Please be a Dear, Wrap in Clear
I recently received a bridal shower invitation that said, “Please be a dear, and wrap in clear.” To be honest, I had never seen that before and wondered why the heck they would want you to do that? So I did a little research on it and I thought I’d pass it on to anyone else who had never heard of doing that.
From what I’ve read, this is for a “display shower” where all of the gifts are set out for everyone to see. This comes in handy especially when a lot of people are invited to the shower and unwrapping each gift will take up a lot of time. The bride-to-be then has more time to enjoy her guests. I also read that it is a tradition in Italy, although I am Italian American and it was news to me. Maybe I’m a little old school, but aside from the food and eating, isn’t opening the gifts a major part of the shower? Maybe only showers I’ve been to.
What are your thoughts?
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Interesting. I never heard of this before. I think it would definitely take away from the fun of opening the gifts, and eliminates time thanking each individual guest as they watch you open your gifts. One of the best parts of gift-giving is watching the recipient open it! I also think it puts more pressure on the guests, with the realization their gift will be on display. (Urges them to really go all out, even if it’s not in their budget). Not a fan!
Clear wrap presentation is not for all gifts. At the showers I attended, only the gifts that have a image on the box (dishes, etc.) are clear wrapped. It saves on time and allows the bride-to-be to mingle with her guests. The gifts are opened during the shower (not all gifts are clear wrapped). The clear wrapped are presented for the guests to view just as the wrapped gifts are. The down side is that the guest of honor doesn’t get surprised when she is handed the gift. I do like clear wrap, and I do like going all out wrapping my gifts. I am inviting guests to clear wrap for my daughter’s shower, however, it doesn’t take away from her opening her gifts. FYI in the UK the bride-to-be has an “open house” where her gifts are displayed. The ladies are the guests of the bride, her way of saying thank you. Light lunch, bruch, tea or cocktails. Very nice.
Many people are bored while the bride opens gift after gift? Some guests don’t pay attention and are talking the whole time. How many glasses and dishes do you want to see.
At a sit down lunchen the bride can mingle with her guests and sometimes entertainment of some sort is provided. The guests will be thanked in a note and personally and anyone who wants to see what the bride received can look at the display table.
Hello.
From a non married man with two married sisters.
If you are invited to a bridal shower and live close by it’s probably no big deal to some.
However! Like Emma said ” It makes people go all out wether they can afford it or not”.
I think it’s just the way lazy brides mistreat the people that took the time out to attend the shower.
All they want is the gifts instead of the enjoment of celebrating the moment with friends.
My girfriend was invited to one in Febuary. It started a big fight with all the girls in the office(5) now some don’t even want to go anymore AND they resent the bride to be.
Nice job!
I really like the idea of wrapping in clear gift wrap. I think the gifts look really festive and I enjoy going all out to make a really special gift. I do have a question though.. Is it okay to bring a gift wrapped in clear gift wrap to a wedding? Personally, I think it looks really cute.
My daughter just had her shower given by her bridesmaids, and with the request that gifts be wrapped in ‘clear.’ It was a huge hit. There were plenty of modest gifts, and I would not say anyone looked like they felt they had to go all out. There was a ‘gift opening’ time, at which time the bridesmaids presented each gift to the bride. She handled all the gifts, some opening was required, and she ooo’d and ahhh’s and got to thank each gift giver. There was no big paper mess at the end, so it was eco friendly approach, too. I’m sold on it.