Opening Gifts at the Bridal Shower

You dont need to. I've been to many bridal and baby showers were no gifts are opened. It way easier to keep track of who gave what gift when you dont have 50 people staring at you. Just make sure to send heartfelt thank you cards that state what girft they gave you.

People expect to see gifts being opened at a shower. I think the guests would think it was weird for the bride to not open the gifts. Everybody understands that the "opening of the gifts" is one of the main activities at a shower. And you don't have to give a big spiel about each gift: "Oh, a toaster! Thank you so much, Aunt Gracie!" Just make sure your MOH or a BM writes down each gift and who it is from in case the card gets lost, so you can write thank you notes!

I think it would be rather rude not to, that's the whole point of a shower. You just need to suck it up in this case.

I've been where the bridal party and bride all opened gifts super awkward. I recommend going through the gifts many people enjoy seeing you open the gift they got you. Can always do a "be a dear wrap in clear" so that you don't necessarily have to unwrap the gift which saves a bit of time. I just went to a shower where she didn't open gifts and honestly it just felt too long of a party then for not having done that.

You may feel uncomfortable doing it, but your guests come to the shower to celebrate with you and watch you open up your gift from them. I mean what else would you do for 2 hours? You don't have to read your cards right then and there, but your guests want to see you open their gift. You would just be wasting your own/your guests time if you don't open in front of them.

There's a game where you set a timer and when it goes off, whoevers gift your opening gets a prize. I'm hoping we have this one because I'm also pretty nervous about opening gifts in front of people. I think that kind of game will keep them somewhat engaged and have another thing to focus on half the time.

We didn't - but then again, we had a luncheon instead of a shower because we didn't want stuff. We had four physical gifts and the rest were cards. One family was a little disappointed that I didn't open their gift in their presence because they'd put cute little sticky notes on each of the items, but the party'd gone on for four hours, and most of us had a bit of a way to drive.

But if we had had a bunch of gifts to open, the mimosa bar, keg, and wine would have probably helped!

ETA: We mostly passed the time with 4-5 games my cousin found on pinterest. It was co-ed so FH was there to participate.

50 invited does not mean 50 will attend. it is usually expected to open them in front of everyone.

Play a game!! You get to open the gifts, acknowledge those who showered you with presents, pass the time AND it keeps everyone engaged. It's perfect. I like the timer idea from a PP. But to keep it even more active, do BINGO. Everyone gets a bingo card with different traditional items in a different order. Then everyone is watching the gifts and paying attention.

Open them, I like seeing what people get and would feel a little let down if I didn't see you open mine if I were a guest.

Have cake, coffee, tea, desserts while opening. Takes a little limelight off and gives people something to enjoy while you open and not just stare at you. And if you happen to have any kids there, you can have them help you open, take the attention off of you, makes it go a little faster, and kids love ripping wrapping paper! (Although I know a lot of people have no kid showers, so might be a stretch idea).

I understand that stress. I hate having that much attention on me. You can have a "shower" without gifts. Call it a luncheon (or brunch, tea, whatever floats your boat) Tell them instead of gifts you are asking for XX (for me, we are doing recipes). Problem solved, you can still play all the usual bridal shower games and have all of the same people attend but no gift issue.

You gotta. And I have to tell you, I hate the 'display' shower idea, but then I don't particularly like showers to begin with.

People went to the trouble to buy you a gift, wrap it up and they want to see you oooh and ahhhh over it.

I've heard of "Green" showers.. I believe that's what they're called. In the invitation you put a cute rhyme about saving paper and not wrapping and then the bride can spend more time mingling and talking with everyone. Just an idea if you're set on not opening!

I've been to a display shower and it's awkward AF. The recipient just walked around looking at all her gifts.

I just had my shower on Saturday, as much as i didn't want to, i had to open all my gifts in front of everyone, i think people like to see you opening the gift they got for you! I didn't read the cards though, i passed those around the circle!

I haven't read all of the comments so this may have been mentioned already. You could open a few gifts, do a game, and repeat. That way you will have a bit of a break between gift opening. Sitting through that many gifts would be kind of dull as a guest, and having a break in between would be welcome.

People want to see what you got and how happy you are to get it. I know it's awkward but people do appreciate it. Especially the older ones.

There was a similar post on this a year or two back and people had different ideas about it! Celia, It looks like you changed your mind since then haha :-p https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/no-gift-opening-at-the-bridal-shower/c433d557e846729c.html

Honestly, I'm kind of split on this, I don't want to open the gifts because I have social anxiety and it would make me very nervous but I also don't want to offend anyone. My MOH and bridesmaids are throwing me a bridal shower and as of right now we are not planning on having me open the gifts. It would make me very anxious and hard for me to enjoy the party. My MOH is planning on telling anyone that asks that I am going to open them later with FH, and also called it a "Bridal Brunch" on the invitations. In lieu of opening gifts, we are planning on playing a bunch of games and eating and drinking a lot. It's only a three hour party, I guess we'll see how it goes!!!

You can turn the gift opening into a bingo game. Put different items from your registry into the spaces on a bingo card, and people can win prizes as they complete rows. Then it will be entertaining watching you open everything! I played this at a shower i went to and it was a lot of fun. (Dont forget you have to make every bingo card different)

It's definitely awkward, but I agree that it's something you should do. Just be gracious and thankful for every gift

If you are into games, the bingo one is kind of fun. There's slightly less pressure on you because the guests will be more focused on the gifts and whether or not they're on their cards than they will on your reaction to it.