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How long?

missmegsimissmegsi
10 Comments
in Minnesota-Minneapolis and St. Paul
About how long do most gift openings last?
 
I'm trying to plan for when to start the day after activities.  We plan on opening gifts at the hotel the next morning, before the other events of the day.
btw what, if anything else, goes on at the gift opening besides opening gifts?  Do people usually attend these things?
TIA!
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Re: How long?

  • laura_fettlaura_fett member
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    What we're planning on doing is having a brunch along with the gift opening. My mom I think is more excited about this event than the wedding. The other day she was showing me all these fancy recipes, I told her we should just keep it simple, but she has color themes and all that!

    People in my area attend them. I went to my cousin's, parent's, grandparents, and other close family and friends would probably want to come. Other than having some food, I don't think you would need any other activities.
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  • laura_fettlaura_fett member
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Didn't answer your first question. It could only take an hour or so, but consider your other family gatherings, maybe people will want to sit and chat, or maybe since they say each other the day before, they'll be ready to head home.
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  • Ms.Knick-GreenMs.Knick-Green
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I've always followed the tradition of the wp, parents and siblings attend the gift opening, and it depends on how many gifts you've recieved that will determine how long it will take.  Generally you serve some sort of snacks or a small lunch simply finger sandwiches and such. 
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  • hkieslinghkiesling member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Ours lasted about three hours.  We had a lot of OOT guests and out of 120 total guests, maybe 50 dropped in at some point for the brunch.  It was pretty casual with food and talking and then opening the gifts took about 25 minutes.  Remember to have someone designated to write down who gave you what gift as you're opening them.  It'll make thank you cards MUCH easier.
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  • Clare13Clare13 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are doing a BBQ/ Gift opening the day after the ceremony.  We are inviting all guests but don't expect many will make the trip out to our house.  Which is fine.  We figure we will have all gifts opened in less than an hour and then we want to hang out with family and friends in a casual atmosphere.  It will also be the first time many of our relative will be out to our house. 
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  • wittyschaffywittyschaffy member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Ours dragged out for a while - a couple hours at least.  We decided to host a day after brunch for out of town family and friends before they headed back home and opened gifts after EVERYONE left except for our parents (and my sisters who hung at home too).  I didn't want to have to hold up every gift, pass it around, and smile sweetly if something was god awful (we had some of those indeed).  I partied with our crew until midnight the night before and totally crashed afterwards and was up bright and early at 7:30 to get ready for the next party.  totally wiped and a touch cranky from lack of sleep means this bride wasn't necessarily on her best polite behavior and there was no need to display that on a grand scale.  Tongue out
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  • I Want CakeI Want Cake
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011

    This is another thing I hadn't even thought of.  I don't know what I'd do without all of you here to tell me about this stuff!  I'm hoping we get a lot of cards with cash/checks and not so many gifts, since we've been living together for nearly 5 years and don't need anything.

    Who typically pays for this?  And how do people usually fanagle this when everyone lives far from each other and probably don't want to make the trip 3 days in a row (including RD and wedding/reception)?

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  • MN_JenMN_Jen
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We didn't do a gift opening, but did have a "bon voyage brunch" in the hotel suite the morning after the wedding.  We invited everyone to stop by any time between 10 am and 2 pm for bagels and coffee/juice.  My parents paid, but I think it was only $100 or so.

    I'd say about 25 or so people stopped by, mostly family and wedding party grabbing some food before their flights.  It was really nice to get to say goodbye to people and spend a little more time with them than I did at the reception.  That said, I was WAAAY more tired than I thought I would be, and - after four days of being a good hostess - I was also kinda tired of talking to people.  :)  Still, I'm really glad we did it. 2 or 3 hours would have been better than 4, though.
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