Anonymous wrote:"No gifts necessary" or "Your presence is gift enough" means that the hosts do not want gifts but recognize that some people are going to bring gifts anyway. You can explain to your daughter beforehand why you aren't bringing a gift; you can bring a 'just in case everyone else does and I don't want to feel foolish' gift and keep it in your car to bring out if needed; you can bring or have your daughter make a card and tell your daughter that's the gift, and you can have a gift card in your purse to pull out if needed.

As for you, if you follow the etiquette rules and say nothing, most people will bring a gift. If you say no gifts, most people will not, but some will anyway (because they didn't read, forgot about it, or think it's stupid for parents to say no gifts). Some people who followed your instructions will feel stupid when they see the gifts, but most won't. If you get gifts in this scenario, tuck them away (for the love, don't open them at the party!) then send your thank yous just as if you hadn't said no gifts.

This is the most important thing of all -- NONE OF THIS MATTERS! It will all be forgotten in due time, along with the gifts that were brought and the ones that weren't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate no gift parties. When my oldest started preschool, we got invited to a no gift party. We were probably the only kid in the entire class to not bring a gift. After that, no matter what, I bring a gift. if they say no gifts, i bring a book and/or a gift card. I especially hate the charity gift requests. i once saw a no gift party but college fund contributions appreciated.

I recently wanted to no gifts or hand me down gifts appreciated but didn't. I just wrote nothing.

Hand me down gifts??

Our child is our third child. All our friends have kids who are slightly older. I was suggesting giving something they are done with.

Yes, it sounds weird so I didn't put it on the invitation or tell anyone. Many of our friends give us miscellaneous hand me downs. We have a third while most of our friends have 2.

Anonymous wrote:I hate no gift parties. When my oldest started preschool, we got invited to a no gift party. We were probably the only kid in the entire class to not bring a gift. After that, no matter what, I bring a gift. if they say no gifts, i bring a book and/or a gift card. I especially hate the charity gift requests. i once saw a no gift party but college fund contributions appreciated.

I recently wanted to no gifts or hand me down gifts appreciated but didn't. I just wrote nothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate no gift parties. When my oldest started preschool, we got invited to a no gift party. We were probably the only kid in the entire class to not bring a gift. After that, no matter what, I bring a gift. if they say no gifts, i bring a book and/or a gift card. I especially hate the charity gift requests. i once saw a no gift party but college fund contributions appreciated.

I recently wanted to no gifts or hand me down gifts appreciated but didn't. I just wrote nothing.

Hand me down gifts??

Anonymous wrote:I hate no gift parties. When my oldest started preschool, we got invited to a no gift party. We were probably the only kid in the entire class to not bring a gift. After that, no matter what, I bring a gift. if they say no gifts, i bring a book and/or a gift card. I especially hate the charity gift requests. i once saw a no gift party but college fund contributions appreciated.

I recently wanted to no gifts or hand me down gifts appreciated but didn't. I just wrote nothing.

Anonymous wrote:I am from the South and went to legit etiquette school during the summers. It was always taught to us as very rude to dictate what your guests do. So telling them or asking them what to do regarding gifts was a huge no no. So I always follow that because it feels off to me not to. However, I don't mind when others put it on the invite, I just choose not to.