Invitation Verbage

[jennlin]

Jul 11, 2013 12:59:19 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

(If you can't tell, I'm deep in planning Thor's first birthday and a lot of thoughts on my mind.)

We're planning a no gift policy. Spinning off from prior posts, when we say no gifts, we mean no gifts are necessary - if you want to bring one, great, but we do not expect one, however, people seem to take this as 'we want money' which seems boggling to me, but ok.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to work around this? Or should I just do what I planned in the first place: No gifts are necessary. Thank you.

yes, agreed. this is mind boggling.

[Deleted]

lol @ lauralynne

[shevacc]

Jul 11, 2013 14:19:50 GMT -5 @lauralynne said:

Directly copied and pasted from our invite:
**As much as we all love presents the real gift is you!! Your presence is present enough!**

(that doesn't scream we want money does it?? I sure hope not - what it means is "our thank you cards from last year just turned up in a stack of crap on my desk and I feel like absolute garbage about it so please don't bring gifts since I feel like an ungrateful jerk from last year's fiasco")

This is me . Except I know I never sent them, kept putting it off, and now feel guilty that it's pretty much too late.

[niq]

I had no idea "no gifts" meant "bring monies" to a first birthday party?!?!

If everyone gave you a book would that just be too many books? Could you say "books are appreciated, but the only gift we really need is your smiling face!"

I'm at a coffee shop so I can't look up What Whould Amy Vanderbilt Do

[jennlin]

i'm also guilty of the "i should send thankyou notes" camp. i have a list of all the gifts we got for christmas, and then all the gifts we got for birthday. they are sitting right here. literally in front of my keyboard. i need to do something about it.

[cdmay]

I agree w/jennuine. For a shower-y event (where gifts are expected), it screams "give my money" but for a kids' birthday party (which is as much celebration as it is a gift-giving event), it just says no gifts.

[sarack]

i wouldn't include anything. or just tell your close friends and family that you really mean it.

a friend really did write your presence is present enough.. and i thought that was fine. but unncessary..

and honestly, what does a 1 year old need? i hope people give thor cash!

btw, everyone should be jealous because i saw thor this weekend. and @spunbutterfly!