Putting "No Gifts Please" or "Your Presence is your Present" on a first birthday invite? We want to include this but I don't want it to rub anyone the wrong way. Does anyone have any better way to phrase it? Our guest list is 95% family and the rest are our close friends so I don't even know if anyone would even listen to us.
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Oops. This probably shouldn't be in Charting.
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I think it's fine! I'm sure people will ignore you though
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Just like for weddings, I think it is best through word of mouth. Maybe you can tell a few family members and then have them spread it?
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Maybe you can put something like "in lieu of gifts we would love it if you could make yourself available for a photo with LO"
Or ask them to fill out an enclosed card that has "words of wisdom" or "wishes for you on your first birthday" and explain it will be included in a scrapbook.
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I like the in lieu of gifts idea. What about books? For my shower my SIL had the idea of "in lieu of cards, please bring a children's book (old or new). So I got tons of books with special notes written inside! I loved it. I feel that with kids you can never go wrong with books!
Or something similar, in lieu of gifts, please bring a note for LO.
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We did a Peter pan party for his first birthday. Instead of gifts, we asked for donations to a children's hospital (specifically the one his cousins going to for cancer). Then we didn't get too much in the way of toys. The Peter pan foundation donates anothe $100 when you send the money in.
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It wouldn't bother me if I saw that. Saves me a trip of going to a toy store to pick something out. Although, maybe I might feel bad and give you a check instead.
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@MrsHotDog: I guess I do have to ask you for your reasoning. Is it because your LO has enough toys and you don't have room for more toys? Or is there another reason.
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I think it would be awesome to get an invite like that! The only hitch I could see is if some ignore you and bring presents, thereby making the non-present bringers feel bad.
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Thanks for the input! I had my invites designed on etsy so I need to email the designer and see if she can edit the file. I think I might put "your presence is your present" and if anyone pushes the issue, I will suggest books.
@bluestriped bee: My daughter already has plenty of toys and I know the few things we would like (a wagon, picnic table, and books) the grandparents are going to take care of. Plus, my husband doesn't like first birthday parties so this was a compromise we reached.
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"The gift of your presence is gift enough." -- from Fitz's 1st Birthday Invitation, Designed & Printed by Duet Letterpress
If I received an invitation requesting no gifts, I would still bring a children's book to the party. It's something little that most children can enjoy (without adding to the toy pile).
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@MrsHotDog: oh ok. I think that's a good idea to suggest books if they really want to get something.
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@MrsHotDog: I like "Your Presence is your Present". But I would still bring something!
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We went to a birthday party where the parent said no gifts. So we didn't bring anything but some people did bring gifts and then they had the gift opening at the party. We felt like idiots and sent them a gift certificate a few days later. So now I always bring something regardless.
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We told people no gifts for lo's naming by word of mouth. Then most people brought something anyway and when a friend walked through he door and saw all of the gifts you could tell she was uncomfortable because she actually listened and didn't bring anything.
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I love the book idea. Because they don't have to spend much, but then no one will feel bad if they actually listened and didn't bring something, and everyone else did anyway.
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We recently received a birthday invitation that read "Gifts are appreciated, but please do not feel obligated." I thought it was a very tactful way to say it.
It was a party for friends and family, the only gifts received were from family.
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I went to a party once where they mentioned that in lieu of gifts, they will be starting a small fund for a local children's charity. I thought that was really thoughtful. They had a small box with a slit on top for donations.
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I think it is fine, if people want to get a gift they will anyways, but they won't be obligated to do so!
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19 comments