Gift Opening Party?

Question

I was checking out possible reception sites here in my town and one of the locations (hotel) offers a free suite for the bride and groom and the next morning a gift room where they can have a gift opening party as long as they host the party at the hotel. I have never heard of a gift opening party, I thought the gifts were shipped to the bride/groom either prior or right after the ceremony or brought over by the person who is taking care of the registry. Does anyone have any idea what I am talking about, and what is the correct thing to do with the gifts- like opening them, sending them etc.?

I meant to say as long as the bride/groom have the reception at their facility they could get the free suite and gift opening room.

Answer 1

Yes this is a thing....and I think it is weird, it is totally optional , not required at all.

According to official wedding rules presents are to be sent before/after and not brought to the wedding, but the majority of people bring them to the wedding. So some wedding vendor thought this up to get more $$ out of a wedding.

My mother has been pushing me to do it, but I am with TP I do not want to open presents in front of people. Therefore I am having a brunch the next day, but no presents will be there

Answer 2

I've never heard of a gift opening party, either. Generally, it's best for guests to ship gifts to the bride's address prior to the wedding and only bring envelopes to the reception. However, some people usually do bring gifts to the reception, so you do have to have some plan as to what to do with any gifts brought to the reception.

I don't think I would have wanted to open wedding gifts with an audience other than my husband. I would have needed to put on the happy smile for the oh, look, another pitcher! Just what we needed.

Answer 3

If you are getting married in your home town, it is traditional to have your immediate family (his parents, your parents, and possibly some of your wedding party) be there when you open your gifts. This is done so they can help you keep track of who gave what and you can open all of your presents at once. All presents sent before the wedding are brought over and you have the party there. This is similar to a bridal brunch. What is unique is that I have always heard that it happens after the honeymoon. It is normally like 2 days after you get back and have gotten pictures and want help setting up house.

There is no reason to have it at the hotel. Transporting gifts will be a nightmare and you won't be writing thank yous on the plane. If you have a gift opening party (ie you live near home and your parents want to), that's great, but you don't need one. If you aren't living together before you are married it will be a pain consolidating your new presents, hense the party. Those that open them right after there wedding would have their house decorated by their MoH and the moms (I wouldn't want that), and those that wait have those people to help them move in.
Good Luck!

Answer 4

When my best friend had her wedding, after the ceremony we were all at her house waiting around (I forget what for) and so her and her new husband decided to open up some gifts. It was nice having a few bridal party members and immediate family there to oooh and ahhh over some gifts as well as to keep a list of who gave what. Although I have never heard of a gift opening party for the next morning I can't see why it would be a bad idea. It would be another reason for family to get together - besides, usually you and family end up getting together the next morning for breakfast. I can't imagine it hurting, but it's up to you - if you find it tacky, then don't have one!

Answer 5

<< I have never heard of a gift opening party>>

I had someone tell me it's a "Midwest" thing, when we talked about having brunch at our home the day after the wedding, inviting our out-of-town guests to attend (especially nice for those who have afternoon flights), and opening gifts at that point. My brother and sis-in-law did the same thing.

It's also another opportunity for the family to get together, especially if they haven't seen each other in a long time, and socialize outside of the hectic atmosphere of the wedding.

My Maid of Honor will be there and will be making notes of who gave what in order to send thank you cards, even though we will be thanking them at the brunch, as well. For those who give cards, we plan to read the card, and give them a sincere "Thank you!" without indicating if there's money in the card or not.

Answer 6

We just went to a wedding that did this. They served mimosa and left over cake the next morning. It ran from 930-12. You will get gifts at the wedding so be prepared to put someone who is sober in charge of them. That why you two don't have to worry about lugging them all up to your hotel on your wedding night, the last thing you will be wanting to do. My husbands mom wanted us to do the opening gift thing at her house the day after our wedding. I thought she was joking seriously. I don't understand why anyone would want to. You just did it with your (now)husband for the first time and then you have to go and spend more time with your family? All I wanted to do was get on to our honeymoon and spend time with him, with nobody around! I think it would have thought about it differently if we had dated longer or even lived in the same state for that matter, but I hardly ever got to see him before the wedding and he felt the same way.

Answer 7

I'm in Western Canada, and pretty well everyone has a gift opening the next day, for close friends and family. Some times it is at one of the parents' homes, but in the case as you explained, that is becoming more common. It's a nice time for everyone to visit casually.

Answer 8

This looks like a reception occasion, i might wait to open the presents and in basic terms deliver thank you's afterwards. i think of it relies upon additionally on how great of a occasion it somewhat is. if your going to have it at a house with few people approximately 20 or so then i might open the present and that must be like a bridal bathe,yet whilst your going to have it at a hall then i might wait to open the presents-assuming there may well be many people

Answer 9

Ugh. Just bacuse they are running a hotel doesn't mean they know anything about manners, etiquette, or weddings.

A gift opening party? Wow, tacky.

Yes, the gifts should be shipped to the bride's home or the couple's home, and opened in private!

Answer 10

I have never heard of this... I wouldn't want to open my wedding presents in front of people....Most of the time its just cards w/checks!