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It's not tacky, but I wouldn't do it because it could make people uncomfortable.
At a shower, it is about the gifts, and they all tend to be reasonably priced. You never know what is going to happen with a wedding gift. It could make guests uncomfortable to see what other people got you. Also, if some people haven't gotten you anything yet, it might make them feel like they need to spend the same amount as someone else. Plus, what about the cards that just have money in them? You don't want to open those in front of everyone. But you don't want to just ignore the fact that those guests gave you something. I think wedding gift opening is a private thing.
I would leave it off. There's no way to avoid sounding as though you're soliciting presents if you include it in the itinerary.
I've never heard of doing a (wedding) gift opening in front of your guests (a shower would be something else). That's a sure way to make somebody feel inadequate. :( I would say don't include it in the itinerary at all, and open gifts privately with your husband.
I would leave it off as well ... in my experience with weddings, if there is a gift opening, people feel obligated to attend, and they are almost always awkward/uncomfortable - not the way I would want my wedding weekend to end.
Is a "gift opening" a real thing? I have never heard of that! I noticed that GingerRogers and Ms. Mini are both our neighbors to the North. Is it a cultural difference?
Perhaps it is, for all the weddings that I have attended here there has always been one, usually the day after the wedding for those that want to attend and usually more food and drinks are served. Thanks for the advice and I will keep it off. =)
I have only really heard gift openings with your family not with your guests!
I think that it would make ppl uncomfortable so I think it is a good choice to leave it off!
I have never heard of anything like this, I am curious to hear what other bees have to say =)
I second krissycakes and FMM. I've never heard or been to a wedding that has done this.
Friends of ours have had gift openings the day after their weddings - it's not unusual here. I agree though it's one of those "awkward" traditions - like getting all the single ladies on the floor for the bouquet toss. At my uncle's wedding the bride and groom opened the gifts and then they were passed around. That was really awkward!
We skipped it at our wedding and received a few comments about it (actually my mother got these comments), from older guests who wondered when we had done our gift opening and were sorry they missed it.
As for putting it on an itinerary, I've never seen a gift opening written on any information cards/invites. It's one of those word-of-mouth things (like where you're registered). I wouldn't include it.
I agree with leaving it off. Of course that's not typically done in the states. If you feel like you should or want to, maybe get the advice of close family or some of the other Canadian bees that have chimed in.
But my vote would be to not do it.
I would probably not attend one- it would be really uncomfortable to me (of course, I also think opening presents at Christmas is awkward so... yeah) but I would definintely leave it off the invitation/ schedule. It seems like it would create a "my gift is better than theirs but OH NO, not as good as theirs" scenario. I second that maybe opening gifts should be a private thing.
I haven't heard of a "gift opening" at all... is it a regional or cultural thing?
I really do think this might be a cultural thing... gift openings are fairly normal here too, and usually include family and wedding party. Some people think of it as an opportunity to see you open the gift they purchased for you.
I think that maybe this is information that can be spread around the weekend, no need to mention it in the itenerary (as long as you already have mentioned the fairwell brunch). I would also maybe do the food portion first, and then whoever wants to stay for the gift opening can.
Another reason to not do it would be because most people give cash in cards or a check. It's really rather boring to have a room full of people stare at you while you read the card to yourself... I don't know we waited till after honeymoon and tore into them at my parents house so it was just my sisters, parents me and hubs. Much better cause some of the gifts that we did recieve were scary so we felt free to discuss what we thought without worries.
Maybe it is a thing for us Canucks, if I were you, I'd leave it off ... I was at a wedding where it was a similar situation ... weekend in Banff, and the gift opening was the next day. It is kind of awkward and boring.
I would leave it off. And you might be surprised. We wound up opening presents the Sunday afternoon with just our maid of honor and best man (sister and cousin) and both mentioned we thought it would be awkward to have anyone else there. You can only open so many cards with checks before it gets rather uncomfortable.
Another Canadian chiming in here - I have been to two gift openings, and it was with close family only. I would leave it off your itinerary at the risk of making other guests feel uncomfortable or awkward. Just have a small session with you family :)
I saw it done at a Southern wedding the day after wedding at the bride and groom's home for a bbq, and it is more gifts than cards there. It was mostly just family but it was like being at a bad bridal shower levels of boring.
Has to be a Canadian thing :) I've never heard of it. I agree with PP that it's private, especially since a lot of guests opt out of a wrapped gift in lieu of a card and monetary gift.
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We hare having our wedding in the mountains in a small town over a long weekend in August, and are making the wedding a kind of weekend event with the Wedding on Saturday, and then golf/white water rafting with drinks on Sunday and then a Farewell Brunch on Monday morning. The thing was that we had wanted to do the gift opening on Monday for a few logistical reasons
#1, who ever is going golfing will need to go late morning/early afternoon.
#2, the only time our photographer can do our joint TTD session is on Sunday morning (my dress is going to have a VERY short life span!).
#3 in order to fit it in it would have to be breakfast & the Gift Opening at like 9am and no one is going to be up at 9 the next morning - I have a party animal family.
So in the invitation we are including a map with itinerary and I am wondering if it would be tacky to include that the gift opening will be at the same time as the farewell brunch because I don't want it to sound like we are expecting gifts, at the same time, the people are going to want to know... Help!