Weddingbee Blog

Absolutely not. Our brunch will thankfully be at a nearby park, so our gifts won’t even be there. But I think it would be rude TO display them…go fig.

Stick to your guns! I absolutely agree that it’s not in good taste to open or display gifts at a day-after brunch. Just politely remind the nay-sayers that bringing a gift is a very generous gesture, and not at all something that you expect from your guests, so you would prefer to keep it between you and your new husband.

I don’t think it’s rude at all– in fact, it’s usually fairly boring for a guest to sit around while dozens and dozens of presents are being opened. I think everyone, you two included, would rather enjoy each other’s company and have a fun, relaxing time. Go with your instincts!

I agree with everybody else.

I think it would NOT be rude either way. As a guest, I am just curious to see what you got and you’re right, it’s really none of my business. However, it’s just nice to receive acknowledgement from the gift receiver that you have gotten and seen my gift. But I also understand your reasoning for not wanting to display your gifts and that’s completely understandable.

Perhaps you could mention your plans of not displaying your gifts to some people who are going to be invited to the brunch. See how they react…if a majority feel like it’s rude, then make sure you talk to your FI about it so that you are on the same page and announce at the brunch (with your FI of course) that you would like the focus to be on spending time and catching up with all the guests rather than you and your FI and what gifts you received.

Good luck!

If the brunch is at your parents’ house, why would the gifts be there anyway? If they are in the house, I say toss them in the basement, have a great brunch and not worry about gifts!

I agree with you Miss Pumpkin!
This is YOUR event, and you and your husband should simply decline to have gifts opened or displayed—

If people want to see your “stuff”, and you want to share, they can eventually make a trip to your home!

Isn’t it about the wedding, not the gifts? OK, well maybe it is FUN to have gifts but thats not the point. Deal with your SIL diplomatically but don’t get pushed around…and don’t worry…

I think it’s kind of show off-y to display them — it’s definitely not rude to leave them at home. Weddings aren’t about gifts, they’re about celebrating a new life as a married couple. I would feel strange about putting my gifts on display like that. In fact, my fiance’s family threw me a shower last weekend, and I wanted to come home and just put the gifts away. But his mother — and my mother — wanted to come over and look at everything first. Even though it was just our mothers, I felt like I was showing off, like, “Ooh! See how much people spent on us!” But I’m weird about accepting gifts anyway.

I say do what makes you feel comfortable. Your guests didn’t buy you gifts to get credit for it at the brunch. They did it because they wanted to give you a little something to show how happy they are about your wedding/new life with the hubby.

Yeah, I’d feel like it was just a material show-off if you had the gifts either opened or displayed there. That is clearly not what the focus of the bruch is.

I always feel Bridezilla-ish when I say/think this, but if your SIL/FMIL/Mom feels so strongly about this, she can have her own damn wedding and do it her way then and there.

But I digress. Enjoy your brunch and treat it like you want to, as a warm way to thank everyone and send them off with full stomachs.