It’s that time of year again when party season is in full swing and you may be wondering how to politely ask for gifts on an invitation.
Whether it’s your child’s birthday, a holiday celebration, or a family reunion.
There are some tactful ways to request presents without seeming greedy or tacky.
Here are a few tips:
1. Be Specific About What You Would Like
Rather than simply writing “gifts appreciated,” try something like “Mom would love a new coffee mug” or “Gift ideas for Dad include gift cards to his favorite restaurant.”
This way, guests will know exactly what to get and they’ll be more likely to actually get something that the recipient will appreciate and use.
2. Give Guests a Range Of Prices
Not everyone is comfortable spending the same amount of money on gifts, so it’s important to give guests a range of prices that they can choose from.
For example, if you’re requesting gifts for a child’s birthday party, you could say something like “Affordable gift ideas include books or puzzles.”
Mid-range gift ideas include clothes or toys, and luxurious gift options include jewelry or an electronic gadget.”
By giving guests options, you’re more likely to end up with a few nice presents rather than one really expensive one that blows the budget.
3. Make It Clear That Gifts Are Not Required
Some people feel pressured into giving gifts when they receive an invitation, even if they can’t really afford it.
To avoid this problem, make it clear on the invitation that gifts are not expected or required – something like “Your presence is the only present we need!” should do the trick nicely.
This way, guests won’t feel guilty if they don’t bring anything but will still have the option to do so if they want to.
4. Keep It Short and Sweet
There’s no need to go into great detail about why you’re asking for gifts or what specific items you’re hoping for.
Simply including a brief mention of gifts somewhere on the invitation should suffice.
5. Be Tactful In Your Wording
Again, you don’t want to come across as pushy or demanding when asking for gifts.
Phrases like “No gift is necessary” or “Your presence is the only present we need” are always appreciated by guests.
6. Let Guests Know Where To Find Registry Information
If you’ve already created a registry (or plan on doing so), be sure to include this information on the invitation itself or on an accompanying insert card.
Don’t wait until the last minute to make your wish list public.
When you do that, people will be bombarded with requests and will end up giving you items they really didn’t want to buy.
Instead, try to set up a time period in which to make the request, such as between two and three months before the wedding.
This gives people ample time to respond to your request and allows you to have a better idea of which items you might want to buy.
What to Include in Your Invitation?
Asking for gifts on an invitation can be a tricky thing to do.
You want to be polite and not come across as greedy or tacky, but at the same time, you don’t want your guests to show up empty-handed.
Here are a few tips on how to politely ask for gifts on an invitation:
1. Be specific about what you would like. Instead of just saying “no gifts please”, try something like “Your presence at our party is the only present we need”.
This way, you’re not demanding that people don’t bring anything, but you’re making it clear that you don’t expect them to.
2. If you are registered with a particular store or website, include this information on the invitation so that people know where they can purchase something for you if they choose to do so.
3. Make it clear that giving a gift is optional and not expected.
Something like “If you feel compelled to give a gift, we are registered at XYZ store” conveys this message nicely without sounding too demanding.
4. Avoid mentioning specific brands or items that you would like as gifts – this can come across as being too materialistic.
Instead, let your guests use their own judgment in deciding what would make a good present for you.
5. Finally, remember to say thank you regardless of whether your guests bring a gift or not!
When to Send Your Invitations?
A few months before you plan to give your event, you can send out your invitations.
By then, your guests will be aware of the event date.
You can also send out the invitations a week or two before the event.
This will allow your guests time to prepare gifts and make purchases.
If you don’t send out the invitations until after the event has already taken place, your guests will be less likely to be able to buy the perfect gift.
It is a good idea to send out the invitations a few days before the event. You can put up the announcements at this time.
Your friends and family can read these notices while they are getting ready for the event.
You don’t want to seem like you’re demanding presents, but at the same time, it’s perfectly reasonable to expect guests to bring something if they’re attending your event.
One way to handle this is to include a line on the invitation that says “kindly bring a wrapped gift.” This makes it clear that gifts are expected without being too blunt about it.
Another option is to include a registry link on the invitation so guests can easily see what you would like them to purchase for you.
If you’re worried about offending anyone, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and not mention gifts at all on the invitation.
You can always mention it verbally when inviting people or post something about it on social media leading up to the event.
Just remember that not everyone will bring a gift, and that’s okay!
It’s always tricky to know how to word things on invitations, especially when it comes to gifts.
Some people are very specific about what they would like, while others prefer not to mention anything at all.
If you’re stuck on what to write, a good rule of thumb is to be as clear and concise as possible. For example, you could say “No gifts, please” or “Your presence is enough.”
If you would like guests to bring a gift, it’s best to be specific about what you would like.
For instance, you could say “Please bring a book for the baby’s library” or “Gift cards appreciated for the honeymoon fund.”
Whatever you decide to write, make sure it sounds polite and grateful.
Remember that your guests are under no obligation to bring a gift, so don’t put them in an awkward position by asking for one.
