Unwrapped shower gifts

I understand wanting to spend time with your family and friends. However, I know that when I buy someone a gift and bring it to a shower (or any gift giving occasion for that matter), half the joy comes from watching them open it. People know that when the go to a shower, part of the occasion is opening gifts with the bride. I also know that some of the best memories I have of showers I've been to happened during the gift opening.

It is obviously your choice, but I'm just trying to give another perspective. I would be kind of sad to bring a gift and not get to see the person's face when they open it.

Are you expecting different responses than the previous thread posted earlier today? Are you planning your own shower?

I understand not wanting to open the gifts but sorry, suck it up and do it. The guests went to the trouble to buy you a gift and they want you to open it in front of them!

How many people are coming to your shower? I think I spent maybe 30 minutes max opening presents. I think if you have a younger crowd you can get away with unwrapped gifts but most people want to watch the opening of the presents, plus it gives you a moment to say something to everyone at your shower when you open their gifts.

I think watching people open gifts at a bridal shower is really boring. I just can’t ooh and ahh over a set of cutlery or some towels. My sister and BIL had a couples shower and we all just ate and hung out in the backyard and they had yard games and stuff. They didn’t open the presents there. But it was a totally chill hangout so it didn’t seem weird that they didn’t open them there.

Oh I actually misread I guess, I didn’t realize you were asking about unwrapped gifts. In that case I’d not be into it.

If you don't want to open gifts, don't have a shower. Easy fix.

I think part of the fun and spending time together is opening gifts. I enjoy seeing ppl open their gift and taking pictures for them. I don’t find it boring. But also don’t think this takes hours and hours. At most one hour if you have a lot of guest.

I don't get why people think watching someone open gifts is fun. I recently went to a shower where all gifts were brought unwrapped. We hung out and played some games. I could tell the older crowd wasn't into it, but all they younger ladies kept saying it was the best shower they'd been to because they didn't have to watch someone open presents.

If you just want to hang out with the guests, have a bridal luncheon or cocktail party. No gifts brought, no gifts to open.

IMHO, bridal showers that include hours of gift opening/games are the worst. I 100% understand your dislike for spending 2 hours opening gifts. I feel these types of bridal showers are outdated.

Thank-you, everyone, for all of your responses!

I am hosting my daughters upcoming shower in June, and it will be a Display Shower also. All gifts will be brought in clear cellophane wrapping and a card I enclosed with the invite and also a really nice poem ( check pinterest/Etsy) I have 104 invites going out and it would take hours to open gifts. She will however, go down the display of gifts and acknowledge every gift without having to sit there and open individually. In the last two months I have been to a bridal shower and baby shower, at the bridal shower it was a line of her bridesmaids opening the gifts for her and passing them her quickly, ( it also was a a very large shower) and to me it looked like an assembly line, a mess, and alot of stress for the bride. On the other hand, the baby shower I was just at, I noticed people yawning and talking and not even paying too much attention because it took almost 2 hours. I know times are changing, and some of the older ladies might not get it, but this seems to be a new trend, and in my honest opinion I think I like it Have a fun and wonderful time at your shower !

My idea of a non-wrapped shower gift is from the ecological view, "save the environment". I love bridal and baby showers, it's a happy time for everyone, but why must we fill the landfills with so much paper. Most of the wrapping paper isn't recyclable. I'm planning a shower for my daughter and if she requests gifts not be wrapped at her shower, the gift will be brought to my daughter from the display table, the gift card will be opened and the gift giver will be acknowledged and thanked. Therefore, we all can all do our part in saving the planet.

Every time I read these posts, I come to the very scary realization - some people like bridal showers. Ugh.

If I went to your shower and realized I could just hang out and chat and have fun and not have to sit for 30 minute-1 hour pretending like I cared what gifts you were opening - I would be so excited.