Display/Show Bridal Shower?

lilmeli22 · March 2010

Is anyone doing or has already had a display shower as opposed to the traditional 'open-1-gift-at-a-time' shower?

I'm wondering what sort of organization/planning needs to go into it to be prepared?

Thanks!

jbll326 · March 2010

I've only been to one where the gifts were not wrapped and just set on a table. The Invite said "Please do not wrap gifts." Other than that, I don't really know what planning you would need?!

In all honesty though, I don't know how most people feel about display showers. For some people who make/give you a special gift or buy you something very nice, they want the satisfaction of seeing you open it and it's a big let down to just hand it over instead. I made my best friend a very special quilt for her shower, and our other friend made her an afghan, and it was so nice for us to see hers and everyone else's reactions when she opend it. I think we both would have been upset if it was a display shower. Just MHO.

lilmeli22 · March 2010

I will have 150+ women at my bridal shower & opening gifts one at a time would take forever. And personally, I have never enjoyed a traditional shower (no offense to those who prefer them or are doing them) and I always knew I would never do that. Neither is better, trust me....no passing judgment here. Just trying to gather some insight on the planning that goes into this.

During the 'appetizer' hour before the shower/luncheon begins, the bridesmaids will be gathering the gifts from the guests as they arrive. They will unwrap them, write down who gave the gift & display them with place cards that show who gave the gift. I understand the basics of it, but I didn't know if there were any other 'tricks' that brides who have done this recommend............

BeeMarried · March 2010

I think you have the basic idea of the shower. Just be prepared that there will most likely be older people and maybe even younger that take offense to the format. When the gift is passed off to someone other than the recipient, they open it and place it on display...it may come off quite disrespectful to the guest and the notion of the gift. Just be prepared for it to not go over so well with some of you guests. People come to a shower knowing it is primary gift opening...most talk during the whole thing anyway. For those who do not like the monotony of the gift unveiling...they will send a gift and stay home. What if someone gives you a gift that is meant to have significant meaning and someone else opens it??? There is a lot of old etiquette that has been thrown out the window, but there is also some basic etiquette that people still expect to be followed...unfortunately with weddings, it seems people are hypersensitive to etiquette.

Good luck with the shower...not trying to put down your idea...just wanted to throw out there how some may view the approach.

sgylling · March 2010

Wow, 150 people is a big shower!

I agree with PP about some people not really understanding this concept. I had never heard of it until The Knot (among other things, haha!)

One thing is why bother wrapping it, if you aren't going to unwrap it? Isn't that a waste of paper?

Thinking people might not be so surprised at the idea, if like JBL mentioned it said something on the invite, just so people would be prepared. Just an idea!

GL!

brideinfall08 · March 2010

I've never heard of this either. 150 people is a lot for a shower...wow, I wouldn't want to open that many gifts either. But as a BM I'd be annoyed if I had to open all your gifts and miss out on part of the shower.

jbll326 · March 2010

150 people is huge! I can see why you'd prefer to not open all those gifts at the shower. And I hope my post didn't offend you at all, I just wanted to give you some feedback and point out that some people will likely be offended by the idea and you have to expect that some people will INSIST that YOU open the gift.

I think having the BMs open the gifts is only to going to make people upset. Having the BMs take the gift, unwrap it, and display it just seems very cold and unpersonal to me and almost gift grabby, as you don't really play any role in the gift exchange at all. I think if you can somehow word the invite to let people know that it's a display shower and that they shouldn't wrap the gifts at all, you are at least laying the groundwork and managing expectations, like sgylling mentioned. If people don't realize it's a display shower and walk into it not knowing, you could have some pretty offended guests. But again, be prepared that some guests will bring a wrapped gift and insist that you open it in front of them even if they do know it's a display shower.

Display/Show Bridal Shower?

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