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Shower Gifts - How to Handle Gifts From Those Who Cannot Attend?

netgrl22netgrl22 member
10 Comments
in Illinois-Chicago
My shower is in early July and I'm starting to receive gifts in the mail from those who cannot attend.  What's the correct way to handle these?  Should they be opened at the shower?  Displayed at the shower?  Or should I go ahead and open them now?  Should I wait to send thank you notes after the shower, or right away?  TIA.
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Re: Shower Gifts - How to Handle Gifts From Those Who Cannot Attend?

  • Annie_WarbucksAnnie_Warbucks member
    Seventh Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    They sent them early knowing when your shower was so I would open them and write a thank you note right away. It will be nice for them to know you in fact received the gift and it's not lost or they are left wondering/worrying about it.

     I don't think it is necessary to display them at the shower. If you want to mention that so and so sent you your dishes, that seems fine. 
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  • kfreeskfrees
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I opened them and sent Thank you notes right away, helps lessen the load of notes later on.
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  • sgyllingsgylling
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I opened as I got them, unless they were coming to the shower. Write notes right away like Annie said so they know you get them. I dont know, but as a guest at a shower, i really hate sitting through the opening of gifts from people that arent there. I dont get the point. I didnt open anyone's gift who wasnt in attendance, just made it easier I think.
    Steph & Brandon 4.17.10
    Planning Bio
    Married Bio - Updated 7.2
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  • Sparkette19Sparkette19 member
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    If the gift giver is definitely not going to be able to attend your shower, then you should open the gift.

    However, what happened with my shower is that we had several guests that were taking the train from WI to Chicago and opted to send their gifts to me so that I could bring them to the shower to open there. They did not want to carry the gifts on the train, but they wanted me to wait to open them.

    You should send the TY's right away b/c it's proper etiquette, not only with the gifts that you receive early but also with the gifts you receive at your shower. It's so nice to get that out of the way early too.  

    When you're born in Chicago you're blessed and you're healed the first time you walk into Wrigley Field. My Bio
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  • pajarito81pajarito81 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I dont think it really matters if you open them at the shower or not, that's just merely up to you. My fiance and I live in California but are having our shower and wedding in LA so people have already started to mail us gifts, I'm not expecting boxed gifts at my shower since I would have to travel back home by plane. So I would just go ahead and open them and send them a thank you!
    Mrs. F 9-18-10
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