gift card theme for wedding shower

lbaker54

has anyone done this? If you have how do you word without being tacky

jessicabessica

Ditto PP.  Showers are for physical, tear-off-the ribbons presents.  If you don't want a whole lot of those kind of presents, decline showers. 

noodle_oo

These are tacky.  There is no "non tacky" way to say it.  Just don't do it, it is a very rude request of your guests.

MNVegas

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_gift-card-theme-wedding-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:34Discussion:d24703ed-03bf-4aeb-bfbe-45a280faec91Post:a1d20de1-e9ec-40d1-b253-10896f019037">Re: gift card theme for wedding shower</a>:
[QUOTE]These are tacky.  There is no "non tacky" way to say it.  Just don't do it, it is a very rude request of your guests.
Posted by noodle_oo[/QUOTE]

Totally agree, Tacky=Tacky, there is no way around it no matter what pretty words you use.

hlq2011

Shower is for physical gifts, not gift cards.  And you can't tell people what to buy for a shower.

If I got an invitation to a GC shower, I'd decline in a hurry.  Very tacky.

aegrish

yeah that is really rude to set a 'theme'.  Let guests bring whatever gifts THEY want to bring.  I don't like being asked or worse told what to bring as a gift.

AZMagnini14

I went to a gift card themed shower last year for a friend. Her shower was in NY where all her family and friends live, but she lives in Florida. This was easiest for them so they didn't have to ship everything to Florida.

aegrish

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_gift-card-theme-wedding-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:34Discussion:d24703ed-03bf-4aeb-bfbe-45a280faec91Post:4b54f835-5a2e-44ec-9b49-57663c2be1fe">Re: gift card theme for wedding shower</a>:
[QUOTE]I went to a gift card themed shower last year for a friend. Her shower was in NY where all her family and friends live, but she lives in Florida. This was easiest for them so they didn't have to ship everything to Florida.
Posted by AZMagnini14[/QUOTE]

I had an out of state shower and it worked out fine, without ASKING for anything.  I either returned the gifts to BBB or C&B and bought them back when I got home, or carried them on the plane with me. 

GeauxTigers17

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_gift-card-theme-wedding-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:d24703ed-03bf-4aeb-bfbe-45a280faec91Post:4b54f835-5a2e-44ec-9b49-57663c2be1fe">Re: gift card theme for wedding shower</a>:
[QUOTE]I went to a gift card themed shower last year for a friend. Her shower was in NY where all her family and friends live, but she lives in Florida. This was easiest for them so they didn't have to ship everything to Florida.
Posted by AZMagnini14[/QUOTE]

<div>Was it terribly boring? I love seeing the gifts, but I can't imagine that it's any fun to watch a bride open a bunch of gift cards. I just don't get it.</div>

Jen6862

This is an issue for me too as I'm having an out of state wedding. Maybe BMs could politely suggest it to people without making it a theme... or if you want to make it a theme maybe it can be a "Bring the funniest card you can find" theme and at least it will be fun to read them if you can't open phisical presents. One of my aunts suggest people print out a picture of what they buy me--but I don't know about that! LOL.

AZMagnini14

It wasn't terribly boring. It was a quicker shoewr than normal. Lots of people did bring pictures as the PP mentioned. Its what worked for them, clearly its not for everyone. But do what makes sense for you guys and your situation.

JKcarlen

My aunts, mother and I threw a shower for my cousin's fiance who traveled to MN from Canada for the shower.  We included a little square piece of paper in the envelope with the invite saying where the couple was registered and politely saying that gifts may be ordered/shipped online due to travel back to Canada. 

I think it was completely fine.  People get it !

diannrubins

Tacky, tacky, tacky! Why don't the brides who are having these Gift Card Showers just flat out say "just give me money" there really is no difference. It was always my understanding that the Shower was to give a gift that the bride and groom-to-be would be able to use for their future household. Not to mention that a gift is usually purchased and then given with much thought and love, what is behind a giftcard? Oh that is right, nothing.

srogers914

My daughter will be moving to Buffalo to start her new job where her fiance will be going to school.  She won't be home until the holidays when they will be getting married.  Her sister wants to have a shower before she leaves since there will be no time before the wedding.  All of her friends realize she will be driving to Buffalo from Florida and will not have the space for extra boxes, but they don't think she should be deprived of a shower.  She has been the hostess and attended many showers.  These people are her friends and they know the situation.  If people are ofended at the gift card idea, they are not REAL friends and should politely decline.  I prefer to give gift cards anyway so it's not extra work for the bride and groom to return or exchange a gift if it's not what they wanted or should they get a double.  Times are changing!  Go with the flow!

Ces459

I don't know a good way to word it but I am trying to figure something out too. My fianc goes to the Naval Academy and when he graduates we will move overseas and shipping gifts will be so expensive, and I can't have the famIly just ship the gifts to our home because we don't know if we will have one yet. gift cards and money are the only way around it and then we are going to send all the thank you cards back with a picture of we got with the gift card. My family completely understands and plus now they don't have to watch me awkwardly sit in front of everyone and open presents, no one really pays attention to that part anyways... At least not in my family. To everyone who just says its a horrible thing and terribly tacky, just don't post because you are not being helpful to the question. I know this post didnt really answer but so many people bashed the idea that I thought I would put in my word of understanding. It's 2012, people do all sorts of things for their partie and receptions that used to be unacceptable. But now it's practical and people understand.

MandaC101

I have requested to have a gift card bridal shower for my own bridal shower. This is MY bridal shower and although it's correct that a shower is to help the bride and groom with things they will use in their future/house.. I have lived on my own for 6 years, 3 of them with my fianc so i don't want presents. My bridesmaids have written a cute poem to go inside the invitation... indicating it is an open house, gift card bridal shower. It might be tacky but a bridal shower isn't for your guests its for the bride... and its to help the bride and groom get ahead. I barely have room for my 4 member family in this house let alone a bunch of presents I don't need Every situation is different... and i attempted a registry at 3 locations and ended up with empty lists. I also attended a gift card bridal shower and 5 of us ladies grouped together and got! 50 card to the keg 100 la senza card, 50 lcbo card, 100 grocery card, and 50 prepaid visa. The couple wqs very thankful.

beeds13

I disagree with those saying this is "tacky".  In today's small world, people have close friends and family all over the country or even all over the world.  It is NOT cheap to travel, just for a bridal shower.  I actually think it's very TACKY to request your friends and family buy a plane ticket or spend $4.00/gallon on gas just to come a long distance for a 2 hour long bore-fest that consists of bad punch, stupid games and someone writing down names of people that gave you gifts.  Especially since they are going to have to travel to come to the actual wedding, a month down the road.  I am 32 years old, have owned my home for 7 years and already own everything I need.  My fiance, same thing.  I don't need more kitchen towels and spatulas.  So, yes, I LOVE the gift card idea.  I sent regular invitiations to all my family and friends (mostly the women), but I had a theme.  My theme was "Toast the Couple".  I asked them to write a toast or a blessing on the back of the invitation card and send it back.  I said.  "Please no gifts, gift cards only" and I specified $25 maximum, so no one felt overwhelmed (especially since the wedding is 3 weeks away).  That way, I know for a fact that my family and friends are blessing my wedding, and I'm not making anyone travel to do it. 

In my opinion, those that say this is "tacky" are being very selfish and are not thinking at all of their family and friends.  I almost decided against doing it due to all the negative comments about it, but I'm glad I decided to do it anyway.  I've gotten multiple compliments, especially from my family, on the idea and they LOVE IT!  Good luck to you and I hope this helps (and it's not too late). 

ashleyep

I miss all the regs. This thread is overrun with people arguing that a party where the whole point is to watch the bride open gifts, that asking for gift cards is perfectly acceptable. 

No one HAS to have a shower or DESERVES one. So if you don't want to smile and open your gifts (gifts, not gift cards) in front of everyone, don't have one.

ashleyep

beeds13 said:

I disagree with those saying this is "tacky".  In today's small world, people have close friends and family all over the country or even all over the world.  It is NOT cheap to travel, just for a bridal shower.  I actually think it's very TACKY to request your friends and family buy a plane ticket or spend $4.00/gallon on gas just to come a long distance for a 2 hour long bore-fest that consists of bad punch, stupid games and someone writing down names of people that gave you gifts.  Especially since they are going to have to travel to come to the actual wedding, a month down the road.  I am 32 years old, have owned my home for 7 years and already own everything I need.  My fiance, same thing.  I don't need more kitchen towels and spatulas.  So, yes, I LOVE the gift card idea.  I sent regular invitiations to all my family and friends (mostly the women), but I had a theme.  My theme was "Toast the Couple".  I asked them to write a toast or a blessing on the back of the invitation card and send it back.  I said.  "Please no gifts, gift cards only" and I specified $25 maximum, so no one felt overwhelmed (especially since the wedding is 3 weeks away).  That way, I know for a fact that my family and friends are blessing my wedding, and I'm not making anyone travel to do it. 

In my opinion, those that say this is "tacky" are being very selfish and are not thinking at all of their family and friends.  I almost decided against doing it due to all the negative comments about it, but I'm glad I decided to do it anyway.  I've gotten multiple compliments, especially from my family, on the idea and they LOVE IT!  Good luck to you and I hope this helps (and it's not too late). 

Um, what does this have to do with a gift card shower? If you're out of town, your choices are 1) don't go (which is fine) or 2) buy a gift online off the registry and have it shipped to the address on the registry. Or if you're out of town send a gift card. But that's not the same thing as the bride requesting gift cards - which is the equivalent of saying "I don't trust you to pick out gifts for me, so just give me cash so I can do it instead."

If you have everything you need, don't have a shower! It's as simple as that!

WAIT - AND you threw your own shower? Actually, it sounds like you didn't even have a shower. You sent out invites asking for a gift, but didn't have an actually event. Holy shit, that's wrong on so many levels.

ETA: Aw crap. Zombie thread.

Viczaesar

beeds13 said:

I disagree with those saying this is "tacky".  In today's small world, people have close friends and family all over the country or even all over the world.  It is NOT cheap to travel, just for a bridal shower.  I actually think it's very TACKY to request your friends and family buy a plane ticket or spend $4.00/gallon on gas just to come a long distance for a 2 hour long bore-fest that consists of bad punch, stupid games and someone writing down names of people that gave you gifts.  Especially since they are going to have to travel to come to the actual wedding, a month down the road.  I am 32 years old, have owned my home for 7 years and already own everything I need.  My fiance, same thing.  I don't need more kitchen towels and spatulas.  So, yes, I LOVE the gift card idea.  I sent regular invitiations to all my family and friends (mostly the women), but I had a theme.  My theme was "Toast the Couple".  I asked them to write a toast or a blessing on the back of the invitation card and send it back.  I said.  "Please no gifts, gift cards only" and I specified $25 maximum, so no one felt overwhelmed (especially since the wedding is 3 weeks away).  That way, I know for a fact that my family and friends are blessing my wedding, and I'm not making anyone travel to do it. 

In my opinion, those that say this is "tacky" are being very selfish and are not thinking at all of their family and friends.  I almost decided against doing it due to all the negative comments about it, but I'm glad I decided to do it anyway.  I've gotten multiple compliments, especially from my family, on the idea and they LOVE IT!  Good luck to you and I hope this helps (and it's not too late). 

That's gross.

Simply Fated

I LOVE how the ladies digging up these threads are only doing so to validate the bad ideas and chastise us for not doing so. Are things really that slow over at the Bee lately?

jlcarty13

I do not think it is tacky or rude. For the people saying 'don't have a bridal shower if you don't want gifts' that is ridiculous. We are throwing a gift card themed wedding shower for the couple. The whole point of the shower is to help the couple in the future, gift cards to home depot, lowes, and other places to help get things for their home WHEN THEY NEED THEM is much more acceptable instead of buying a bunch of sheets and dishes that the couple doesnt need right now. GREAT IDEA

NYCMercedes

jlcarty13 said:

I do not think it is tacky or rude. For the people saying 'don't have a bridal shower if you don't want gifts' that is ridiculous. We are throwing a gift card themed wedding shower for the couple. The whole point of the shower is to help the couple in the future, gift cards to home depot, lowes, and other places to help get things for their home WHEN THEY NEED THEM is much more acceptable instead of buying a bunch of sheets and dishes that the couple doesnt need right now. GREAT IDEA

Would you have resurrected this three year old thread if you thought gift card showers were a bad idea?

AddieCake

@jlcarty13

This thread is 3 years old. And a gift card shower is just as ridiculous now as it was when it was posted. 

@KnotPorscha  Can we close this ancient thread, please?

Viczaesar

jlcarty13 said:

I do not think it is tacky or rude. For the people saying 'don't have a bridal shower if you don't want gifts' that is ridiculous. We are throwing a gift card themed wedding shower for the couple. The whole point of the shower is to help the couple in the future, gift cards to home depot, lowes, and other places to help get things for their home WHEN THEY NEED THEM is much more acceptable instead of buying a bunch of sheets and dishes that the couple doesnt need right now. GREAT IDEA

Why on earth would that be ridiculous?

theartistformerlyknownas

Rude then, still rude now. If you don't need presents, what the hell are you going to use the gift cards for? Nobody wants to buy you socks and Drano, so don't ask them for a Target gift card.

ladybird29

Agreed with lolo. What are these gift cards even for if you have "no need" for any gifts whatsoever? I mean, are you asking people to bring visa gift cards or something? UGH - that's even worse than demanding gift cards to home furnishings type stores...because at least those would be used (presumably) to buy items for your home...

Simply Fated

jlcarty13 said:

I do not think it is tacky or rude. For the people saying 'don't have a bridal shower if you don't want gifts' that is ridiculous. We are throwing a gift card themed wedding shower for the couple. The whole point of the shower is to help the couple in the future, gift cards to home depot, lowes, and other places to help get things for their home WHEN THEY NEED THEM is much more acceptable instead of buying a bunch of sheets and dishes that the couple doesnt need right now. GREAT IDEA

Why would a couple register for sheets and dishes if they don't need them?

photokitty

@knotporscha zombie