opening gifts at reception?

Ya, I've never heard of opening the gifts at the reception; unless its some sort of cultural thing I am unaware of. I agree, people would be bored..I think it would be nice if they want to watch to do what you said , open at your Grandma's. You guys could even have a breakfast, or maybe apps depending on when you do it. :-)

Its just my moms way of running our day. its what she did at her wedding so its what we will do at ours NOT!!!! im just scared to death that if i tell her no it will cause a big huge fight like everything else has! the only thing i just realized is i have to work at the church the sunday following. ill talk to fh and see if he will be willing to just do it after pictures. that way if its a big deal to them they will hang around, if its not they will go home.

Traditionally, it was rude even to bring gifts to the reception. (They should be sent to the couple's home, so that the couple would not have to transport them all afterward.) Opening them at the reception would be a disaster. Those people who had sent their gifts to your home would look cheap, because they would not have brought anything. And if there were duplicates, that would be obvious to everyone.

Duplicates!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!! i went to a wedding where they opened gifts and they literally got like 14 sets of the SAME glasses, and 6 toasters. that was a NIGHTMARE! yeah.....not opening gifts AT the reception! not a good idea! SORRY MOM YOU LOOSE!

Ohh and they passed around EVERY gift for people to look at!

I have never been to a wedding where gifts were opened at the reception.

I've been invited, twice, to a gift opening the next day at private homes. My daughter and SIL opened their gifts at the "Morning After" breakfast with family and a few of the BP members.

Opening them at the reception does seem a like a disaster waiting to happen, as mentioned above....duplicate gifts, guests who had already sent gifts, those giving cash (one friend gives you $100, but Aunt Harriet only gives you $10.), etc.

I have never been to a wedding where the gifts were opened at the reception...

I have seen it done both ways, I am not too big on opening a bunch of gifts in front of ppl. So needless to say we are not doing it at our wedding, I think it can get boring for the guest. If you want to save it for last so others can leave that sounds like a good compramise or if you REALLY rather not just tell your mom you really rather not as nice as possible.

Well, actually gifts ARE opened at receptions. My in-laws got married in 77 and they had a dinner then opened gifts. I have been to a couple receptions where a couple will open a present for the elderly grandparents or for a kid who's like SUPER excited to have you open what the kid got you.

I vote that you do what you feel more comfortable doing!

Are you not having a bridal shower? Because that's usually where I've seen all the gifts given and open in front of everyone. Usually, the ones who bring gifts at the reception are those out of town guests & those who didn't attend the shower, it's usually not that many people but I've never seen any couple open them at the reception. Never. Do what you plan on doing, sounds like s great plan me if it's that important for them to see.

Sheila, I think the bigger issue here (which I believe you may have posted about or indicated before, unless I'm mistaken) is why your mom is commandeering your wedding choices..I know you want to avoid a fight with her, but I'm sure all of us WW girls want to see that you are getting everything you want/prefer for YOUR day like colors, etc..has she controlled a lot of other stuff (like colors, dress) or is this really just the main thing? I hope she loosens up! Good luck dear! :-)

Since Britt does not have time to get on here now that she is an old married lady it is safe to say this and not worry she will see my comment. It is not complimentary to her Grandma and I don't criticize her to Britt so I would not be able to say it.

When I married her Dad, I had just moved from the midwest to Texas. I was from a little town and now all of a sudden in a big city. Way out of my element. Before our wedding something was said about opening our gifts and I was told in no uncertain terms, "Only people at small country weddings open gifts at their reception." Any time opening gifts at the reception is brought up I always remember that comment.

I will give you all one guess as to whether or not she thought I was good enough for her son!

According to people in my parents' generation, people quite often used to open the gifts at the reception, but it isn't typically done any more. FHs mom wants us to open gifts at the reception, she gets irritated when couples don't open their gifts in front of the guests. My mom came up with a solution that everyone seems happy with. We will not plan to open gifts, but should a guest ask us to open their gift in their presence we will gladly do so (but not in a public/showy manner).

@September2011, your in-laws were married in 1977. As the 1990's Monkees song said, "That Was Then, This is Now." ;-)

I will tell you that my "wedding guest" status goes back to when I was very young, in the late 60's. Yes, some of us are still living. LOL!!!! I have never attended a wedding where gifts were opened at the reception.

PS, I was married in 1982. No gifts opened then either, LOL!

It's not a birthday party its a wedding. It would be difficult for anyone to give something small, people comparing and all. The focus should be on the wedding, there has been plenty of chances for gift before the wedding.

The etiquette involved is that the gifts should be shipped to the couple/bride before the wedding. Gifts are opened as they arrive (not used until after the wedding) and thank you notes written.

When gifts are brought to the reception, these gifts are not opened in front of anyone. They are opened by the couple when they go home and thank you notes are written.

It would be nice if you could just relax and open your gifts by yourself.

Short and sweet....No. You and your new husband should open them when you get back from the honeymoon. Just say no. lol

Well, maybe this story will help - I have a very good friend who informed me today that he is hiring a local cartoonist to do a wedding gift for fh and I - he is going to have this man take a picture of fh and me and have him draw a cartoon of me - as a dominatrix, dominating fh. I'm not sure where my friend got this idea, but he seems set on it. Would you want to risk opening that in front of a large group? Our gifts(at least the ones from this particular friend) will be opened in private and MAYBE showed to a few open minded friends later.

@Julie H. That is a gift that should be opened at the reception.............or not. ;-)

Lol - I was speechless when he told me about this gift. I dont know whether to warn fh or not tell him and just have a camera ready when he opens it so i can capture the look on his face forever.

You could always open them the next day, video record it, then stick the video on youtube or send it to anyone who's interested in seeing it. That way, you can avoid all of the people in your face. Or better yet, just take pictures of you opening them and then put them where your guests can see them if they want. That way, if Aunt Lindy gives you ugly matching mr. and mrs. aprons, you can prepare your face and smile before a picture is taken. Any evidence of initial reactions (unsavory of course) can be avoided that way. Just a thought.