shower invite etiquette

[luvmyfam444]

throwing a baby shower for sis in law -

do I put the gift registration info (babies R us) on the invite(at the bottom?) or does it need to be on a seperate little piece of paper?

I'm asking folks to bring books along w/their gift (have a cute poem asking this) & I guess that should be on a seperate paper slipped into the invite - right?? SHould this paper just be plain white or should I use a color or something to decorate it?

 

[dcgrumpy]

They usually give you little cards for the invitations when you register.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Eww. I would not include the registry info - definitely tacky.

Truly - when I get an invite, it takes about 5 minutes to figure out where they registered:
For a baby - usually babies r us, or target or some nearby boutique
For a wedding - Crate, Bloomingdales, Williams Sonoma, etc

 

[clh2]

Personally, I don't feel it is tacky to include the registry info with a shower invitation. Not everyone has a computer that they can quickly look this up.

I was at a shower last year, where they specifically asked for a baby book, instead of wasting money on a baby shower card. The mom-to-be got some great books, and all were inscribed by the person giving the gift. I LOVE this idea.

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

It seems to me that the answer to this is extremely regional. In many places (especially in the South) it is considered tacky to include that info. In as many other places (more in the North) it is common, normal, and considered helpful.

Cards are common, but a note on the card is common too.

Personally I appreciate the information.

 

[luvmyfam444]

I'm in the deep south & the info is included for shower invites - NOT for wedding invites....but I've seen it both ways on the actual invite & also on a slip of paper.

And since I'm doing the book thing on another piece of paper I was wondering if 2 inserts is too much?

 

[jrmasm]

I don't like registry cards in invitations either. The information is very easy to find out. When you call the hostess to RSVP ask for the registry information if you want it.

 

[poochie]

I see nothing wrong with including the registry. Not everyone has a personal computer at home they can search for the registries. This especially holds true to the older relatives. I always found this information handy. It prevents a lot of duplications at the shower.

P.S. - I too had a little insert for my DD's baby shower. I had a little poem saying we were sharing the gift of reading.I mentioned that this was purely optional to bring a copy of your favorite childrens book for the baby with a little note inside saying who it was from and the date. Absolutely everyone loved that idea and we only had one duplication of books and there were personal little notes inside for the baby. On young girl wrote a story and added her own drawings and had a book made. The was simply adorable and will hold even more memories for mom and baby.

I also passed a journal around during the shower which was I called "ADVISE TO NEW MOMMIES". everyone wrote some sage advise and humerous stories inside. This is also a keeper for reference and smiles.

 

[JVL1018]

NJ here and I've never even recieved a shower invitation that did not have the registry info writtten or inserted in there.
(Never for a wedding invite, probably because it is unherad of really to give/get anything but cash for a wedding here).

It's not tacky, IMO. I'd hate to not know where someone was registered, and I am not big fan of talking on the phone, so I usually try to RSVP whren I can just leave a message, therefore being unable to ask the person where they are registered.

 

[pearlieq]

In my experience it's always been acceptable to put registry information in shower invites. Do whatever is commonplace in your area.

I would print the shower info right on the invite. 1 insert per invite is plenty and you'll need it to explain about the baby books. For the insert, it doesn't need to be as elaborate as the invite, but it should at least be colored or have basic decorations (a border or whatnot) that coordinate with the invite.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would include the cards from the place she registered in with the invites...I LOVE getting the cards where they are registered, saves me the hassel of having to figure it out or call and ask, I think its rude to NOT tell where they are registered...I would write the stuff about a book on the invites.

 

[cinmell]

Personally, I like when the registry info is included with the invitation, it's makes it easy for me. I received a baby shower invitation a couple of weeks ago and I would have assumed that the person was registered at Babies R Us. However, she is registered at some place I've never heard of. I would never had known where she is registered if the info wasn't included with the invite.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I've always thought it was considered tacky to ask for gifts for yourself. For that reason, it's tacky to include registry info in a wedding invitation (while not always hosted by the bride and groom, invitations are usually considered to come from them).

Bridal (and baby) showers are different, because they are hosted by a friend or not-so-close relative, and everyone knows the whole purpose of the party is to shower the guest of honor with gifts. I don't think I've ever received a bridal shower invitation that didn't include registry info, but wedding invitations have included it only rarely.


ETA: oops, didn't answer your question. I'd write the registry info on the bottom of the invitation (two inserts seems like a lot), and include the book poem on a separate piece of paper. I don't think it matters what color, but I'd probably choose a color that stands out and coordinates with the invitation.

 

[aprilgail2]

I don't think I've ever received a bridal shower invitation that didn't include registry info, but wedding invitations have included it only rarely.

We never get wedding invites with registry info in it here because at weddings you only give cash/checks..no one buys an actual gift for a wedding, the gifts are only for showers.

 

[lowie]

throwing a baby shower for sis in law -

do I put the gift registration info (babies R us) on the invite(at the bottom?) or does it need to be on a seperate little piece of paper?

I'm asking folks to bring books along w/their gift (have a cute poem asking this) & I guess that should be on a seperate paper slipped into the invite - right?? SHould this paper just be plain white or should I use a color or something to decorate it?

this may be going a bit far.. to expect a present to go along with another present IMO, unless this is a very close knit group, i'd suggest either the book gift suggestion OR the registry info.

 

[ksjayhawks]

this may be going a bit far.. to expect a present to go along with another present IMO, unless this is a very close knit group, i'd suggest either the book gift suggestion OR the registry info.

Have to agree with this. Books can be very expensive these days.

 

[paigevz]

Oh, you meant a BABY shower..............I was thinking elsewhere..........

You should send the invitation with your telephone number, and if they want to know where she's registered, they'll call you. If you ask for an RSVP, you should suggest that they bring the book when they RSVP, and explain your reason (this is when you can read the poem).

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Oh, you meant a BABY shower..............I was thinking elsewhere..........

You should send the invitation with your telephone number, and if they want to know where she's registered, they'll call you. If you ask for an RSVP, you should suggest that they bring the book when they RSVP, and explain your reason (this is when you can read the poem).

oops, I kept concentrating on bridal shower, too!

Anyway, while this idea sounds appealing for those who find gift requests in shower invitations inappropriate, I think it might get hard to follow through. Some people will call to RSVP when the OP isn't home and leave a voice mail. Then, she'd have to call them back to read the poem. Or, they might buy the gift before calling, so they woudn't know about the book thing until it's too late.

Also on price, if it's books for babies/toddlers she's asking for, they don't have to be pricey. Many of my dd's board books were $4-6, and guests can spend a little less on the regular gift, if they choose to.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

Usually Babies R Us, Toys R us and Walmart baby registries have individual cards which havee the person's name on them. You can just stick them in the invitation. I personally don't think there is a right or wrong way to do a baby shower invite, unless you have some highly critical people coming. I think a baby shower should be for close friends and family to celebrate, not nitpick an invite!! For my shower 6 years ago, my sister made the invitations on some pretty pink cards with a babies footprint on it embossed in silver. She had an RSVP on the inside and when people called she just told them where i was registered. She also put on the inside to bring a baby food item and she filled a basket with the items. I don't care what she wrote on the inside, i was just really appreciative that she went through all the work she did for me.

My sis did something cute and simple for my shower. She had each guest write a message to my baby on some fancy paper that she got in the scrapbooking section of the local craft store.Then she took a pic of each guest standing with me or by themselves. Then she attached them to pages in a scrapbook and gave it to me a few days later. It is something that i will always cherish. Actually now thinking about it, i am going to get it out to show my oldest daughter.

 

[salmoneous]

Put me in the "any mention of gift on the invite is tacky" crowd. Very tacky. If people want to give a gift, they'll call somebody and ask where she is registered.