NER Internet Babyshower

Nickivegan · August 2012

Anyone heard of an Internet babyshower? My MIL wants to have one for SiL. We can't do a traditional shower as most family and friends are here in CT, the momma to be is in Kansas, and my ILs are in FL. I have no idea where to start, and the Bump scares me. What do you think? They seem like they could be seen as gift grabby, but I don't know the first thing about babyshowers. Where should I look? How would it be "hosted"? TIA!

ootmother2 · August 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-internet-babyshower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:b051ee9a-e491-4eb5-8fec-caad7b2d7801Post:60776323-7133-4db7-b5fa-9a516ff67fa5">NER Internet Babyshower</a>:
[QUOTE]Anyone heard of an Internet babyshower? My MIL wants to have one for SiL. We can't do a traditional shower as most family and friends are here in CT, the momma to be is in Kansas, and my ILs are in FL. I have no idea where to start, and the Bump scares me. What do you think? They seem like they could be seen as gift grabby, but I don't know the first thing about babyshowers. Where should I look? How would it be "hosted"? TIA!
Posted by Nickivegan[/QUOTE]

Actually, I have seen it done and I thought it was a bit gift grabby but mainly because it was given by the mother and sister. Perhaps I would have thought it less so if it had been friends giving it

Nickivegan · August 2012

I can totally be the hostess, to curb any side eye action. I can see how the mom doing it your way would make a little issue. How did they run it, OOT? On FB or another way? MiL was thinking a blog or yahoo, but I figure more people have FB than yahoo email accounts.

Nickivegan · August 2012

In Response to Re:NER Internet Babyshower:[QUOTE]It seems a little odd to me and I've never heard of it. I think if people from out of town want to send gifts, they can do so without having to Skype in the whole thing.nbsp; Posted by KindaSparkly[/QUOTE] but how do you get the registry info out to everyone, without there being a shower? MiL is concerned that it would be very rude to send an email that just said "here is where DD is registered, and here is the address to send the gift to!" I agree. Ugh.

ootmother2 · August 2012

Skype basicly. I wouldn't even know where to go from there because I'm pretty tech limiited.

I think it's a great idea to have someone other than a close relative do it from the gift standpoint though

Nickivegan · August 2012

In Response to Re:NER Internet Babyshower:[QUOTE]Skype basicly.nbsp; I wouldn't even know where to go from there because I'm pretty tech limiited.I think it's a great idea to have someone other than a close relative do it from the gift standpoint though Posted by ootmother2[/QUOTE] thanks for your input and suggestions, I really appreciate it.

jessicabessica · August 2012

Could you have the CT crowd get together and the FL crowd get together, so that you could Skype video chat between the mom-to-be, CT, and FL? It seems like it would be more festive if people were in small groups, and then you could still play games, if you wanted, and have refreshments. I suppose everyone would mail their gifts in advance so the mom-to-be opened them over Skype, right? I also don't know too much about baby showers, but that's what I would do if I were so inclined.

Nickivegan · August 2012

I like that small group idea! Not sure where to host it here in CT, our apt is small and an hour from where SiL grew up. But maybe an aunts house and I can host. I will run all these great ideas by her tomorrow when we chat again!

LetsHikeToday · August 2012

I wasn't able to go home for a shower. I did register to get the completion coupon and, without me knowing or asking, people have been sending gifts. 3 of my friends threw me an online shower and we skyped but it was basically just me opening the gifts they sent so they could see. I think a big online shower would be weird.

mrskristinyc · August 2012

If you do it on Google Hangouts, it'll be more like a video conference call (so, people in lots of different locations can all see each other). My BMs and I are spread out across the country, and we had our first "meeting" that way.

My stepmom has been talking about wanting to throw a virtual bridal shower for me, but I don't really know if I'm that into it. The part of the shower I'd be interested in is seeing everyone and spending time together, and that's a little harder online.

Loopyseven · August 2012

If I got invited to a virtual shower for someone I wasn't that close to I'd think it pretty gift grabby. And for a good enough friend that wasn't local, I'd find out where they were registered and send a gift regardless of whether there is a shower or not. We are travelling to Ohio and WI to have showers in both of those locations with H's family/friends and my family/friends respectively. We have tickets that include 2 checked bags and plan to ship back anything we can't fit in those bags, or is too bulky (or do a return/repurchase if possible for anything large/heavy). We're just holding them earlier than a "normal" shower to ensure I shouldn't have any issues traveling.

tgirl06 · August 2012

My mom and her sister threw an internet baby shower for my cousin's wife. They live in NY and most of my cousin's family lives in Nebraska. The people out east got together, the people in the Midwest got together, and they Skyped between the two. They sent out invitations in the mail, had cake and other food at both locations (I think someone in NY coordinated the food out there). We usually do games at baby showers so the planned a Jeopardy-type game that could be done easily with people in two locations. They mailed gifts ahead of time so they could see her open them. The shower was family only, though, so it wasn't likely to offend anyone. Close friends would probably be OK, but I'd keep it to the absolute nearest and dearest.

Meegles4 · August 2012

I've seen a couple people do this for wedding and baby showers. They used Skype. In one case, it looked like the host sent the momma-to-be a few packages with some decorations and such (like a banner and balloons) that she could hang behind her so that it felt festive.

Then, it did look like people shipped the gifts to her and then she opened them over Skype. I'm not sure if the "guests" all gathered in one place, or separate spots, but I could see gathering in one place and the host then providing some snacks and beverages. In the case where the host sent the momma-to-be the decor, she might have also sent some snacks so the momma felt like she was part of the group event (i.e. she could eat cute baby carriage sugar cookies while the guests were)

I've never actually been invited to something like this, but I'd probably be OK with it if it was a close friend or family member.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · August 2012

Gift-grabby.

Why can't the mom-to-be and your ILs travel to CT for a shower? (If someone offers to host it in CT.)

One of my friends had a shower thrown for her in LA and just traveled to PA last weekend where she and her husband are from for a shower there with family and friends, thrown by her sister. Seems reasonable to me. (However, I think for that shower guests were buying more packable items or shipping gifts, for the most part.)

ETA: I'm voting gift-grabby because if there's no party and I don't get to visit with the mom-to-be, then I can just send a gift for mom/baby on my own. I don't need a fake excuse to send my good wishes. It's like I'm being coerced into doing something I might or might not anyway, but that should be up to me.

brommel · August 2012

In Response to NER Internet Babyshower:

Anyone heard of an Internet babyshower? No, and although I would prefer a "live & in person one" ... I think it'd be neat to attend a "virtual shower"

What do you think? Have all the family/friends in CT meet up in one/two locations w/ a set-up that can capture everyone. And all the ILs in FL do the same. That way, whatever games/activities you play can still be played with groups/teams. You would want to make sure you have everyone set-up in advance though, so that there are no hiccups. Maybe even a trial run with just the main 'coordinator' for each location.

They seem like they could be seen as gift grabby, but I don't know the first thing about babyshowers. Yes to this, so as another poster suggested, and as you said you were comfortable with, you can host it instead of your MIL.

Where should I look? How would it be "hosted"? Skype, Google Hangouts ... You'd want something that would be free for everyone to video chat with. If you have a projector set-up, that'd be good too, and of course, a good-quality web cam & internet connection.

Good luck!

)

malakelle · August 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-internet-babyshower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:b051ee9a-e491-4eb5-8fec-caad7b2d7801Post:60776323-7133-4db7-b5fa-9a516ff67fa5">NER Internet Babyshower</a>:
[QUOTE]Anyone heard of an Internet babyshower? My MIL wants to have one for SiL. We can't do a traditional shower as most family and friends are here in CT, the momma to be is in Kansas, and my ILs are in FL. I have no idea where to start, and the Bump scares me. What do you think? They seem like they could be seen as gift grabby, but I don't know the first thing about babyshowers. Where should I look? How would it be "hosted"? TIA!
Posted by Nickivegan[/QUOTE]

<div> A lot of military who are deployed and unable to come home do these. A really good friend of mine and her husband were in Japan, and unable to get leave for her entire pregnancy. We all got together and threw her one. We linked her with skype and put her on our big Tv. We had shipped her gifts, packages of food she couldn't get that she missed, She had sent us a bunch local food. </div><div> We played games, and spent a ton of time just catching up. You could try on the military board in thebump and they might have more ideas. </div>

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