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01-22-2013 at 10:57 AM
nomadgirl
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nomadgirl is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 2:15 PMNewbie

Protocol on opening shipped gifts?

We are very fortunate that many out-of-town relatives will be coming to our baby shower because I have a very close knit extended family.  We are registered on Amazon and Babies R Us and in the last few days, we have been receiving lots of packages from those companies and I'm guessing they're gifts from relatives who are coming to the shower but don't want to have to fly with a gift.  Right now, I've left everything in boxes but I wanted to know how we should handle these gifts.  Do we take them with us to the shower and open them there?  Or, do we open them beforehand and tell people at the shower what these relatives got us?  

Also, I've received some gifts from relatives who won't be attending the shower --- do we take those gifts to the shower with us and open them there? 
 
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01-22-2013 at 11:02 AM
1026pumpki...
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1026pumpkin is not online. Last active: 05-15-2013, 11:55 PMSilver

In general, you should definitely open the packages to make sure that nothing is damaged and send out thank you cards right away so that people know their gift was received.

If you can tell that the packages were shipped from someone who will be attending the shower, you can ask if they wanted you to wait until the shower to open it.  Unless someone asks you to do this, I would just send out your thank yous and don't bother lugging extra gifts to and from your shower.  You can always take some time after you've opened your gifts to say "and thank you Aunt Susie for the lovely stroller you sent and Uncle Bob for the car seat" so you can acknowledge them in the group too.
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01-22-2013 at 11:15 AM
EastCoastB...
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EastCoastBride is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 7:47 PMPlatinum
1026pumpkin:

If you can tell that the packages were shipped from someone who will be attending the shower, you can ask if they wanted you to wait until the shower to open it.

This.  If the giver isn't going to be at the shower, absolutely open it now and send a TY.  No need to lug the gift, and trust me, people at the shower don't want to sit through the opening of gifts from people who aren't even there.
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01-22-2013 at 11:56 AM
526SadieSa...
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526SadieSadie is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 3:12 PMGold
Absolutely OK to open anything that's sent to your home and send a TY note ASAP.  Even if it's from someone who will be in attendance at your shower, if they send it to your home, you can open it.
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01-22-2013 at 2:26 PM
CRLSMC2011
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I am having everything shipped to my SIL's house.  We can't receive packages at our house (unsecured apartment building and we're not home during the day and don't want things left out or us needing to pick them up).  SIL is hosting my shower, so anything sent there will be there for the shower.  After the shower, she and my brother will get me anything that comes at some point. 
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01-22-2013 at 3:22 PM
ohlordy
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ohlordy is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 11:53 PMNewbie

Open and send a TY note, for sure.

I just had my shower and for the guests that shipped the gifts before the shower, I thanked them while I chatted with them (as well as sending the TY note right after opening.) I didn't happen to make any sort of announcement to the group about the shipped gifts. I hope they don't think i'm an assshole! 

I don't like me-centered events and find it awkward to have that many eyes on me, so I think my nerves got the best of me in that moment. 

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