Giving your own housewarming party, tacky?

NoeKenn

I was talking with my mom the other day, and mentioned that if everything goes well with the house we are trying to buy. I look forward to throwing a housewarming party. She informed me that as far as she knew throwing your own housewarming party is a no-no, similar to the rules of a baby shower. And worried that it would make us look like "gift grabbers". I had no idea. I mean,  I would really like to have one, but I don't think I could get up the nerve to ask someone else to give me one. So I guess its a no go?.

Would you be offended if you were invited to someones housewarming that they threw themselves?

Temp38995750004016

I'm pretty sure most housewarming parties are hosted by the new homeowners in order to show off their new homes!  I would never think it was gift grabby; however, remember that you don't register for gifts. People typically bring something like wine or flowers, or something small you can use around the house.

=Jewel=

I am easily offended by tacky parties, but this isn't one of them, if done nicely.

Not Tacky = "Please join join us for a BBQ at the new place!"

Tacky = "We are outfitting our big, new house and are registered at Target"

If you are throwing the party with the intention of getting gifts, then don't. If you just want to celebrate the new house and have people over for a fun evening, go for it. If anyone asks about gifts, tell them that you would be grateful just to have them over. Many people might still bring wine, plants, or other gifts, but hopefully not because they feel obligated.

I find it weirder to have another person throw a party at your new house. 

laceymb

I agree with the pp. You have a housewarming party to show off your new home. It doesn't make sense for someone else to throw you a party in your own home. The only way it becomes tacky is if you ask for everybody to bring you presents. 

Leila'sMommy

Uhm, have you ever heard of someone *else* other than the homeowners throwing a housewarming party? That would be odd. It isn't tacky at all. Our housewarming party is an open door, "come see our new place!" type of party. Gifts are not expected at all but it is custom where we're from to bring a small welcoming present - a bottle of wine, flowers, nothing above and beyond. DH and I usually pick up a bottle of wine for housewarming parties we're invited to.

If you sent out invitations with a list of things you need, or place you were registered at - now THAT would be tacky.

TarHeels&Rebels

laceymb:

I agree with the pp. You have a housewarming party to show off your new home. It doesn't make sense for someone else to throw you a party in your own home. The only way it becomes tacky is if you ask for everybody to bring you presents. 

This.  Your mom's confused.  You kinda have to throw your own housewarming.

brianabrad

We'll be hosting our own housewarming and my BFF just hosted her own. Lots of people brought in little gifts and useful household items for her. She didn't expect gifts or mention anything about them on the invite.

dexteroni

Who else would throw it?  I've never heard of anyone other than the homeowners hosting the housewarming party.  It's not like you're registered for gifts; it's more of a "come see our new house" party. 

awick14

We just had our house warming party. I hosted 2 over 2 days. (The weekend was also DH's birthday so I "hosted" both events and planned everything myself.)

The first night we had people over for a BBQ (friends only), with our group of friends it is not customary to bring gifts to housewarming or birthdays.

The second was for our families. With my family it is not customary to bring gifts to housewarmings, my parents gave DH his gift in private earlier in the day. I guess it is customary in his family to bring gifts to housewarmings, I was not aware of this (in the 5 yrs we have been together no one in his family has had a housewarming party), my family felt very uncomfortable with all the gifts being exchanged when they showed up empty handed.

NoeK

Oh good! I wanted to just have people come over, they didn't have to bring anything. I would just do tapas style food and some good wine. Thanks for the advice

Sisugal

Just host a gathering of friends - and do not call it a housewarming!  - Gifts are not a routine part of a housewarming - although some people may bring you a bottle of wine or a plant etc - smething small.

The guests are warming your house with love --- not gifts.

 

marriedonmaui

We had a housewarming party. We hosted it at our house, provided all of the food and alcohol, and I suffered a second degree burn that day while preparing the food (2 weeks before our wedding, hooray!) 

I think maybe 3 guests brought gifts out of the 50 or so that came. It wasn't required and we had already fully outfitted the house anyway so it wasn't necessary. We just wanted people to be able to come see our new home and celebrate with us! It was a blast and I loved it-- other than the burning my leg with scalding water part.  

Nechie122

I think it would be tackier to be invited by a third party to another person's housewarming. Then it would feel more like a housewarming shower, which is a definite no. So this is sort of like the opposite of a baby shower. Don't let your mom do it. And no one should show up to anyone's home empty-handed -- just don't expect house gifts. That's what weddings are for (unfortunately -- my single home-owning friends gripe about this all the time.)

sillygoosegirl

Since when were housewarming parties gift-giving affairs?  I don't think it's tacky.  You want to show off your new home, and I bet your friends and family want to see it.