Party invitations these days are a far cry from a paper card and envelope in the mailbox at the end of the driveway. Today you are likely to get invitations to birthday parties and baby showers via an e-vite, Facebook message, or group text message. Regardless of the method, there is usually important information in an invitation that you should pay attention to, including whether or not to bring additional guests, food and drinks, or – most importantly – gifts.
At GiftSniffer, we’re all about finding gifts that your friends and family will love. But what should you do when you receive an invitation that clearly says, ‘No gifts, please’?
There are plenty of reasons for people to request that you do not purchase, send, or bring a gift for their celebration. The most common reason is that the person celebrating simply wants to get together and enjoy time with friends. Good company trumps gifts any day.
Another reason for requesting that guests refrain from bringing a gift is that the person celebrating simply does not need any new items and additional items would be a nuisance. As much as children love new toys, parents of youngsters often include a ‘no gifts, please’ clause on birthday party invitations as their houses are already filled with toys and stuffed animals that their kids hardly play with.
Here are some tips for honoring the no gift request while still being a gracious guest:
1. Bring a card. A card ensures that you won’t show up empty handed if other people DO bring gifts. A card shows that you respect the host’s wishes but also provides the opportunity to give something that shows you care. You can make a custom, personalized card at Cardstore.
2. Include a gift card. A gift card in a small denomination – say, $10 or $15 – is the most appropriate gift when asked to NOT bring a gift. By keeping the amount of the gift card small, you can quietly slip it to the guest of honor and let them know that you only brought ‘a little something.’
3. Bring a host/hostess gift. A bottle of wine, a small bottle of liquor, a plant, or a small box of sweet treats presented when you arrive is acceptable as it says, ‘Thank you for inviting me.’
4. Plan a dinner/play date for another time. When you attend the celebration be sure to spend quality time with the guest of honor and tell him or her that you would like to take them out to dinner sometime soon. If attending a ‘no gift’ party for a child, tell the parents that you would love to have a play date soon. Be sure to follow through on this invitation within a week or two and pick up the tab.
5. Attend with no gift and no apologies. Honor the no gift request, pure and simple. Show up for the party on time, offer to help with refreshing people’s drinks, and spend quality time with the guest of honor. You don’t need to mention that you didn’t bring a gift or make any apologies; your friend will understand your intentions.
Are you attending a party and do need to bring a gift? Check out our Occasions page to find gifts for your next special occasion.