um...feedback to friend's showcase shower

[Odonata]

I was telling her last night how someone on here asked about a shower where you didn't wrap  a gift and when I explained what a showcase shower was so many people thought it was a great idea.  Of course, it's not a common type of shower to have in this area (I think it's more prevalent in the south?  Anyone want to back me on this?) so not many people are even use to this idea.  But her's was the first I ever attended and here is what she had to say:

Apparently, it didn't go over too well with "everyone" in that she had family members who "really" wanted to watch her open gifts.  So, downside #1 is you will probably get a lot of push back from Great Aunt Martha because she's old fashioned that way.  BUT, in reality, does it matter what THEY WANT?  Nope.
She did open a few gifts because some people still brought wrapped presents.  But it was like 10 minutes of that.  She said to me "I'm SO happy you told me about that kind of shower because we had so many people and gifts we will STILL be there opening them!".  In the end?  Worth it.  

But downside #2 is more important!!  Since not many people get the concept of no wrapping, they did not physically attach the card to the gift.  Because of this, when they packed up the items, cards and gifts were separated.  Now the mommy-to-be has no idea who gave what when she writes TY notes.  So if you're planning this route, maybe have someone in charge of a roll of tape so when people put their gifts on the table, the card gets attached somehow.  Or maybe whoever would be recording who-gave-what can go around and do this as the gifts come in?  

Anywho, thought I would share this feedback!  

[MrsDarcy]

Oh man. Sounds confusing. And as for more prevalent in the south, I'm in NC, and had never heard of this.

I enjoy opening presents too much to agree to one of these for myself.

[Odonata]

Apr 9, 2014 17:09:08 GMT -5 MrsDarcy said:

Oh man. Sounds confusing. And as for more prevalent in the south, I'm in NC, and had never heard of this.

I enjoy opening presents too much to agree to one of these for myself.

I think I first heard of this kind of shower from my knot days.  I remember the poster saying something about them being big in the south.  

At any rate, I pushed for one for my bridal shower but ended up opening gifts for 3 hours instead.  I'm not big on opening gifts while everyone is watching so I was happy to get pretty drunk on wine during that time.  Not sure if I want to do the same thing pregnant and sober!  

  

[pinotgrig]

Apr 9, 2014 17:09:08 GMT -5 MrsDarcy said:

Oh man. Sounds confusing. And as for more prevalent in the south, I'm in NC, and had never heard of this.

I enjoy opening presents too much to agree to one of these for myself.

Ditto! I'm in the south and that wouldn't fly in my circles. I, too, love opening presents. A lot.

[bowies]

Another Southerner - of three different states - and this is a new concept for me as well.

[Odonata]

Well, I heard it was a south thing from TK, so take it as it is. Lol.

[curbsideprophet]

I also current live in NC and have never been to a shower like this. I have only heard of it on here and that was recently.

[scribellesam]

That's an important tip! How awkward to have to go back and investigate who gave you what. I still like the idea, though, even though I won't be having any more showers.

[andthentherewere10]

We played gift bingo at my house to make it a little more interesting, but I would have liked this type of shower better (as I look at the giant pile of wrapping paper, boxes, and bags on my living room floor this very minute).

[mrspost08]

I like the idea of not unwrapping gifts! The card thing could be confusing!

[katinthehat]

I think that's kind a confused idea with a sip and see which is common where I'm from (Mississippi) for a second or third child. That's because you usually just bring diapers and a small gift to those and they're usually unwrapped.

[D2M]

My mom has been to showers like this. Usually the invitation comes with a notecard with a rhyming note about "be a dear/wrap in clear" or something like that. It's for the type of shower that has 75+ guests in attendance and watching each gift get unwrapped would take all dang day. At the showers my mother has attended, the mom-to-be (or bride) still sits in a spot of honor and acknowledges who gave her what, but there's no unwrapping.

[melsamoony]

@andthenterewere10 that is what we did at my bridal shower and it was fun. IDK what we will do at my baby shower. My mom and mother-in-law are planning it and I am cool with whatever they want. I don't think the not wrapping thing would go over well with my family lol.

[linz]

I get that people dont always want to watch gifts being opened but I guess I do. To me thats part of the point of the shower and I live seeing their face when they open the gift.

[bowies]

Ohhhh, a sip-and-see! That I am familiar with.

I'm going to be a person who doesn't have this problem. I'm not sure I even know 75 people, period.

[Odonata]

Apr 10, 2014 9:46:34 GMT -5 linz said:

I get that people dont always want to watch gifts being opened but I guess I do. To me thats part of the point of the shower and I live seeing their face when they open the gift.

This is why I don't like opening gifts in front of people.  I always feel like I need to put on this surprised face or won't live up to their expectations of what my face should look like.  And after an hour of opening, I just can't look that surprised anymore.  I just don't like being watched.