Yes. Housewarming parties (expecting gifts) is tacky no matter who throws it.

I agree with you OP, your relative was tacky. I once got invited to a "housewarming" by a coworker and I brought a gift card. Little did I know she used her "housewarming" as an excuse to have a Pampered Chef party. Sooooooo tacky. I would not have gone had I known, let alone given her a gift card. We all felt like we had to buy something to keep workplace harmony, but I thought less of her.

Anonymous wrote:Tacky. Tacky tacky tacky.

If people want to bring you gifts, sure, that's nice of them. But to create a registry means you are demanding a gift and that is not cute once you get to be older than 3.

But then I think wedding registries and baby registries are tacky too - never had the latter and was forced into the former by my MIL and made it as small as I could without creating a permanent family feud (and also only let people know who specifically asked about it). I don't think people should be mandated to pay for the privilege of hanging out with me, special occasion or not. If they want to bring something, sure and thank you. But a registry smacks of entitlement and demand.

precisely

Tacky. Tacky tacky tacky.

If people want to bring you gifts, sure, that's nice of them. But to create a registry means you are demanding a gift and that is not cute once you get to be older than 3.

But then I think wedding registries and baby registries are tacky too - never had the latter and was forced into the former by my MIL and made it as small as I could without creating a permanent family feud (and also only let people know who specifically asked about it). I don't think people should be mandated to pay for the privilege of hanging out with me, special occasion or not. If they want to bring something, sure and thank you. But a registry smacks of entitlement and demand.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this thread makes me sick. i'm single and never had a wedding. i adopted and never had a baby shower. i set myself up and have carried us our whole lives, solo. i will plan a huge 50th blowout and you can be damn sure i will register and i will say why on the invite in case anyone thinks it's tacky. i have my house needs but i will think of something cause i should be celebrated too!!!

you make me sad.

throwing your own bday party, registering for it, putting it on the invitation, and believing that you deserve to be celebrated? how many words for tacky can i use?

also, what does it say about you that not a friend or even family member had a baby shower for you?

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this thread makes me sick. i'm single and never had a wedding. i adopted and never had a baby shower. i set myself up and have carried us our whole lives, solo. i will plan a huge 50th blowout and you can be damn sure i will register and i will say why on the invite in case anyone thinks it's tacky. i have my house needs but i will think of something cause i should be celebrated too!!!

you make me sad.

throwing your own bday party, registering for it, putting it on the invitation, and believing that you deserve to be celebrated? how many words for tacky can i use?

also, what does it say about you that not a friend or even family member had a baby shower for you?

Anonymous wrote:I have a single friend who is almost 50 and has been to so many people's weddings, and she's often been a bridesmaid. I was actually wishing she'd have some kind of party for herself where people could get her those kinds of gifts. It does just seem a little unfair to me that just because she hasn't met a man, she doesn't get the same start on a household.

I don't think she'll ever do this (for one thing, it means giving up on the idea of meeting someone she can marry, and I know she's still hopeful!) but I rather wish she would. (Maybe not at a housewarming, but at another kind of party, just celebrating her.)

i think it's good that your friend won't ever have that party for herself, b/c that shows she has class and the sense to know that it's tacky to host ANYTHING for yourself with the expectation of gifts. i think it would be a great idea for you and a group of friends to throw that party for her...

Register, no. Accept gifts & have a party, yes. If people ask you could tell them exactly what you need. All of this IF these parties have ever been done in your circle of friends. I think you being single actually makes you the better candidate.

I have a single friend who is almost 50 and has been to so many people's weddings, and she's often been a bridesmaid. I was actually wishing she'd have some kind of party for herself where people could get her those kinds of gifts. It does just seem a little unfair to me that just because she hasn't met a man, she doesn't get the same start on a household.

I don't think she'll ever do this (for one thing, it means giving up on the idea of meeting someone she can marry, and I know she's still hopeful!) but I rather wish she would. (Maybe not at a housewarming, but at another kind of party, just celebrating her.)

Anonymous wrote:this thread makes me sick. i'm single and never had a wedding. i adopted and never had a baby shower. i set myself up and have carried us our whole lives, solo. i will plan a huge 50th blowout and you can be damn sure i will register and i will say why on the invite in case anyone thinks it's tacky. i have my house needs but i will think of something cause i should be celebrated too!!!

you make me sad.

this thread makes me sick. i'm single and never had a wedding. i adopted and never had a baby shower. i set myself up and have carried us our whole lives, solo. i will plan a huge 50th blowout and you can be damn sure i will register and i will say why on the invite in case anyone thinks it's tacky. i have my house needs but i will think of something cause i should be celebrated too!!!

Oh wow. Yeah, extremely tacky.

It's obvious she wanted to pretend she was having a bridal shower. Let me guess, did she wear a little white sundress to open the presents?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually disagree with this.... I would create a list, but only share it with people who ask. Don't advertise it.

Inviting everyone you know and including on the invitation? Yes, horribly tacky.

However, I am married, have two kids, and have single friends who have given me gifts for engagement, wedding, honeymoon, child #1, child #2, and random things like the kids' birthdays and my wedding anniversary. I had a wedding registry, that's it. They have gone ahead with all of the rest. It is a sign of love.

If you were one of these friends of mine, you can be damn sure I am asking you if there is something special I can give you for a housewarming gift. Buying a house is damn near impossible today. I am so thrilled to celebrate a milestone in a friends' life.

Congrats OP!

it's one thing to ask the homebuyer what she could use/need/like for her new home. it's quite another to make a registry. very declasse' (insert ramona singer voice here).

awesome.

wow this thread was highly entertaining and honestly i feel sad for op's relative and the mother. the pseudo bridal shower reeks of tackiness and loneliness. op, did people actually buy her gifts off the registry??