Stock the Bar Party

It's fairly common. My mom asked if I wanted to do this for a bridal shower instead of traditional gifts. We're a military couple and she thought we might not want items to carry around through all our moves. We ultimately decided against it but it's a fun idea. It reduces the chances of getting things you won't use and get alcohol you can pull out whenever guest come over (or you just want to party at home!).

If you already had a gift picked out I'd give them that along with a bottle of inexpensive wine.

I could be wrong but maybe they mean like bring your own drinks. if not I kinda made the same mistake during my friends wedding. everybody else got them money and I was the only one that brought a gift I felt silly but they said it was completely okay. So I guess what I'm saying is I think they will understand if you don't bring booze.

I've been to a few and they were nice more laid back housewarmings.

I always bring something unique like a set of unique bitters, a fun alcohol like Limoncello, or a glass rimming kit.

It's getting more common as people move more frequently and also starting marriage later in life with combined households. It's also less time-consuming for the host than making up a registry.

Asking for gifts of any sort is just plain wrong and rude for any adult occasion other than a shower, and in that case, you don't host a party in your own honor. You don't invite people to see your new house and "bring a gift", even specifying what you want that gift to be. Yes, most people will bring a gift, but that doesn't make it right to ask.

I’ve never been to or had a housewarming that people didn’t bring booze. It was never asked for, it’s just what people bring. Personally, I would never buy someone anything for their home unless they explicitly said, “I want this”.

I think it's wicked tacky to ask for gifts of any sort ever, but usually when I go to housewarming parties I bring a bottle of wine. You generally shouldn't go to someone's house empty handed but definitely don't ask for anything.

I didn't ask for one thing at our house warming and everyone bought a bottle. Close family members bought us stuff they know we were eyeing

I agree with Muriel. You don't ask for gifts for a party you throw.

To a certain degree I get it, but I also find it kind of comical that people get annoyed when - in a scenario where it is very customary to come with some kind of offering - the host makes any kind of indication of what might be preferred.

I would not get offended by a casual "help us stock the bar" on the invite. I'd go, "Oh, good, I was waffling on what to bring, that answers my question." Among close social circles, I don't find this problematic or rude.

Not everything is worth side-eyeing.

I've been to a stock the bar housewarming party. The premise for this particular one was that the guests bring their own preference of booze, so that the new homeowners would have it on hand when guests visited in the future. It was a fun evening.

I've been to a few stock the bar parties, and brought alcohol. You could always get a bar sign, bottle opener or something related. I mean if you had your gift picked out just get the gift, I'm sure they will appreciate it.

I agree with Jessie. I wouldn't buy someone a housewarming gift if it wasn't something I knew they wanted. A lot of people brought us plants as housewarming gifts, but those are dead now because I suck at taking care of plants, which is why I don't want them in my house. I've been to stock the bar parties and regular housewarming parties where I just bring booze.

I've been to two housewarming parties and neither asked for any gifts. I brought a gift to both parties. I didn't bring booze because neither couple drinks alcohol.

I've seen this before I'd just bring liquor.

I love stock the bar parties! If you have something picked out already that you know they will love, bring that and a cheap bottle of wine.

I love these parties and don't find them rude. Probably because we drink part of the alcohol at the party and leave the rest. I always take a couple of bottles and add a related item, such as cute bar napkins, wine charms, nice glasses if I know they would like some, rimmers, mix ins, etc.

Generally when you go to any kind of house warming/dinner party you should bring a hostess gift. Most people will bring a bottle of alcohol or wine - occasionally people will bring food of some sort or candy or something.

I never got to a party without bringing something. If I ask the hostess and she does not need me to contribute a dish, we bring wine. I would be really irritated to get an invite instructing me on what to bring as a house warming gift. But maybe that's just me! I ould go ahead and bring some booze then! that's what most people would do anyway