Not opening gifts at bridal shower.

I requested my sister tell my guests to wrap in clear plastic so I don't have to open gifts. I find it so boring when I'm at other people's showers so I will not be doing that. Jack and Jill for me! And definitely NO GAMES!

I hate opening gifts in front of people but I have been told it's an absolute must for bridal showers.

It's the WHOLE point if a shower to open gifts. And if someone judges another person for the price of their gift, that is just rude. No one knows someone's budget or financial situation. Now if there were a lot if cards given at the shower (ie cash gifts) that is weird to open them at the shower 'cause then you gotta 'pretend' to read the card when all you want to do it say, 'Woo hoo, Auntie Janet gave me $50!'

If guests are going to judge gifts that are less expensive, the problem is with those guests, not the gift opening. Gross. If you're nervous about be all eyes on you, play the bingo game while opening. The host makes bingo cards with items from the registry - towel, picture frame, cookie sheets, etc - and guests play bingo while they're opened. It keeps the room talking so that it's not one of those showers where people sit silently watching.

I've been to lot lots of showers (bridal and baby) where gift are not opened. The reason I have heard the most is because it take so long to open 20 gifts and the confusion of making sure that the Thank You note written later is correct.

Personally I would rather not sit though gift opening and I didnt get her the gift so I can watch her awkwardly open it in front of a ton of people.

@gina marie no opening presents and no games? what exactly do you plan on doing at your shower.....

@Heather, did your guests not understand how a registry works?

Personally I'd want the bride to open gifts because everyone wants to see her reaction. I've never attended a shower where a bride didn't open her gifts.

I like when people open my gifts while I'm there- I like to see their reaction. I would be annoyed if the bride didn't open it while I was there!

Personally I think gift registries are tacky and showers an unnecessary financial burden. People can simply gift at the wedding if they choose. But if you are going to have one, a bride should have the decency to open the gift at the shower as intended. "it takes too long" is a cop out. They took the time to come to your shower, take the time to acknowledge their gift. "I don't want someone to be embarrassed if their gift is less expensive than others" That's not the guests embarrassment they are thinking about. That's the brides embarrassment. A guest chooses their gift with the knowledge it's going to be shared in front of others.

The bride to be is suppose to open her gifts from the guests that came to her shower. I have never heard or saw that yet.

That's wierd. I don't care if that's a trend. This is the whole point of the shower. People shouldn't be getting offended esp if they are purchasing something off of the registry that you made it is obviously something that you wanted .

I went to one recently where no gifts were opened, it was really weird. Nothing was mentioned about it, after about two hours of just hanging around and waiting for the event to 'start', we kinda realized that it was just going to be a hang out. As a guest I didn't like it and almost felt a bit cheated, but I get that it's the brides choice and not the guests choice. I think if you do it mention it somehow, otherwise the guests may feel like they gave up a good portion of their day for an event that was a non-event in the end.

I've never judged a gift at a shower. Why are people so catty? The point is to open the gifts and have everyone ooh and ah over it and say how lucky the bride is.

Open the gifts!!!

I'm not a fan of sitting down to open gifts in front of people, but if I'm privileged to be gifted a shower, I certainly will, because that's what you do.

This not 'offending' people is getting out of hand.

No body at the shower is sitting there watching the gifts being opened and adding up how much the pots and pans cost vs their towels or the food chopper.

I had my shower yesterday, people enjoy giving you a gift and enjoy your pleasure in receiving it--don't deny them that and as long as you are thankful and gracious it won't be awkward to open them in front of your guests.

That's a strange reason not to open presents..

I went to a shower where they asked us not to wrap our presents so the guest could have more time to mingle and not waste time opening presents. I didn't love it but it was fine, we won't be doing that though