s baby shower. The gifts were arranged by theme (e.g. bath time, sleepy time, feeding time, etc) on separate tables arranged in one section of the room. Guests were given tags to write their name and attach to their unwrapped gifts so if there are multiple gifts given by a single person, they are easily identified. In addition, guests were given envelopes to write their mailing addresses on, this way the mom-to-be can easily write thank you notes without searching around for the mailing list. I hope this helps others out there!"
5 moms found this helpful
T.K. answers from Dallas on November 09, 2011
Cool idea. I had never heard of it so I looked it up. I found this sample wording for a bridal shower.
” At the request of the bride, this will be a casual “display” shower. Please bring your gifts unwrapped, so that Lisa has more time to enjoy your company.”
4 moms found this helpful
S.B. answers from Dallas on November 09, 2011
We went to an engagement party that was like this. It was great. They simply asked for the gifts to remain unwrapped in the invite. And they mentioned to make sure it was labeled. I don't recall them adding a gift tag in the invite, but they had some on the gift table. It was a fun party.
3 moms found this helpful
D.B. answers from Charlotte on November 09, 2011
K., I love the idea that was mentioned about saying the word "green" somewhere on the invite. I would merge that into what Tracy and Momma L have said.
Although I have typically thought it was a bit rude to ask a present giver to fill out her own envelope for the thank you card, I think that this is a smart idea for THIS kind of shower. The reason is that many of us put a gift receipt into the wrapped present, in case for some reason, it needs to be returned. The gift receipt could be enclosed in the empty envelope that the giver writes her address on, and then attaches to the present. I like the idea of baby ribbon wrapped around the gift. You could put a one-hole punch hole in the side of the envelope to run the baby ribbon through, giving it to the gift giver like that. No lost cards, and a place for the gift receipt, if there is one.
Have fun!
D.
2 moms found this helpful
N.C. answers from Rockford on November 09, 2011
I have never heard of this but LOVE the idea! Cuts down on all that waste and visiting is so much more fun than being pressured to play games w/ women you don't know very well! Sounds fun...good luck!
2 moms found this helpful
M.L. answers from San Antonio on November 09, 2011
The first one I attended did not include gift tags so everyone was running around trying to figure out who gave what. Good idea with the tags.
I hated the concept but have been to several and we got to visit so much more. My traditional shower was a boring event with people having to hush and watch me open presents. I will never do it the old way again.
Make sure you put "come and go" so people know they don't have to stay the whole time
1 mom found this helpful
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