When a party invitation states "no gifts"....

[minniecarousel]

...is it OK to bring the birthday guy a bottle of wine? DH & I are having a diagreement on this point. The guy's wife is throwing him a surprise 55th Birthday party & we bought him a bottle of wine while we were on the Coast last week. I want to bring the bottle to the party - DH wants us to give it to him next week - or just some other time. I think the wife just doesn't want poeple wracking their brain trying to think of something clever to get him (she's my best friend). What's your opinion here?

 

[Pooh67_68]

If she is you best friend, just call and ask her if it would be ok to bring the wine.

 

[Microcell]

It may make people uncomfortable who honor the request to not bring a gift, they could feel bad. If you are helping out with the party maybe you can come before everyone else and tell him not to mention that you brought him something, but that you did not want to overlook such a close friend.

 

[mommytotwo]

I think that the bottle of wine would be a nice idea to give as a hostess gift since they said no gifts.

 

[GIOny]

I know most parties that the invitation stated "no gifts", most people brought something anyway, leaving me or whoever else who didn't bring something like odd person out. So now I'm to the point that I wouldn't go to a party without bringing something. You could look at it as if you were just going to a party (not birthday) you would probally want to bring something with you anyway (either food or drink), so just put it in that catagory.

 

[luv2nascar]

I always thought people just said that to be polite and brought something anyways

 

[TiggerPiglet]

Usually if I'm invited to a party that says "no gifts" I still buy something, but I won't spend as much money as I usually would.

 

[aprilgail2]

We also always bring something in even if it says "No gifts".....its usually something smaller than I normally would bring but still bring something in. I would feel rude walking in to a party with nothing.

 

[Allie322]

Last month, I had a surprise 40th birthday party for my husband. I put "Please, no gifts" on the invitations and I meant it! It was just a party to get together, have some fun, eat, drink and be merry! Many people did bring gifts and while we were grateful, we really wish they hadn't!

 

[Nutsy]

I've thrown surprise parties & have stated no gifts. It's not that I didn't want the person to receive, but I preferred everyone to be able to come rather than worry about a gift as well.

But...........there were & always will be those who still wish to bring a gift regardless.

I'd take it along & no doubt there will be others who will bring a little something too. At my hubbies 50th some folk pooled their money & got him something funny.

It's up to you, but I'd take it if it were me. Afterall the guy doesn't even know about the party does he? So, he's not going to know that his wife specified NO GIFTS.