Bridal Shower New Tradition?

I've never seen it say by the request of the bride, but I have been to a shower where the invite said, Please be a dear, wrap in clear.
It's definitely to eaches own. I don't care either way.

I have heard of thi, and if I had had a big shower, this is what I would have wanted. People do it so they can spend more time with their guests and less time opening presents. I had two small showers and I opened gifts. I felt like I needed to hurry cus i was afraid people were going to get bored! LOL.

On the other hand, a lot of people like to see their gift opened. Its def a tough one!! But I truly believe those who choose to do it this way dont mean it in a rude way. They most likey mean it so that they can have more time mingling with the guests.

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Posted by hyphenbride

'by request of the bride'?

Sorry, but the bride should make no requests on the invitation of her shower.

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I agree this was the wrong way to word it. I would have said something along the lines of 'to allow for more social time, please....'

But I would word it better- but you get what Im saying.

I had never heard of this until last year, when FH's cousin asked for her gifts to be wrapped in celophane, or not at all. She wanted to spend more time socializing, which I understand. The funny thing is, she wound up sitting there and taking off the celophane, so she could see everything that was in a basket or box or to show her china or something like that. So it still took time for her to do that! Whatever...I like the idea of opening gifts and seeing what I got or someone else for that matter. As long as there aren't too many!

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Posted by Mrs B to Be

it is a newer thing but becoming very common.....wouldnt you rather spend more time socializing with the bride and enjoying the party then watching her open 8 million place settings, china glass, andsheets??? usually the most immediate family will wrap some special stuff, maybe do a little lingerie thing from the bridal party so there something for her to open, but those are more of a surpise b/c she didnt register for them....i fully intend on requesting it, but not for it to be worded quite like that. i hate showers simply for that reason of sitting there and ohhhing and ahhhhing as the bride goes 'Oh its my blender' or 'Yay its my pots!'

BORING!!!! I hope it becomes more of trend so that its more acceptable!

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the old school people like to see the bride opening the gift and seeing her reaction. It S*CKS many times to sit through it i guess but personally i dont mind it, thats if its done right. If it takes 3 hours to open gifts then that is ridiculous...but if the BP knows what theyre doing and the bride can be quick too then its not that long of a process and i like watching the bride open her gifts, plus it is the point of a shower. I definitely know of some people who would get mad about the bride not opening gifts.

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Posted by Jenn04

I think we need to be alittle receptive to this new idea.

I went to a shower with 90 people invited. There is no way there would have been enough time to open EVERY single gift so here sister wrote a cute poem on the invitation which basically said to wrap your gift in cellophane. Now the bride still opened every single card and held up every single gift and it still took forever! But it was better than what it would have been!!!!

So that being said I think it is a good idea for big showers....and it allows the bride to see and hang out with everyone!!!

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i went to a shower where it took practically the whole shower for her to open her gift...but she also talked about the gift alot, her bp didnt help alot, well they did but just handed her something or wouldnt be prepared with the next gift.

I went to a shower where it was 80 people and the bp was awesome. One had her own duty and they did it in about an hour or so.

i guess to each their own---but i'm not a fan of this. sometimes i think everyone is all about making things 'easy' and 'efficient'. people are giving YOU gifts..i think basically telling them how they have to present said gifts is a bit much.

but i guess everyone is different--but if i received an invite like that i probably would be a b*tch and make sure i wrapped the gift in as much paper and bows as possible.

I never heard of any requests for that....and I think it is kind of tacky....


S O R R Y!!!!!

I have been kicking around the idea of a display shower myself. My MOH's, Mother and BM's are hosting my shower and I would die if they put that wording on the invite I think its a great concept however could be worded more tastefully than 'at the request of the bride'. I would much rather spend the majority of my shower eating, drinking and socializing but I like the traditional aspects of showers as well.

'hi, come to my shower and buy me gifts but i cant be bothered to open them'

anyway, i had over 80 people at my shower and i had plenty of time to open the gifts, mingle with my guests AND eat great food.

the point of a shower is to SHOWER the bride with gifts

maybe i am crazy, but i happen to enjoy showers - if i didnt want to see gifts being opened i would just send a gift and not go

Hmmm, trying to picture how this would look if given to an Amish couple, my inlaws being Amish; A plow in cellophane!!! Sorry, it just crossed my mind!! Mary MOB

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Posted by hyphenbride

'by request of the bride'?

Sorry, but the bride should make no requests on the invitation of her shower.

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I wrote that too. I LOVE IT and EVERYONE compliments how great it is b/c they don't have to sit through another boring opening of the gifts. I have not had one person not comment on how awesome it is. knock on wood....

ETA: I have 70 guests at my shower and there is no way I'm spending 4 hours on gifts. I would much rather eat, play games, and gossip!

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Posted by SusiBtoM

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Posted by hyphenbride

'by request of the bride'?

Sorry, but the bride should make no requests on the invitation of her shower.

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I agree.
The reason behind this is so that the bride does not have to waste 'time' opening the gifts. She can just see what each gift is.

IMO that takes the fun out of it. Yes, it may be a bit boring to some guests, one of mine was on her blackberry the whole time, but that's what the shower is about. The whole surprise element.

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the problem is that the bridal party opens the gifts so the bride doesn't even open the gifts anyway. it's different if it's a shower with 30 people or so....i've never been to a shower where the bride actually opened the gifts...she is given the gifts unwrapped by the bridal party...reads who bought it from the card, and passes it along.....clear or no wrap just take out the 1st step

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Posted by Soon2beMrsC

I personally like the idea because I want to be able to spend time with all my guests rather then open gifts for half the time. With about 100 people coming to my shower I think it would take too much time not to mention be boring for most people. I have been to showers where the guests just keep talking amongst themselves and dont even stop to see what the bride is getting. If it were a smaller shower then opening gifts is a good idea but having a big shower you will spend half the party opening gifts instead of socializing with your guests. Usually the bride will get a few special gifts from her BP or close family to open and then the rest of the time she will hold up the gifts wrapped in cellophane, open the card, read it and move on.

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agree

One other thing....many ladies will have OOT guests or seniors that it may be easier to have wrapped where the gifts are purchased. Some items will need to be wrapped for protection in tissue or other material. And then what....no hat: for the bride ?