Non-traditional Bridal Shower -- No Gift Opening!

I don't see why yall think it takes two hours to open gifts. My whole shower was 2 hours. Opening gifts was maybe 20 mins. Put on your big girl panties for a few mins. The rest of the time we ate and socialized.

But thank you to everyone who took the time to respond and give their opinion/ideas. I truly appreciate it!

@ tucker... no need to be sassy. I have been @ showers where it lasted a very long time. It's just personally not for me.

I've been to several "display showers", meaning that the gifts are not wrapped, but rather displayed on a table and the gift givers put a little card with their name on it with their gift. This way everyone can see all the neat stuff you got, but you don't have to deal with all eyes on you for 1-2 hours while you open gifts (and guests don't have to feel like they're sitting there forever watching you open gifts). I feel like these are actually more and more common, so I don't think anyone would find it strange for you to do this.

One option that happened recently at a shower I went to was that someone in the bridal part opened the gift while the bride read the card and thanked the person for the gift. It's not for me, but is another option for you.

I'm kinda with tucker, if it takes two hours to open gifts then you've got too many ladies at the shower. More like thirty minutes. That said, a 'display shower' sounds like a good compromise. That way everyone can still ooh and ahh over the gifts and you don't have to feel like you're in the spotlight for too long.

Honestly, when I attend showers, the gift opening is the worst part from my persepctive as a guest. I have been to some baby showers where gift opening took well over an hour. By the half hour mark, I have completely lost interest and am daydreaming; counting the seconds until its over. After about 30 minutes, the gift opening just becomes tedious to watch. I am not against gift opening at showers, but I do appreciate it when it is moved along quickly and efficiently. I would rather be talking to the bride-to-be, playing games, eating and socializing.

Having to open them is awkward but it's literally like 75% of the shower.

I hate "display showers". I can't put my finger on why, but I guess if people bring you a present you can at least do them a courtesy of opening it and showing everyone what you had.

My shower was yesterday with about 35 people. The entire thing took 2 hours with opening gifts maybe 30 min. I opened each one, said who it was from, and even told a story about why the gift was appreciated. Example: "Aunt Kathy got us a sheet set! For those of you who don't know, Matt is 6'6, so the california king sheets will come in handy!"

So easy. My MOH was running the show and kept things moving. And people are still texting me about how much fun they had. Open the damn gifts.

I have been to an unwrapped shower and all the guests where told to bring their gift unwrapped and then we displayed them really pretty on some long tables! No opening required and it was fun and different.

You should do what makes you feel comfortable! I've been to both kinds of showers and it doesn't bother me one way or the other. I would much rather spend time socializing and playing games then sitting around opening gifts.

It's your shower! If the guests only care about the gifts, then they have their priorities out of order!

Thanks @Heather I feel the same way! I think we'll end up doing a 'no-wrap' type deal!

Maybe i'm alone here, but opening gifts is actually my favorite part at showers (both bridal & baby). I've never seen it last 2 hours. The most was 45 minutes but that's because she really got a lot of gifts. I've never been to a display shower where gifts aren't wrapped, but I guess that can be a good compromise because people can just see what you got.

I personally love watching the gift openings, and have never been to a shower where it took 2 hours. I did go to a "display" shower and it was interesting but sort of awkward because we were all waiting for something to happen that didn't. Also- I put a lot of time and effort in picking out gifts the recipient will love, I like watching them open it, it's gratifying. To each their own.

I kind of enjoy gift opening. It seems like everyone wants to rush everything- have a short ceremony, only have a couple short speeches, open gifts quickly, etc. etc. I get it- you don't want to bore guests and you want to be contentious of their time.

I would be a bit put off if the gifts were taken and not opened at the shower. I don't know exactly why, but I would feel like it wasn't appreciated and I would be tempted to give a smaller gift at the wedding as a result. Just an opinion.

If this is what you are really going for I'd vote for the display shower. It's not my cuppa but it's the organizers choice.

Also, 2 hours!? Seriously!? Was everything wrapped up with intricate ribbon and no scissors around!?

Everyone's opinion is going to vary but I've been to 2 showers where the bride asks for everyone to bring gifts unwrapped- when people enter the shower, they put their name on a tag and at the end- they are displayed with the names while everyone walks around at the end. It's kinda nice because people socialize at the end. Especially for a bigger shower- it's the best way to go. Sometimes, people stop paying attention if you're opening so many gifts. DO what makes YOU comfortable. Set a new trend

This whole thread makes me not want a shower! lol

You have to open the gifts. As a guest I am thinking, I took the time and money to buy something, buy an outfit/dress to wear to this shower. How hard is it really to open the gifts and announce them?? What's worse is I recently got an "invitation" to a virtual shower where you don't even go to the shower you just send gifts. How RUDE.

The larger showers I've attended have been "presentation" showers, with unwrapped gifts, clear wrapping, or gift bags. My own bridal shower was unwrapped; my sister's, with half as many guests, was not.

Almost all my gifts still had the purple ribbon from Bed Bath and Beyond around them, so I removed them, announced who gave the gift, and showed what the gift was. I think the whole shower (full luncheon, with wine/mimosas, a violinist), was about 3 hours. The half of the guests who were closest to the gift tables seemed to be semi-interested. The ones in the back half of the room were busy talking amongst themselves. It totally didn't matter - they were enjoying themselves.

I wholeheartedly approve of unwrapped gift giving. We're not little kids anymore, anxiously waiting to open gifts from Santa. And you can save a tree and keep all that wrapping out of the landfills.

I look forward to the gift opening part of a shower. They never take 2 hours either... Some showers I've been to.. whoever got the gift got to take a picture with the bride to be. To each their own...