Opening Gifts At The Baby Shower

Do you have to open the gifts at the shower? I will have so many and it will take up so much time and I think it is a bore for people to sit and have to watch that? I don't want to be insulting if I don't, will they mind? thank you.

Our Answer:

Hi,

Thank you for your etiquette question. You are not going to like my answer, but the most polite thing to do is open the gifts during the baby shower. That is the whole point of the party. Believe it or not, most people love to pick out a gift and then see the joy and reactions the mom-to-be has while opening the present. Without the gift opening, as boring as it might seem, the baby shower would not be complete. And some people will be insulted at a party where gifts are not opened.

If you set up the gift opening with helpers, it will help it go by quickly. You can have someone to collect the wrapping paper, someone to hand the gifts and someone to write down the gifts and who they are from. Make sure you take the time to announce what each gift is, who gave it, and publicly thank each one as you open the gifts.

To help time pass quickly, you can also have the guests play gift bingo. They are each given a blank bingo card. They fill it in with items they think you will receive as presents. As each present is opened, they can mark off a square. The first one that gets a bingo wins a prize.

I hope that helps. Good luck with the baby shower!