Ah the ever-lasting question. Knotties I pose this to you. A friend is getting married in November and is currently looking for alternative ways to honor the gifts a guest will bring without having to sit there for a longtime opening them.
I know it's tradition and it's expected (I went through it...I really didn't enjoy it) but there must be some ways to do this a different way.
Now before you rant off about how inappropriate and unappreciative she is please know 2 things before you respond 1- I know it's not socially accepted so please, if you have something positive to say, I'd love to hear it...2 - we were at a shower last summer (one of the few she's been to) and the shower was at the bride's home. The bridesmaids and mom set the gifts and the bride up in one of the smaller rooms on the first flower. Of the about 70 people that were in attendance....15ish fit in there. Not to mention the insane amount of gifts she got. The rest of us (including the girl I'm asking about) were forced out to the porch and the living room. We saw the bride for about 2 minutes and the only gifts we saw opened were the one we bought and only cause one of her BMs called (literally via phone, not yelled our names) us from across the house to say she's opening it.
So please...anyone have any suggestions