This may sound silly but...we just bought our first house and our friends are bugging us to have a housewarming party. What exactly does this entail? We are not a newly married couple, we have most everything we need obviously having to buy some things. But they keep saying "to host one so we can get stuff" there are a few things we can think of that we need but I would have never thought to host a party and ask for these items. How typical is this, do we register like a wedding or baby registry. please this may sound silly but I don't fully know what to do. Can we have a housewarming party where we don't want gifts to be brought? Help!
Now on the other hand we do plan on having friends over to see the place and even though we moved in a the beginning of Feb we have already hosted some friends for the superbowl.
Just don't know what to do...note I never had a wedding shower or baby shower because I have never been good at recieving gifts just feels awkward to me.
When we bought out house we had an "open house" housewarming. I wrote on the invites that people could come and go ask they wanted. And I also asked people to bring their favorite recipe. Kinda helped them know they didn't need to bring a gift. We still got a few, but not many.
have a party just to have a party. dont register for gifts! supply food, drinks and a good time. people will come to celebrate your new house...some will bring gifts, some will not. dont fret, send out some invites and have a good time.
You seem unsure and let me tell you why - because that is nuts! You invite people over to show them your house not because you are going to ask for stuff and get gifts.
You are right - It does sound silly - It think you knew that already - trust your gut your radar was right on!
If you simply have a housewarming party most people will bring something if they like and others will just show up. I like to find out a silly something they want but do not NEED to get for those types of parties if I can not figure something out or can not find what they want I bring wine or hand made cards for the hostess or something like that. Gifts are not required but many people bring them often by their own choice. My advice, host a party, have good food and music and BONUS if you are given gifts.
Oh, you should definitely have a party! Tell people not to bring gifts though. Just have a party to show off your new home :) Heck, we moved into a fantastic rental home a few years ago and threw a house warming party! Not very many people brought stuff. We got a few little candles and stuff, but nothing major. It was SO much fun though! My husband and I have only ever lived in apartments together, so it was neat that we were finally able to host our family and friends. We did a cook out and a bon fire.
Have a big party and show off your new digs! !
I must be living in a different reality, because when I hear "house warming party" The purpose of a housewarming party is simply to show your curious friends your new house and neighborhood!
Attending a party shouldn't obligate people to bring a gift. If I bring a gift, it's usually a consumable (like cookies I baked). After attending a housewarming party, if I notice that one of my hosts' kids needs something that I have, I usually offer it.
Even if you don't ask for gifts, you'll probably get a few anyway. Just thank your friends, smile and move on.
I would wait until the weather warms up and invite friends and neighbors for a cook-out. Ask each guest to bring a dish to pass and a beverage. If someone brings a gift thank them if you like the gift keep it if not re-gift it or take it back. At the bottom of the invitation you could say something like "Please do not bring presents your presence will be enough".
you don't register for a housewarming party. You get a cake and some drinks (soda, beer etc) some munchies and invite your friends over to see the new house. People will bring you a gift to start you off in your new home. It might be a plant to put in the yard. maybe a new dish or some candles etc something like that. Do it and have fun. People won't all bring gifts but some will and some will bring gift cards which is great for when you need to paint a room etc. We always have one when we buy a new house. Its not about the gifts its about sharing your new home with your friends. good luck
JMO but I have always thought of a housewarming party as something hosted by the new home owners to give people a chance to visit the new neighborhood and tour the house. And by "hosted", I mean it is the homeowners treating friends and family to a party and not the friends and family "treating" the home owners with gifts.
So serve some appetizers and drinks and assume some will come just to socialize, some will bring a token (plant or wine or knick knack or gift basket), and that others might ask if you need anything for your new place.
In my opinion, a housewarming party is just to share your excitement about a new home with those close to you. You don't register or event expect gifts. If someone brings you a houseplant or a bottle of wine, great! But they did it because they wanted to, not because they were expected to.
You do not register for a housewarming :)
Have a party so you can show off your new house...call it whatever you like! If someone has not seen it before, they may bring a small gift.
Congrats on your new house!
All the housewarming parties I have ever been to or hosted have simply been for fun. Some people bring a little gift (like a candle or a wall plaque) but it was never anything of huge value. If you want to have a party for fun and to show off your new place ~ go for it! But, I think the person who told you that you have a housewarming party to get stuff might be a little confused. Just my opinion:)
Don't make your friends talk you into something you don't really want to do. Just have people over at your leisure, but don't label it if you don't want to.
You could easily do it without gifts, just write in the invite: Your presence is all we request. Or something like that. You could also do a bring a bottle or stock-our-liquor-cabinet housewarming. My brother had something like that and it was a hoot! They're younger though and into wine, so maybe you that's not your cup of tea. Either way, have a house-warming party because they're a lot of fun and people really do like to see their loved one's in their new place and that's the main goal for the party.
