https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:58:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2729569 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 17:32:18 +0000 mrs. eagle 2729569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had this issue as well. We decided that since everyone would bring a gift anyway, we would instead add to the invite that the gifts given would be donated to a local women's shelter for children, or in our case our local foster care closet. The party went great, and our guests loved knowing that their gifts would benefit a child in need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2729188 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 07:06:57 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2729188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: "No gifts. Seriously." :heart: </p> <p>Or how about: "No gifts. Seriously. But if you insist, bring a book/we love books."</p> <p>Eta: I just realized that @psw27 had the same suggestion :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2729187 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 07:03:51 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2729187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: "No gifts. Seriously." :heart: </p> <p>Or how about: "No gifts. Seriously. But if you insist, bring a book/we love books." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2729180 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 06:45:08 +0000 SweetiePie 2729180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never want gifts at a party so this year I plan on being very very clear. "No gifts, please" or maybe something a little playful like "No gifts. Seriously."<br /> I'm sure because of the city I'm in and the culture someone will still bring. But I hope it'll be drastically less. </p> <p>I didn't grow up with parties and mountains of gifts so it's weird to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2729172 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 06:00:23 +0000 psw27 2729172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For DS we wrote "no gifts necessary but if you insist DS loves books". It might seem wishy washy (or maybe it encourages more gifts?) but I knew people would still bring stuff for him so I was happy when it was mostly books! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2729169 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 05:33:53 +0000 threeplusme 2729169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our neigbor asked for donation of new toys and books for our local children's hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2729105 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 21:20:07 +0000 Eko 2729105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are planning no gifts for our sons party as well. We try to live as minimally as possible, so acquiring more stuff is annoying. I requested that if people would like to give a gift to gift something that creates an experience, such as museum passes, etc. I didn't really go a traditional route with his party so doing the extra wording wasn't a bug deal imo. The party has not happened yet so not sure of the outcome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728998 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 16:44:02 +0000 daniellemybelle 2728998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know someone who does this - the past two years on the birthday invitation it says, "Gifts are not expected at all, but if you would like to bring a gift, we would love summer clothes for LO in size 3T."</p> <p>It's not my cup of tea but I'm not the etiquette police either so I just do what they ask, enjoy the party and that's that. The parents have yet to be burned at the stake from what I know :)</p> <p>ETA - By do what they ask I mean I bring clothes (usually something $10 or so). I only don't bring a gift if the invite just says, "No gifts." If they are wishy washy at all we will bring a $10 book or art supplies because I hate showing up to parties empty handed when there is a huge pile of gifts from everyone else. So if you really want no gifts at all - say that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728441 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 14:54:49 +0000 MrsRoo 2728441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like a few said above, I'd be clear wth your request. "No gifts, please" instead of "no gifts necessary". Or if you really prefer to have games and books, I'd write that. As a parent attending parties for kids I hardly know, I really appreciate the direction on an invite! </p> <p>I will say to be prepared for people to ignore your requests. We threw a no gifts party this weekend and ended up with a mountain of gifts anyway. :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728438 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 14:42:07 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2728438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: I'm glad you made that distinction! This is why I put "we respectfully request no gifts" sounds like what I mean to say, which is "DUDE NO GIFTS" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728365 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 13:27:25 +0000 Mommy Finger 2728365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLonghorn: I agree with you. I would find it tacky if you added the longer line. If you want no gifts, just say no gifts. Will people bring one? Maybe but then you can decide what to do with them. Keep, return, or donate. </p> <p>My friend used to add "No gifts. Seriously" on her son's invitations. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728332 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 13:01:08 +0000 littlejoy 2728332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think gifts for kids over 1 year old is tacky, haha. ;) </p> <p>Really, I think, "Your presence is enough. No gifts, please." is perfect. </p> <p>We just got an evite to a party, and there was a section that mentioned bringing a used book to do a book exchange. I thought that was awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728231 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 11:02:26 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2728231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just say 'no gifts'. If you get things you don't want, you can donate them.<br /> I interpreted your wording as "I really want books or games, but am trying to be polite by offering 'no gifts" instead of the opposite ("nothing, but if you insist, here are some ideas") what I think you intended. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728230 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 11:01:41 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2728230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with other posters, too much wording sounds like you want gifts. I'd just write: "please bring a book" or "no gifts"</p> <p>ETA: you could send half the invites out with "please bring a book" and the other half "please bring a board game" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728227 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:59:54 +0000 nana87 2728227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just wrote "no gifts necessary " on lo1's bday invite. That's the norm with her daycare class, in fact we almost forgot to bring a present to a party recently bc it's our default to not have gifts! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728226 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:58:05 +0000 LBee 2728226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Portboston: Agreed. </p> <p>If it says no gifts, I usually honor it or if it's a close friend I bring a book. If it said pretty much no gifts OR bring this, I'd feel awkward not bringing a gift since you provided me an acceptable-to-you alternative to no gifts. </p> <p>ETA: I also tend to bring presents when it says "necessary" and not just "no gifts, please" because necessary indicates I shouldn't feel obligated but I can. No one wants to be the jerk who shows up with nothing and everyone else has a gift. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728224 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:53:19 +0000 looch 2728224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would word it more simply, either state no gifts and give no alternatives, or state that you want books and board games.</p> <p>I'll be honest, I have zero time to even think of it being tacky, I think it's great if you give me some ideas so I don't have to even think, you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728221 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:51:36 +0000 Portboston 2728221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our friends frequently say no gifts on invitations. So I definitely don't think that's weird. If I saw the wording you wrote, I would be more likely to bring a gift. So if you really want no gifts just state that. Usually people include receipts so you can always exchange for books/games. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728218 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:49:25 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2728218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yea I think thats too much information. Either leave it be and say that through word of mouth or as for no gifts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-this-be-tacky-birthday-gift-q#post-2728216 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:48:15 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2728216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter's 4th birthday is coming and we're having a party at a local park for her. Planning to invite her pre-K class and a few family friends with kids, about 20ish families in all if everyone comes. We've been in a very intentional toy/stuff reduction process the last few months, getting ready to list our condo for sale, and just generally, we suffer from a too-much-stuff-only-kid/grandkid syndrome, so we'd prefer to go with a no gifts note on the invite, but my husband feels weird saying "no gifts" on the invite (he thinks people will bring stuff anyway and those who don't will feel weird - says that happened for another party he took our daughter to where they said no gifts and we didn't bring one but others did). Instead we were thinking about including a note to say something like "The best gift of all would be your company at the party, so no gifts are necessary at all, but if you feel inclined to bring a gift, we would love to build up our big-girl book and board game collection." </p> <p>Is that tacky, to ask for specific stuff? I'm feeling weird about it but I'm prone to overcomplicating things. I know we can always just donate or give stuff away so I can just not say anything at all, ultimately, but I'd rather people not spend money on stuff that we'd just hide/give away anyway. Would love your thoughts/ideas. </p>