anyone been to a shower where gifts are not opened?

erosa

my bff said she doesn't want to open gifts at her shower... that was her only request (besides the no white wicker chair like spanish people do, lol)...

So I know gift-opening at showers is painful for the guests, but what does one do for 3-4 hours?

CrisA0922

Yes...they specifically asked that people only put a sticker with their name on the gift so that they could be put on a table for display. We still did bridal bingo they had an 'answer' sheet with what items were called out and in what order. They also had the word search games, etc. Mostly people mingled.

dmendel

Nope

ATSBRIDE

The last 2 showers I went to they didn't open. We were asked to bring them unwrapped or in clear wrapping. When we got there the bridesmaids grouped our gifts by table..and put our name on the gift. Instead of opening them, they called the tables one by one to go up and share them with the bride. I LOVED it. It was nice, personal and you actually got to see the bride acknowledge your gift..

The other one the gifts were just on display.

To kill time they played games - make a bridal dress out of supplies they gave us.. 

erosa

CrisA0922:

Yes...they specifically asked that people only put a sticker with their name on the gift so that they could be put on a table for display. We still did bridal bingo they had an 'answer' sheet with what items were called out and in what order. They also had the word search games, etc. Mostly people mingled.

so games are still played... got it. thx!

penguingrrl

I went to a display shower once for  friend of mine. It was one of the few enjoyable showers I've ever been to. There were no games and not sitting around watching the bride open presents. There was food, alcohol and plenty of friendly people to talk to, which was perfect. My family would not listen to that request for either of my showers, but I feel like it makes more sense to do that than to have the bride/mom to-be stuck up front opening presents rather than chatting with guests.

erosa

ATSBRIDE:

The last 2 showers I went to they didn't open. We were asked to bring them unwrapped or in clear wrapping. When we got there the bridesmaids grouped our gifts by table..and put our name on the gift. Instead of opening them, they called the tables one by one to go up and share them with the bride. I LOVED it. It was nice, personal and you actually got to see the bride acknowledge your gift..

The other one the gifts were just on display.

To kill time they played games - make a bridal dress out of supplies they gave us.. 

this is a greaT idea, I'll run it by the other girls.

ATSBRIDE

The gifts were all on one side of the room on long banquet tables..but grouped together by table..

vedahanks

Yes. It became more of just a family BBQ than a shower - that's how it felt anyway.

I guess I'm alone on this - I love watching the gift opening!!

erosa

I kinda like gift opening too, but this is all she asked for, lol.  These are all great ideas.  My hang up was that there will also be older women and women from the other side who will probably not be drinking and socializing with everyone else, so i was thinking... what will everyone be doing.  I'm not a big fan of games either but I guess we can do some ice breakers.

debfife

Yes, I went to one and they themed it "green" so it was requested that nothing be wrapped. What did everyone do for 3-4 hours? Ate & drank. It was also a co-ed shower. It was fun.

LizDP

I like showers where the bride or mom-to-be opens the gifts, but it's not a big production. It's happening and you can watch or not watch.

To answer the question - no, never been to one where people didn't open them. 

wed2506

yes, a baby shower.  The party was co-ed and they had a DJ so everyone danced, ate & drank.  Seriously, it was like a wedding!  LOL

yankees320

Yes, one of my friends lives a plane ride away and flew to NJ for her shower.  Nearly all of the gifts were shipped back to her home in TX before the shower so she wouldn't have to travel with all her gifts.  It was nice to actually have time to chat and just hang out with her since we see each so infrequently.