Okay so my whole viewpoint on showers is this... you spend all 3 hours opening gifts in a circle and it's BORING (IMO). I mean, do we really have to open all the gifts there? The person who got you the gift knows what it is and you know what it is because you asked for it... so must we do this? Can't we just hang out with the people we love, eat some good food, maybe play some games, and bullsh*t? Why is it considered rude to not open the gifts in front of the person? Please feel free to answer.
I was in a wedding where the girls shower, she spent 3 1/2 hours opening gifts. There was not time for anything else. Can i have my BM's open the gifts for me, hand them off to me to say thanks, and move it along? Is that wrong?
AlliNMatt06
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
I am going to open my presents, because I have never seen anything different. I also think people like to see your face when you open their gift. JMO I think it depends on the amount of girls you have at your wedding. If you are having over 60 girls, then yes I think it would be fine to have your bridal party help you open gifts.
Less then 60, open them yourself. Have your girls help bring presents to you. ALso have them keep a list of who gave you each present.
DebsNY
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
i opened mine... it was stressful! people started loosing interest, so my moh was yelling at me to move faster... i could barely remember things i got! there were actually a few things that were not written down in all the chaos.
I think it's expected to open the gifts though... although people like my mil, and mom just told me to open their's later to move things along
MattsBride
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
I am going to open the presents at mine, I have never been to a shower where the presents weren't opened. I think people want to see you open the presents...although it can be long and get boring, people still want to see your reaction to what they bought you and sometimes they want the other people to see what they bought you. I have been to many showers where I thought it was boring, but my mom and sisters always said, 'you won't think it's boring when it's your shower!'
IMO, the BMs can definitely bring you the gifts and write down who bought what for you, but I don't think they should be the ones opening the gifts. People bought the gifts for you and I think they would rather see you opening the gift.
Also, there are ways to keep the shower from getting boring for guests. At my cousin's shower, guests were given blank bingo cards and everyone wrote what they thought gifts were in the spaces. Then, while my cousin was opening gifts everyone was busy checking it off on their board. People who won Bingo games were given prizes by the BMs. I thought it was a great idea and fun, so I told my mom I would like games like that at my shower.
BHW
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
I think you should open your gifts. There are ways to make the process go by faster. One BM was in charge of writing down the gift and who bought it. The rest of my BMs brought over each gift and as soon as I was done taking off the wrapping paper, they immediately put the gift away and handed me a new one to open. Also, as another bride mentioned, you can always incorporate the gifts into bridal bingo in order to keep your guests interested.
aliwnec10
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
Posted by AlliNMatt06
I am going to open my presents, because I have never seen anything different. I also think people like to see your face when you open their gift. JMO
But see here is the problem! I hate being the center of attention and i'm a very honest person. So therefore, my facial expressions do not lie. You can read me so easily. What about the wacky aunt who gets you something totally ugly and it's so ugly, you don't even know what it is? (before you say, oh that wouldn't happen... keep in mind, you haven't met my aunt from england)!
Ok i understand that society says it's rude and all. I really do... but why? Would you guys be offended if the gifts weren't open. Wouldn't you want to go to a shower were it's fun and you're not staring at toasters and china? I guess i'm alone on this one huh? But then again, i'm not exactly someone who is really into weddings to begin with.
werock0709
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
See I think like you! I don't think you need to open the gifts. Thats what Thank You's are for. Open them at a later time, so you can have all the time in the world with the girls that mean most to you! Go for it. Imagine a wedding and you have to open your cards when all the guests are there. Oh please, it just wouldn't happen. Good Luck.
SummerBride06
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
i think you should open them. people like to see your reaction.
can you ask your close family and BMs to give you their gifts later that way you will only have to open less gifts?
or...pretend, smile and act amazed at the wonderful treasures that people buy you for your shower
angel77
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
It is so funny that this got posted because FH and I have this conversation all of the time. He thinks it is such a waste for everyone to watch you open gifts for 2 hours. I agree that is does suck but I think people would think it was rude or that you were ungrateful if you don't.
glinda_goodwitch
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
I've heard of a type of shower where the MOH or whoever is organizing it requests the gifts be wrapped in clear cellophane. That way you can see what the gift is through the wrapping, and you waste a lot less time. I forget what the name of it is though.
reenielady
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
Yes you should open the presents. If your guests took enough time to go shopping and wrap a present. You should take the time to open it yourself and let them see your joy. If you want to just hang out with the friends and eat you should do that and not call it a shower where you get presents. I believe the idea of a shower is you showered with presents and you should open them.
kam29
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
Posted by glinda_goodwitch
I've heard of a type of shower where the MOH or whoever is organizing it requests the gifts be wrapped in clear cellophane. That way you can see what the gift is through the wrapping, and you waste a lot less time. I forget what the name of it is though.
We tried this for a friends shower, thought it was such a great idea, no opening the presents and wouldn't you know she opened them ALL anyway!!
aliwnec10
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
Posted by werock0709
See I think like you! I don't think you need to open the gifts. Thats what Thank You's are for. Open them at a later time, so you can have all the time in the world with the girls that mean most to you! Go for it. Imagine a wedding and you have to open your cards when all the guests are there. Oh please, it just wouldn't happen. Good Luck.
i guess we're the only ones who think like this. To each their own. I guess i would just like to spend my time being able to enjoy the shower and able to talk to everyone who's there, instead of being too busy to.
Kim51103
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
I think u should open your gifts.....i mean yes sometimes it gets boring......but maybe u could spice it up...open some.....and maybe play a game or something....then open a couple more!!!
MrsStefan
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
I think you should. People spend a lot of time shopping and trying to get the perfect gift. I think it is respectful to open the gift you gave in front of everyone. IMO.
ETA: At most of the showers I've been to they played a game while gifts were being opened. EX- get a cooking timer and set it to 2 minutes. Who ever's gift you are opening when the alarm goes off gets a prize.
Second EX- bridal bingo. They have to cross of the gifts on their chart and whoever goes up,down,or across first wins. Keep playing till gifts are done being opened.
EvenEdan
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
Do what I did: drink too much wine and keep the commentary funny.
aliwnec10
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
okay well thanks ladies for your thoughts on this. I was hoping that a few more of you would maybe be thinking along the lines i was... but i guess not huh? That's okay. To each their own.
I guess i'm going to have to sit there for 3 hours and open gifts the whole time.
Soon2BeMrsD
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
im going to open mine, but may have my BP help me
nygirl77
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
It's fun to see what the bride gets. I have never been to a shower where gifts weren't open. You can still play games - ie: Bridal bingo, while the gifts are being opened.
itslaurie.
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Re: do you have to open your gifts at your shower?
Posted by aliwnec10
Okay so my whole viewpoint on showers is this... you spend all 3 hours opening gifts in a circle and it's BORING (IMO).
TOTALLY agree, I hate the opening gifts ordeal and would be pleasantly surprised and over-joyed if I attended a shower and was spared this tradition to 'hang out with the people we love, eat some good food, maybe play some games, and bullsh*t'
Posted by aliwnec10 Can i have my BM's open the gifts for me, hand them off to me to say thanks, and move it along? Is that wrong?
however, I think the idea above would be a tad weird and some people may be put off.
I say either open or don't - but do not have your bm's open.
