Weird baby shower invite request

[shekels1222]

I just got a baby shower invite from a friend who requests unwrapped gifts only. Am I totally missing some new trend or is this weird?

[Odonata]

it's not strange at all. Its called a showcase shower. I just came from one Sunday, & I would love to have one myself. The point is to have the gifts displayed so everyone can see what the new mother got, and spend more time socializing than watching someone open gifts for a few hours. Plus, some people do not like to sit there and open gifts for that long it makes them uncomfortable. I've seen this done for bridal showers as well.

[anna7602]

I just learned something new from Odonata's response.

[shekels1222]

Wow ok. Makes sense I guess.

[thatgirl2478]

Apr 8, 2014 16:25:22 GMT -5 Odonata said:

it's not strange at all. Its called a showcase shower. I just came from one Sunday, & I would love to have one myself. The point is to have the gifts displayed so everyone can see what the new mother got, and spend more time socializing than watching someone open gifts for a few hours. Plus, some people do not like to sit there and open gifts for that long it makes them uncomfortable. I've seen this done for bridal showers as well.

I LOVE this idea.  I hate opening gifts in front of people, and I hate wasting so much money on something that's going into the garbage (which is also why I hate cards...)

[Odonata]

yeah, I wanted one for my bridal shower but that didn't work out. I hate to be the center of attention, and I know, if you're the bride or the new mommy to be, you are the center of attention. But there is just something awkward about sitting for hours opening gifts after gift, and I always feel like I have to act super surprised and overly happy about every single thing I open. At least for my bridal shower, I drank a ton of wine and got pretty drunk, so it was easy to pull off. But I think for my baby shower, I'm going to be fat tired and sober, and I don't want any of that.

[thatgirl2478]

Apr 8, 2014 16:33:16 GMT -5 Odonata said:

yeah, I wanted one for my bridal shower but that didn't work out. I hate to be the center of attention, and I know, if you're the bride or the new mommy to be, you are the center of attention. But there is just something awkward about sitting for hours opening gifts after gift, and I always feel like I have to act super surprised and overly happy about every single thing I open. At least for my bridal shower, I drank a ton of wine and got pretty drunk, so it was easy to pull off. But I think for my baby shower, I'm going to be fat tired and sober, and I don't want any of that.

That's one of the reasons I actually like the showers after the baby is already born... You can pass the baby off to others (after all that's who everyone wants to see) and you can have a drink .  As long as you do it when they aren't teeny tiny, they wouldn't be as susceptible to germs.  We did one with the ladies at my parents church when DD was 3mo old and it was a blast (church ladies are actually pretty funny ...).

[FastHands]

I would probably raise an eyebrow at it, but after reading/thinking about it, it sounds AWESOME. I'm kind of sad my mom sent out my invites today. lol. I would totally request that!

[scribellesam]

I'd probably eyebrow raise initially, but after reading the explanation I'm all for it. The gift opening section of showers is mind-numbingly dull.

[Wonderwall]

Apr 8, 2014 16:29:00 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

I just learned something new from Odonata's response.

WORD.

[Odonata]

not only are they awesome for the person who is being honored, but as a guest I really like them because I really don't care about watching someone opened gifts for that long.

I mean, after the 1 millionth onesie gets held up for everyone to see I'm kind of like who cares?but, maybe that's just me.

[thatgirl2478]

Apr 8, 2014 17:23:31 GMT -5 Odonata said:

not only are they awesome for the person who is being honored, but as a guest I really like them because I really don't care about watching someone opened gifts for that long.

I mean, after the 1 millionth onesie gets held up for everyone to see I'm kind of like who cares?but, maybe that's just me.

nope

[linz]

Wow never heard of that but a great idea! I think it's good too for the mom to be to not have a million baby bags when it's all done. I still have bags from my bridal shower because I didn't have the heart to throw them away.

[Deleted]

A friend requested that for her bridal shower a couple of years ago. I thought it was a strange request having not heard of it before, but once you realize the point of it, it makes sense.

We found a cute poem for the invites that explained the bride-to-be wanted more time to see everyone, and we mailed them out in clear cellophane envelopes.