Housewarming Parties

[skymama 37]

I received an invitation in the mail for a Housewarming Party yesterday. "If you want to bring a gift, we are registered at..." was written on the back. I thought that was really tacky! I thought registering for something was reserved for babies and weddings, not for people who have been married and with kids for many years.

I'll never throw a Housewarming Party because I find the whole concept tacky. You want to invite me over to see your new home, but you want me to help you decorate it too? What's wrong with your old stuff that was perfectly fine for the house you just left?

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[NWFlyer 2]

Putting information about where you are registered is tacky regardless of the type of party.

I had a housewarming party when I bought my first house, but there was certainly no expectation that people bring gifts, nor did I register. But hell, you can register for anything now. It's all about conspicuous consumption.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Rick 67]

oops in that case disregard the invitation I sent out this morning

You can't be drunk all day if you don't start early!

[skymama 37]

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oops in that case disregard the invitation I sent out this morning

I would know to just bring you beer anyway.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[skymama 37]

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Putting information about where you are registered is tacky regardless of the type of party.

I agree!

The stores I registered at for my Wedding gave me cards to include with my invitations. No way would I ever do that! They way I've always heard you're supposed to do it is to let key people know where you are registered, like the parents or the Maid of Honor/Best Man, so they can let people know if they inquire. For Showers, I've read it is ok to include the info because someone else is throwing the party. But, an invitation is meant to convey that you would like that person to share in your occasion, not that you want them to bring you something!

Fortunately, I have a previous engagement to go to, so I will be able to bow out of the party. I must attend the Skydive DeLand 25th Anniversary party!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[mamajumps 0]

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I received an invitation in the mail for a Housewarming Party yesterday. "If you want to bring a gift, we are registered at..." was written on the back. I thought that was really tacky! I thought registering for something was reserved for babies and weddings, not for people who have been married and with kids for many years.

I'll never throw a Housewarming Party because I find the whole concept tacky. You want to invite me over to see your new home, but you want me to help you decorate it too? What's wrong with your old stuff that was perfectly fine for the house you just left?

My Sunday School class thru me a housewarming party / house blessing. I was quite uncomfortable with the whole idea, but whatever. The class was all hyped up about doing it, but when it all came to be, I think 5 people showed up. Quite honestly, I found it a waste of my time.... If someone ever offers another, I will politely decline.

[simplyputsi 0]

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Fortunately, I have a previous engagement to go to, so I will be able to bow out of the party. I must attend the Skydive DeLand 25th Anniversary party!

perfect, now I know where you are gonna be.

stalk stalk

hahahaha

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[skybytch 273]

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I must attend the Skydive DeLand 25th Anniversary party!

Don't forget that the 25th is silver.

So pay for your jumps with quarters.

[PLFXpert 0]

While I generally don't care much for events where a gift is appropriate, I disagree about not including a registry.

Every baby shower, wedding, etc. invitation I've received (and there's too many to count) included a little snippet about where they were registered. It was never in your face or anything, nor did it bare the cheesy phrase "If you want to bring a gift." It was just there, in smaller print at the bottom: Registered at X.

What a pain for the best friend, maid-of-honor or best man to be answering 100+ times where the couple or mom-to-be is registered. And half the people that would genuinely like to send or bring a gift aren't going to know so-and-so's contact information to call/e-mail/send a smoke signal to.

The registry info is generally appreciated. It's mostly for non-immediate family & friends who would like to send or bring something but don't know what the mom-to-be or engaged couple have or want. Particularly, if you can't make the event, it's easier just to point, click, purchase & send directly to the person/s.

As for the fore-mentioned "housewarming" registry. I'm kinda for it. But, I'm biased. Billy and I don't have plans or desires for children or marriage. But, we're madly in love and in it for the long haul-- rest assured.

I've thought about throwing a "10-year anniversary" party and registering. It's about fucking time all my friends & fam whom I've bought three or four gifts for already every time they get married (some twice already) pop out another kid, or whatever, returned the favor.

I don't think I'd could ever really register for such a thing and include it in the party invite. But, here's to dreaming.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[NWFlyer 2]

Since the dawn of this magical thing called the internet, I haven't had to bother anyone to find out where someone's registered.

Really, there's not THAT many places people register. And for weddings, many people link their registries to either weddingchannel.com or theknot.com. If they're not there, I start with the usual suspects ... Macy's, Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, etc. for weddings, Babies R Us for babies. I've never failed to find a registry within 10 minutes.

Of course, you have people like my friend I'm hosting a baby shower for tomorrow, who registered her baby at REI (because every infant needs a $50 Patagonia puffy vest). And come think of it, we did include registry info in the invite, but that's because her friends are throwing the party for her. She also registered at Babies R Us for the people who wouldn't think of REI (but anyone who knows her knows that for her REI = the height of fashion, therefore the same will apply for her daughter).

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[skymama 37]

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Every baby shower, wedding, etc. invitation I've received (and there's too many to count) included a little snippet about where they were registered.

Well, your friends are wrong. Everything I've read (Ms. Manners, Dear Abby, wedding books, etc) have said it is not appropriate to include the registery on a Wedding invitation, only for Showers because someone else is throwing them. I guess the guest is not supposed to feel as if they are expected to bring a gift in order to share in your happy day.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[PLFXpert 0]

P.S.

While I don't care for receiving gifts (such a pain to load up and donate or put away and it's not like I need any of it. I like open, uncluttered spaces.
Whomever is registered is likely not going to remember exactly who pointed, clicked, and sent them what. But, the person who doesn't? They'll be remembered--for being rude & unthoughtful.

I generally steer clear of the registry, but I always bring or send a gift when appropriate or worse--expected.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[PLFXpert 0]

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I've never failed to find a registry within 10 minutes.

Wasted 10 minutes, I say!



I like how your friend thinks, though.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[Jewels 0]

I was horrified when people started including registry information in invitations but I do think it's becoming fairly mainstream to do so now. I don't think *I* could do it myself, but I'm no longer offended when I receive an invitation with that extra information. I still notice that it's included, though. . . . And yes, I have also had a lot of success with the do-it-yourself research approach. You can usually predict where you might find someone's registry and it never takes long to locate it.

TPM Sister #102

[PLFXpert 0]

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Everything I've read (Ms. Manners, Dear Abby, wedding books, etc) have said it is not appropriate... I guess the guest is not supposed to feel as if they are expected to bring a gift in order to share in your happy day.

Well, that's just weird!

Everyone knows a gift is "tradition" (a word I'm no fan of) and usually expected.

And Andrea...Ms. Manners???

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[2fat2fly 0]

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Skydive DeLand 25th Anniversary party!

I think that they're registered at Target

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[PLFXpert 0]

I have to correct myself.

I have several upcoming weddings to attend (or not) and none in this particular batch of invitations have registry info...

It seems, however, it is standard to have a wedding shower. And THAT invitation is where I always see the registry.

And since the last wedding shower I went to had two rooms full of gifts and only a handful of guests, I'm guessing the invitation lists are not that drastically different. And apparently some people get confused and bring a second gift to the actual event--b/c I remember two rooms full of gifts there, too.

Geez, just call a spade, a spade. Save the trees. Forget the shower invitations, and just send the registry with the initial invite.

How silly is it to want gifts, hope for (maybe even expect) gifts, but not dare "ask" for them by including a registry?

Sometimes manners are stupid.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[skymama 37]

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And apparently some people get confused and bring a second gift to the actual event--b/c I remember two rooms full of gifts there, too.

It's customary to bring a gift to the Shower and the Wedding.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[PLFXpert 0]

Screw that.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[PLFXpert 0]

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It's customary to bring a gift to the Shower and the Wedding.

OK, so let me get this straight:

It's customary to bring gifts--now we're talking two, even.

But, send registry info? That's so rude! It's much more mannerly to track down the maid of honor, spend 10 minutes searching online, or wait for the inevitable shower invitation to follow.

I'm so confused.

In my crazy mind it goes:

Thank you notes: Manners good.
Expecting everyone to jump through hoops to send a "customary" gift: Manners stupid.



If the couple or mom-to-be truly did not want gifts, rather than just not including a registry one might expect (again, just crazy me) an "in lieu of gifts" notation.

I LOVE those! Never seen one for a wedding or shower, though. I'm pretty sure mine would be the first. Again, the whole putting shit away thing. I really hate that.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.