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NWR - Housewarming party etiquette

behsco90behsco90 member
100 Love Its Third Anniversary 100 Comments Name Dropper
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
So I am about to close on my first place, and was thinking about having a housewarming party.  I've never been to one myself, so I was hoping you ladies could help me with the dos and don'ts of etiquette.  I have a couple questions:

1) Can I throw the party myself, or should I have someone else host it?
2) Do people usually register for gifts, and typically do people bring gifts to a housewarming party?
3) If people bring gifts, is it rude to ask for cash (if I don't register for gifts)?  The reason I ask is I'm probably not going to buy much other than necessities (like a new toilet, furniture, dishes, etc) and those things would need to be purchased before or right after I move in, and I'm probably not going to buy "extra" stuff (like a waffle maker, candles, coffee maker etc etc) so if people bring me gift card to places like Home Depot or Ikea, I won't really have anything to buy with them.  I'm assuming asking for cash is rude, which is fine, but if people did bring me cash I would just put that money back into savings.

And if you have any other etiquette advice on housewarming parties that'd be awesome!

Thanks!

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Re: NWR - Housewarming party etiquette

  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    edited June 2013
    1) You can throw a housewarming party yourself.

    2) Sometimes people bring gifts of the hostess-gift type, but registering for gifts is not typically done for a housewarming.

    3) Yes.  It's rude.

    Housewarmings are often open house, with buffet-style refreshments, and while this is not always the case, people are more likely to want to bring their children, so put away anything that you don't want children to handle as well as anything of an intimate nature.
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  • daria24daria24 member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary First Answer
    1. Yes housewarming parties are thrown by person who occupies the home
    2. I've seen house warming registries but I find them incredibly rude. Yes many people bring gifts, but it is usually something like a bottle of wine, a small gift card, a plant, etc, similar to hostess gifts when you throw a dinner party. You wouldn't register for a dinner party, or expect towels, sheets, napkin rings, etc as a gift.
    3. Requesting cash is NEVER appropriate for any event.
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  • Kate61487Kate61487 member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary 250 Love Its Name Dropper

    1) Yes you can throw it yourself - you should fully host (i.e. provide main dish, side, drinks and dessert).  If others want to bring a dish that's fine, but they should be able to get a full meal on what you provide.

    2) You do not register.  Some people may bring gifts.  We got several bottles of wine, several plants, and a few other cute items (my favorite was an "our first home 2011" Christmas ornament)

    3) It is always rude to ask for cash.  Home Depot and Ikea are great places to buy toilets and furniture, so I don't really get where you're going with this.  Be grateful for any gift you're given. 

    image

     

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  • itzMSitzMS member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary

    If we go to a housewarming, we'll bring a bottle of booze the couple would like.

    And yes, sometimes a giftcard *gasp*.

    I would think anyone who registered for a housewarming or asked for cash as super self-centered. We'd decline the invitation.

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  • behsco90behsco90 member
    100 Love Its Third Anniversary 100 Comments Name Dropper
    Kate61487 said:

    1) Yes you can throw it yourself - you should fully host (i.e. provide main dish, side, drinks and dessert).  If others want to bring a dish that's fine, but they should be able to get a full meal on what you provide.

    2) You do not register.  Some people may bring gifts.  We got several bottles of wine, several plants, and a few other cute items (my favorite was an "our first home 2011" Christmas ornament)

    3) It is always rude to ask for cash.  Home Depot and Ikea are great places to buy toilets and furniture, so I don't really get where you're going with this.  Be grateful for any gift you're given. 

    I meant that I would have already bought the toilet and furniture, so if I got a gift card after the fact I wouldn't know what to buy with it.

    Thanks for all the advice!
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  • ifeelgoodifeelgreatifeelwonderfulifeelgoodifeelgreatifeelwonderful member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    You can throw your own party but do not register. Also, I wouldn't expect many gifts, maybe a bottle of wine or a small plant.
    From my own personal experience, a gift of money from a family member would come with or without a housewarming party and shouldn't be expected (for example my grandmom gave me some money to buy a sofa).

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  • StPaul0102StPaul0102 member
    25 Love Its 10 Comments Name Dropper
    sbehbaha said:
    So I am about to close on my first place, and was thinking about having a housewarming party.  I've never been to one myself, so I was hoping you ladies could help me with the dos and don'ts of etiquette.  I have a couple questions:

    1) Can I throw the party myself, or should I have someone else host it?
    2) Do people usually register for gifts, and typically do people bring gifts to a housewarming party?
    3) If people bring gifts, is it rude to ask for cash (if I don't register for gifts)?  The reason I ask is I'm probably not going to buy much other than necessities (like a new toilet, furniture, dishes, etc) and those things would need to be purchased before or right after I move in, and I'm probably not going to buy "extra" stuff (like a waffle maker, candles, coffee maker etc etc) so if people bring me gift card to places like Home Depot or Ikea, I won't really have anything to buy with them.  I'm assuming asking for cash is rude, which is fine, but if people did bring me cash I would just put that money back into savings.

    And if you have any other etiquette advice on housewarming parties that'd be awesome!

    Thanks!

    Never underestimate the power of a Home Depot gift card. Trust me, as a homeowner you will ALWAYS have something to buy there. My fiance and I just bought our first home and it's seriously all I want to get for gifts for my next 25 major life events/holidays. 

    But, to answer your question, I've never heard of someone registering for a housewarming party but I usually try to bring something I know they'll need/use or a nice pretty plant. 
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  • Kate61487Kate61487 member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary 250 Love Its Name Dropper
    StPaul0102 said:
    sbehbaha said:
    So I am about to close on my first place, and was thinking about having a housewarming party.  I've never been to one myself, so I was hoping you ladies could help me with the dos and don'ts of etiquette.  I have a couple questions:

    1) Can I throw the party myself, or should I have someone else host it?
    2) Do people usually register for gifts, and typically do people bring gifts to a housewarming party?
    3) If people bring gifts, is it rude to ask for cash (if I don't register for gifts)?  The reason I ask is I'm probably not going to buy much other than necessities (like a new toilet, furniture, dishes, etc) and those things would need to be purchased before or right after I move in, and I'm probably not going to buy "extra" stuff (like a waffle maker, candles, coffee maker etc etc) so if people bring me gift card to places like Home Depot or Ikea, I won't really have anything to buy with them.  I'm assuming asking for cash is rude, which is fine, but if people did bring me cash I would just put that money back into savings.

    And if you have any other etiquette advice on housewarming parties that'd be awesome!

    Thanks!

    Never underestimate the power of a Home Depot gift card. Trust me, as a homeowner you will ALWAYS have something to buy there. My fiance and I just bought our first home and it's seriously all I want to get for gifts for my next 25 major life events/holidays. 

    But, to answer your question, I've never heard of someone registering for a housewarming party but I usually try to bring something I know they'll need/use or a nice pretty plant. 
    Ha, this is also true.  Between lawn/garden, painting, light bulbs, tools/hardware, plumbing... Everything from putting up a new shelf to changing out our garbage disposal, we've spent a lot of time in Home Depot and could easily spend a gc there at any point in time.  And our friendly hardware man Bob has been a huge help :-)

    image

     

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  • misshart00misshart00 member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    Kate61487 said:


    StPaul0102 said:


    sbehbaha said:

    So I am about to close on my first place, and was thinking about having a housewarming party.  I've never been to one myself, so I was hoping you ladies could help me with the dos and don'ts of etiquette.  I have a couple questions:

    1) Can I throw the party myself, or should I have someone else host it?
    2) Do people usually register for gifts, and typically do people bring gifts to a housewarming party?
    3) If people bring gifts, is it rude to ask for cash (if I don't register for gifts)?  The reason I ask is I'm probably not going to buy much other than necessities (like a new toilet, furniture, dishes, etc) and those things would need to be purchased before or right after I move in, and I'm probably not going to buy "extra" stuff (like a waffle maker, candles, coffee maker etc etc) so if people bring me gift card to places like Home Depot or Ikea, I won't really have anything to buy with them.  I'm assuming asking for cash is rude, which is fine, but if people did bring me cash I would just put that money back into savings.

    And if you have any other etiquette advice on housewarming parties that'd be awesome!

    Thanks!


    Never underestimate the power of a Home Depot gift card. Trust me, as a homeowner you will ALWAYS have something to buy there. My fiance and I just bought our first home and it's seriously all I want to get for gifts for my next 25 major life events/holidays. 

    But, to answer your question, I've never heard of someone registering for a housewarming party but I usually try to bring something I know they'll need/use or a nice pretty plant. 

    Ha, this is also true.  Between lawn/garden, painting, light bulbs, tools/hardware, plumbing... Everything from putting up a new shelf to changing out our garbage disposal, we've spent a lot of time in Home Depot and could easily spend a gc there at any point in time.  And our friendly hardware man Bob has been a huge help :-)
    I third this. You will ALWAYS have use for a Home Depot gift card. We're there at least every couple weeks.

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  • harper0813harper0813 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments First Anniversary First Answer
    edited June 2013
    If you throw a housewarming party, you host your guests well and you say nothing about gifts beforehand. If they happen to bring them, thank them profusely and send them a thank you card afterward. The purpose of this event is not to receive gifts (at all!) but to welcome your friends and family to your new home.
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  • winelover123winelover123 member
    1000 Comments 250 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    Don't register. Someone may bring you a gift card - there's no way to gracefully say that you'd prefer cash. And trust me, you will find uses for a Home Depot card! Recently, I've been there every other week buying plants for my gardens! And light bulbs. Plus, if you celebrate Christmas, they have awesome Christmas decorations there!
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  • MuppetFanMuppetFan member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments First Answer Name Dropper
    Are you throwing this party so you can get gifts? Or am I reading wrong?
    image   imageimage
    You'll never be subject to a cash bar, gap, potluck wedding, or b-list if you marry a Muppet Overlord.

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  • Summer2011BrideSummer2011Bride member
    5000 Comments Third Anniversary 25 Love Its Combo Breaker
    We threw our own Housewarming party. I would not register for it, however. We did have many guests asking us what we wanted, and our first response was, "We don't need anything." We truly did not want gifts, and just wanted friends to spend time with us since most were traveling from OOT. If they insisted, we usually said Lowe's GCs because we were going there what seemed like every other day to pick stuff up. Many of our friends brought alcohol, which was also appreciated :)


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  • behsco90behsco90 member
    100 Love Its Third Anniversary 100 Comments Name Dropper
    MuppetFan said:
    Are you throwing this party so you can get gifts? Or am I reading wrong?
    No I'm having it so my friends and family can come and see my first place.  I just had a specific question about gifts.

    Thanks for the advice everyone!
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  • DrunkKittenDrunkKitten member
    25 Love Its 10 Comments
    When I think housewarming party gift, I think plant or bottle of wine. 


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