Opening gifts at bridal shower?

I've been to a baby shower like this and it was pretty awesome. They had a table set up near the entrance so when guests came in they could give their gift to the parents and then it was placed on the table. The new mom's sister was also there to write down who gave what for thank you cards. Guests were able to see the reaction to their individual gift but then didn't have to sit through watching them open all the rest with all the obligatory oohs and ahhhhs. There was more time for mingling which was nice. I wish I had done this for my one daughter's baby shower. She had shared with me after her shower that she was really uncomfortable and felt awkward opening gifts in front of everyone, I think it's also less embarrassing for guests who may not have brought big ticket items. They won't feel gift shamed in front of the other guests.

I think people will expect to see you open gifts... it is kinda the whole point. I find it so weird when people skip opening gifts at celebrations where it is expected. I do like the option proposed by WED18, but people arrive at almost the same time, then you will have a line? Idk, seems more logistically complicated.

For my sister's bridal shower, I had the guests play a game and then she opened several gifts. We played another game, she opened a few more gifts. It was nice in the fact that her opening gifts allowed the bridesmaids time to set up the next game. And it wasn't all gift unwrapping for an eternity.

I do think a lot more people are open to this concept, because it is green. It can definitely be a know your crowd thing, but if you have a lot of environmentally conscience people in your life, they might really appreciate it. Idea for making opening gifts more entertaining if you go that route that I've seen is bridal shower bingo. I've seen it done with pre-made cards of items on the brides registry (each card needs to be a different combination so people don't all get Bingo at the same time, so this can be a bit time consuming) and as she opens gifts they mark it off. I've also seen where people hand out blank bingo cards and guests write in things that are typically on a registry/things they saw on the registry in whatever order they choose. It's good to have multiple prizes, so you can have 2nd and 3rd places in case someone gets Bingo early into the gift opening.

My mom made it very clear to me that she expects me to open gifts one at a time at the shower. She was at a shower a few years ago and was very bothered that the bride to be skipped opening her gifts, but she is a fuddy duddy about traditional aspects of weddings (no mimosas the morning of, wants a receiving line, etc). If you have guests coming that will be bothered if you skip this, then I would say just keep it instead of hearing about it in the future, but if Auntie Gertrude would rather eat and play games then by all means skip it.

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I do love the green aspect, wrapping paper is so wasteful even if it looks really pretty and gives that "surprise" element.

I went a friends wedding shower 3 years ago that did this and it was my favorite one I’ve ever been to. I made a mental note that when I was engaged, to do the same! She had the table out for display and any of the woman could steal her for a sec to point out their own gift which would only take a second. A couple of the bridesmaids were in charge of writing down who brought what as soon as the guest entered and it allowed us to spend so much more time with my friend (the bride) that day. Some people travel far to come to your shower and they would much rather be meeting all the important women in your life and of course soaking up their time with you! Bonus: (like someone mentioned already in a comment) it reduces the waste of all that expensive wrapping paper that your friends and family spent time and money on. Honestly, not having wrapped gifts is a win-win-win allowing you to enjoy your day, your guests have a great time and earth friendly 🌎👌🏼 Oops one more thing- make sure to spend a lot of time on your thank you notes if you decide to go this route. You don’t want to make anyone feel like you didn’t take enough time to appreciate the gift they got you. Make each card personalized and meaningful, not just the basic template that we all receive after showers, read and immediately throw out. Make that card mantle worthy! I am a big advocate of this new “unwrapped gift” trend if you guys couldn’t tell haha

I have been to a few showers like this, including my own. I really enjoyed it. I always feel so awkward when they are like “here’s the gift so and so got.” I really appreciated not having to show off everything I received. My bridesmaids just indiciated that we’d appreciate the gifts unwrappped. I don’t think anyone missed it. In fact we had a much shorter shower and it was more about socializing and spending time together.

I don't know. ......I LOVE to wrap presents. I evenue wrap gifts to put in a gift bag! I guess I wouldn't be upset if it wasn't opened in front of me....but I would probably bring a wrapped gift!

View Quoted Comment That’s a great idea!

View Quoted Comment Good point , some people love wrapping gifts and it would be great to have a few surprises in the midst of the presents to open. I would definitely open any gift that a guest wrapped right at the party so they could see. It would be even more special to have that time one on one with the person too! okay now I am hoping I have a few random wrapped ones

Like paying taxes, opening gifts at a shower is a necessary evil. Just rip, fawn over it and repeat.

I have always seen showers where gifts are opened because they can make the bouquet for the rehearsal that way.

We did not open gifts at my shower, there honestly just wasnt time. So, that evening when we got home, I took a picture as we opened all of the gifts, each gift. I printed them and included it with the thank you card. I even did it for cards.

We did this at my shower and it was amazing. Everything was on display but the whole thing was just about socializing and having fun with friends and family. I personally think watching someone unwrap things is boring but that’s just me. My friend who was an attendant at my shower is doing the same concept at hers

View Quoted Comment I was thinking about this too!

I requested this too!! Almost every post here on WW is positive in support of it, which I was surprised and very happy to see. It’s environmentally friendly (which was my main point) but also it’s boring and awkward to watch someone open presents that they picked out. You could always challenge people to wrap gifts sustainably! My friend had a normal shower and I wrapped her present in white dish cloths with a big bow so she could still unwrap something but didn’t waste paper.

Gosh, I hate the gift unwrapping process. I hate being the one unwrapping, and I hate being a guest during this time, too. It's not fun, it's boring and awkward for me and FH. I'm not ungrateful, I'm just really socially uncomfortable trying to open a gift, that I don't know what is inside, and having a genuine reaction. I would much rather see the gift and be able to offer a heartfelt thank you note afterwards.

My MOH had cute inserts that read:

Traditions are changing and showers are too

So here's an idea we're hoping you do!

Bring your gift without paper or a bag

Simply use a bow and a gift tag

An unwrapped present is just as sweet

And will give us more time to mingle and eat

We'll display your gifts for all to see

Then relax and honor the Mr. and Mrs. to be!

It was cute, simple, and go the point across. One of the big reasons we don't want to do this is because she's inviting 70some guests to our couples shower, so if we had to sit there and open all of the gifts, it truly would take a long time, and we want to be able to mingle with our loved ones.

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This is a really good idea!

I’ve never been to a shower where they did this, but I love this idea! I HATE wrapping presents. Hate it. I usually gift bag everything, and I even hate doing that 😂 last shower I went to I paid the extra few bucks to BBB and had them wrap the gift when I ordered it online.

I would suggest this for mine if I thought the idea would be well received. My shower is being planned by my MOH, my mom, and several aunts. I know my MOH would go for it, but I know my mom would veto it.