Originally I am from Littleton, Colorado and I'm looking forward to going there at Christmas time. I will be 6 months pregnant during this time, and many of my close family and friends are wanting to throw me a baby shower. Of course I am thrilled, but a little worried about the best way to transport all of the gifts back to chicago. I've thought about asking for money or gift certificates?
1) Any ideas from any other moms who have been to a out-of-state shower?
2) Is it rude to ask for a "money shower?"
Any insight you have is greatly appreciated!
Thanks for all your great advice. I'm grateful to have had a chance to run the question by someone before acting! I think I will head the advice to not have a "money shower" and I will just trust that all of my wonderful family and friends will be supportive of my situation! Thanks again for all your advice!
I wouldn't directly ask for money or gift certificates but the hosts could state that gift certificates are welcome since you're coming in from out of state. I've attended showers like that and quite honestly it was the easiest thing to get a gift card and stick in the envelope!
I had a shower in my home town and most people are pretty understanding that you will need to ship these gifts home. Many people will ship gifts from your registry to your house and include a photo in the card, some people gave books or other items that were easy to pack up in a box and UPS home and I did return some of the larger items and purchased them at home. Hope this helps.....
Hi,
I was in the same exact situation and was worried that we would be inundated with big boxes that we would have to deal with shipping outselves. However, nothing of the sort happened - everyone understood and knew that we lived out of state and kindly gave us clothes and gift cards to Babies r us, where we had also registered. Several also printed pictures of the bigger things they had shipped to our house. Just remember, people will know your situation and will ask the hostess - that is what happened with us. They don't want to burden you with extra stuff especially when you are 6 months pregnant!
Congratulations!
Well, I think it might be rude to ask for just money. But what you can do is register (lets say Babies R Us or Land of Nod) and request that these things be sent to your home. I know this might lack the fun of opening presents but you can request antyhing big like a pack n play, car seat, stroller, etc just be delivered to you and they can print out from the site what you will receive. I'm sure everyone will understand that part of it.
I find that some people are just very sensitive to giving only money or gift certificates, especially depending on how it's mentioned. Others like to buy things they like and not things from the registry and then you have those who just want the gift opened for all to see at the shower. However, there are many creative ways of suggesting it. One idea might be to have the person(s) throwing the shower to suggest it in the invitation or via word of mouth that in order to make it easier on mom-to-be all gifts from the gift registry should be sent to her current address. They could also suggest ideas for gifts that would be easy for you to carry back such as gift cards, cash, etc., or even making it funny by saying, money orders, western union, etc. They could even suggest fun ways of still giving the gift such as cutting the picture of what someone sent to your home address and slide it in the card, so it's more personal, i.e., in order to make it easy on the mom-to-be, please have all gifts sent to her current address and to make it fun for all, please save your card for the shower and cut out a picture of the item you sent). There are many ways to be creative with it. Good luck!!
Hi, make the address to your home not to the shower place. and also you might consider speaking with fedex or other companies they might have this kind of help.
I moved here from VA a year ago and my friends and family threw me a shower there this past June and in the invitation my friends mentioned to mail gifts to my house and then print out a picture of it, wrap it on a small box so I had something to open at the shower. Everyone wound up giving me clothes, books cds along with the printout for me to open!
I think that it IS rude to ask for a "money shower". But you can get around the bulky items problem by registering for what you need and having whoever sends the invitations remind people in the invite that you need to be able to carry things back. Bulky items can always be purchased and sent directly to your home. We frequently do this at Christmas (my family is very scattered) and bring a pretty envelope with a picture of the item for the recipient to open.
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
I do agree with the other Post. If you care about etiquette
(in the USA or UK anyway)it IS considered impolite/lacking in manners to ask for ANYTHING. Nowadays some people DO put a baby registry, discreetly, in small print, on the that invitation, although NEVER on a wedding invitation. To follow etiquette EXACTLY, NO mention is made of gifts. The invitees are suppose to KNOW that a gift would be appreciated and that a registry is probably available. Generally, if you want to pick a gift from the registry, you call the family to ask where they are registered.
Hi C.,
I appreciate the sentiment of the post about strict gift etiquette. But from a practical standpoint, everyone knows you will get gifts at a baby shower, whether you choose to openly acknowledge that fact or not. Perhaps whomever is throwing you the shower could indicate on the invitation that you will be traveling to the shower from out of state, and that there is an address posted with your registry in the event anyone chooses to send a gift.
