We live in a world where when you go to a party it is polite to bring a gift. And in most cases it is also your pleasure.
So what do you do when someone says “no gifts please”? Do you listen?
4 out of 5 people don’t. This means while “no gifts” on an invitation may sound polite, it is not effective.
A good alternative to no gifts is “in lieu of gifts” please make a donation to (your favorite charity here). This doesn’t mean your guests will always listen, but there is a much better chance of them feeling ok with showing up “empty handed” and feeling good about making a donation.
To go one step further, I recently did an invitation for a one year old boy who has a big brother and his birthday falls right after Christmas, so their son really doesn’t need too much. On the back of their invitation they made it very clear how and where to make a donation. They listed the charities, what they do and what they need. They also suggested if you want to bring a present to bring diapers, new clothes, etc. and they will deliver them to the charity. Their son was truly given the greatest gift all. He is being taught about the world around him and that caring, sharing and giving are all gifts.
Labels: Birthday Invitations, Tips