These helpful ideas will help you choose a great gift for your partner’s birthday.

Ask them

The easiest way to get someone what they want is by asking them. This direct approach allows your partner to tell you exactly what they want or need. Then, all you have to do is get it for them. If your partner is particular about things, this is the best approach. It is also a smart idea if your partner has interests and hobbies you aren’t well versed in.

Listen

Sometimes, you don’t have to ask outright. If your partner is vocal and communicative, all you have to do is listen. Pay attention during everyday conversations; you will get plenty of hints and ideas for what they want or enjoy as a gift.

Observe their subtle clues

Not everyone is an effective verbal communicator. If your partner isn’t a talker, you can still pay attention to their more subtle hints. Pay attention to what they get excited about, spend a lot of time on, or expel extra energy. You can get them a gift that relates to their hobbies.

Look at their wishlist

If your partner keeps a wishlist, then you are in luck! Take a peak at their wishlist, and you will find a treasure trove of gift ideas. This method is perfect because you can get exactly what they want without letting them know.

When you both have free Giftster lists, checking out your partner’s wishlist is easy. You can see what they added and view their gift preferences (clothing sizes, color preferences and more). You can then buy exactly what they want and avoid someone else getting them the same gift. The list maker can’t see which items have been purchased (but everyone else can) keeping the gift a surprise.

Consult their friends or family

Friends and family can help you come up with ideas. Your partner may share common interests with others. Now you have someone who can guide you towards the perfect gift.

Reflect on past gifts

Think about past gifts that your partner has received. They could be gifts that you gave them or from others. Consider gifts that were a success and those that were duds. With this knowledge, you can determine what your partner enjoyed the most and consider something similar. You could even build on or upgrade a previous gift that your partner has owned and used for a while.

Giftster makes birthday gift mind-reading easy

Using Giftster is a simple and convenient method for being a gift-giving genius. You and your partner can make your wishlists so you can add anything. Add preferences so your partner gets the perfect size and color. You and your partner have the perfect reference spot for every gift-giving occasion.

Create your Giftster lists today and give your partner the perfect gift for every special occasion.

No mind reading necessary!

The post Birthday gift mind reading 101: How do I know what my partner really wants? appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Manage your expectations 

Humans are not mind readers. Don’t expect your friends and family to know what you want if you don’t tell them. This is often the source of disappointment for people on their birthdays. By not speaking up, they set themselves up for disappointment when they don’t receive the gifts they want the most. 

It can be difficult to voice their desires and ask for specific gifts. Creating an account on Giftster can be the solution. This less confrontational method of conveying your desires makes it easier to communicate. Having a running list of gift ideas makes it easier for everyone to get you what you really want. 

Acknowledge your feelings 

When you start to feel negative feelings, acknowledge them. That way, you can excuse yourself to feel them or set them aside to work through later. Trying to ignore them will only create more turmoil and stress, driving you further into a negative headspace. If you feel up for it, you can try talking to someone you trust about your feelings of disappointment. They may give you a different perspective that can change your mindset. 

Have self-compassion 

Be kind to yourself and your feelings. It is ok to feel disappointed. These negative feelings are natural and the normal response when what you hope for does not happen. 

Switch your focus to gratitude 

It can be easy to allow your mental state to slip into a state of negativity. However, don’t allow your disappointment to cloud over the entire day. Actively decide to switch your focus to one of gratitude. This is easier than trying to force yourself to be happy. Look for reasons to find joy and feel grateful. It could be: 

• Being surrounded by friends and family 
• Your strong health 
• Financial or professional success 
• Overcoming a recent significant challenge 
• Thought and effort put into the gifts you did receive 

Learn from the experience 

Look for lessons in your disappointing birthday experience. This will help you grow as a person. It will also help prevent the situation from happening again at future birthdays. Perhaps you need to be more vocal about what you want. Or perhaps you need to shift your priorities. Maybe what you thought would make you happy doesn’t, and a different type of celebration would be more fulfilling. 

Avoid disappointment by managing your birthday expectations 

The easiest way to avoid disappointment on your birthday is to communicate what you want. Instead of dreaming of the gifts you want, start sharing them with your friends and family. Create a free birthday wish list with Giftster and invite your friends and family to do the same. You can add gift ideas from any website, giving you complete freedom to customize your list. Use the website or download the Giftster app for iPhone or Android devices.

Happy gifting!

The post How Do I Manage My Birthday Expectations To Avoid Feeling Letdown? appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Establish a theme 

The first step in creating a personalized quinceañera celebration is picking a theme. This will help guide you through the rest of your celebration decision-making. Choose a theme that embodies who you are. The options are limitless: from an elegant masquerade ball to a romantic, enchanted forest or an exotic Arabian night theme. Feeling more casual and quirky? Opt for a glow-in-the-dark party or focus on colors to keep it simple such as a black-and-white theme.

Choose a sentimental location 

Once you have a theme, you can choose a location that will be the perfect setting for your party. If your theme is flexible, consider choosing a venue with special meaning. This will give your quinceañera celebration a personalized touch.

Order a custom dessert

Skip the generic grocery store sheet cake and instead order a custom-designed cake. You can have the cake match the party’s theme. Another option is to depart from the cake entirely for a completely custom dessert. Cupcakes, donuts, cake pops, or even a waffle or ice cream bar could be a big hit with your guests. What represents you the most?

Order custom invitations 

Set the stage for your quinceañera by sending out personalized invitations. You can make them yourself at home or customize and buy them from a local or online service. Use the color palette or theme that you previously chose to give people a hint at what is to come. 

Use personalized decorations for your quinceañera celebration

Give your quinceañera celebration a unique touch with personalized decorations. You could design your own floral arrangements. Or get in touch with your inner creative and make your own. If you aren’t crafty, you could decorate with photos of yourself with the people that mean the most. Slideshows can be a hit too, especially if you include some of your guests to keep everyone entertained and included.

Create a gift wishlist 

Help your guests make your quinceañera celebration memorable with the perfect gifts. Create a free Giftster account and curate a custom wish list to give your friends and family ideas they’ll know you’ll love. 

Break tradition and choose a unique dress

Traditional quinceañera dresses embody the princess silhouette with a corset top and large ballroom bottom. This dress design doesn’t work for everyone, though. Don’t be afraid to break tradition and choose a dress that makes you feel like the most beautiful woman in the room. 

Choose your party playlist 

The music played at your quinceañera celebration will set the mood. While you could trust the DJ or band to play what they want, this is risky business. Personalize your quinceañera by choosing the playlist to personalize the party for you and your guests. Choose a mix of songs to set the mood you desire for your party. This could be energetic, soulful, classy, or traditional. A mix of slow and fast songs will keep everyone dancing the night away.

Personalize your quinceañera celebration 

Use this list of creative ideas to help you plan a personalized quinceañera celebration. Starting with a theme can help guide your decisions. Creating a gift wishlist will help your guests get in on the fun. It can also help them select the perfect gift for your transition into the next phase in life. Register for an account on Giftster and help your guests give you the perfect quinceañera gift.

Happy gifting!

The post How Can I Personalize My Quinceañera Celebration? appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Las mañanitas

Start your birthday with the tradition of “Las Mañanitas,” which translates to Little Mornings. You will wake up to a morning serenade at dawn. However, it isn’t just any song that gets sung for the serenade. It is most widely this birthday song. It is a song that expresses the beauty of the birthday morning and how much love the singer has for the birthday person. However, if getting woken up at dawn doesn’t sound like fun, you can have it sung at any time of the day. Many people choose to have it sung later in the day at their birthday party when blowing out the candles.  

Tres leches (three milks) cake

This delicious cake gets its name from the three types of milk used in its preparation. It starts with a special kind of sponge cake made with flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Once it’s baked, the cake is soaked in three types of milk: evaporated, condensed, and cream or whole milk. The cake is then frosted with whipped cream. 

Traditionally, the cake would be white with white whipped cream. It might have fruit decorating it, such as coconut or strawberries. However, this has changed in modern times to give it bright colors and decorations. You could have a single-layer or multi-tired cake. There is a lot of flexibility in what the final cake looks like. The key is soaking the cake in three types of milk to make it tres leches. 

La mordida tradition

People tend to have strong feelings about this tradition. La Mordids translates to “little bite. ” The birthday person’s hands are tied behind their back. They must then take a bite of their birthday cake without using their hands or other assistance. While the person is taking their bike, the birthday party guests shout “Mor-di-da” as someone pushes the birthday person’s face into the cake. 

While this tradition is celebrated in Mexico, not everyone participates. It is typically something the birthday individual gets a say in. Unlike here in the States, where the birthday person is surprised by getting their face shoved into the cake. The Mexican version is supposed to be fun; everyone is in on the joke and up for a laugh. 

Piñatas

What’s a Mexican party without a pinata? You can buy one pre-made or make one yourself. Use paper mache and cardboard to make the hollow sculpture. They are typically fun shapes, like food, animals, or representative of something the birthday person loves. Inside the pinata, you can fill it with anything you want. Traditionally, it would be small toys and candy. However, you could do an adult version with mini liquor bottles, makeup samples, or snacks. 

To play, each partygoer gets blindfolded one at a time and gets a turn swinging a stick at the pinata. Everyone takes turns until the pinata breaks open and the contents pour out. 

Los regalos (birthday presents)

Birthday presents are just as common in Mexico as in the U.S. You give them wrapped in paper, and the birthday individual gets to open them. Giving money as a gift is less common in Mexico. People tend to focus on items the recipient could use or want. 

Large get-togethers

A hallmark of a Mexican get-together is the number of people in attendance. It is common for immediate family, aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins, and anyone else available. There is an importance in spending time with family and those who love and care about you the most. While these aren’t formal events, you are expected to put some effort into what you wear. 

Mexican birthday traditions: food and music 

As with American birthday parties, there are plenty of drinks, food, and music. You may hear traditional Mariachi, banda, norteño, or more modern tunes played. People aren’t afraid to get up and dance to the tunes. 

For food, traditional dishes are served. These include sopapillas, tortillas, enchildas, salsa, taquitos, churros, and mole. In addition to the tres leches birthday cake, other desserts like flan or rice pudding may also be served. You will find everything from soda products to beer and tequila for drinks. With so many people in attendance, a feast accommodates everyone. 

Age-specific Mexico birthday traditions

Similar to a Sweet Sixteen party or the large party that happens when someone turns 21, there are specific “big birthdays” in Mexico. 

Presentación de tres años

This birthday tradition happens when someone has a child who is turning three. They celebrate with a “Presentación de Tres Años,” or a presentation to the community. The purpose of this extra special party is to celebrate and give thanks for the child’s good health. 

This Mexican birthday tradition is steeped in religion. It comes from the presentation of the Virgin Mary at three years old. Many people celebrate their baby’s third birthday by attending mass. The child gets dressed in fancy clothes and a priest provides a blessing. After the mass, the family attends a large birthday party with extended family and friends. 

La quinceañera

The most well-known age-specific birthday tradition is the quinceañera. Girls turning 15 will celebrate with an extra large party to signify their “coming of age.” A hallmark of this party is the over-the-top ball gown style dress that the birthday girl wears. Traditionally, they are pink or white. However, this has changed in modern times. The day typically starts in the morning with the birthday girl attending mass to pay homage to the Virgin Mary. 

Celebrate your next birthday with these Mexican birthday traditions 

Do something different for your birthday this year by embracing another culture. These Mexican birthday traditions are a fun way to experience and celebrate another culture. So fill out your Giftser wish list and start sending out the invites. You can enjoy a large party with plenty of food, tres leches cake, and a pinata.

The post A Taste of Mexico: Celebrating Birthdays the Mexican Way appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Reflect on what you’ve learned 

A milestone birthday is the perfect time to reflect on everything you’ve learned over the past decade. This could be from attending school or life experience. Our lives are enriched by growing and learning. It can be easy to lose sight of this when we get wrapped up in everyday life. A milestone birthday is the perfect time to step back and recognize everything you’ve learned. You may be getting older, but you are also getting wiser. 

Practice gratitude 

A milestone birthday is the perfect time to think about the blessings in your life so far. Practice gratitude to be thankful for the positive things that have happened in your life. This could be the goals you’ve accomplished, wisdom gained, or memorable experiences. Focusing on the positive things in your life so far will help you establish a positive mindset for the next part of your life. 

Take a fresh start 

A milestone birthday is like one chapter of your life ending and another beginning. This is your opportunity to make a fresh start. Consider this your opportunity to finally take that class you’ve been meaning to. Or learn a new hobby that has always interested you. A milestone birthday is your chance to take action and make much-needed changes in your life. 

Don’t compare yourself to others 

We have a habit of comparing ourselves against how we think others are doing. With the rise of social media, this has become even more prevalent. You need to do your best not to do this. When posting on social media, people project the best parts of their lives or what they want others to see. It may seem like they have the perfect life and are always happy. This isn’t always the truth behind the posts. To protect your happiness, don’t compare yourself to what you think others have accomplished. Instead, focus on yourself and the positive things in your life. 

When planning your milestone celebration, think about what you want. Some people might love a huge birthday party with all of their friends and family. Others may prefer something more intimate and subdued. 

Embrace the adventure 

Life should be an adventure. You don’t know what tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year will hold. Embrace the unknown and look forward to the next chapter of your life with curiosity and excitement. A milestone birthday is the perfect time to plan an adventure. Take a trip to a location you’ve always wanted to visit. 

Celebrate your next milestone birthday with Giftster 

Whether your next milestone birthday is a 30th, 40, 50th, or 60th, Giftster can help you celebrate. Create a wish list for your friends and family. That way, you can embrace the next phase of your life with the love and support of those who know you best. 

The post How to Find Joy in Every Milestone Birthday appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Give them something they want 

Giving a birthday gift should be about the recipient and what they want. When she gave him a candle, this girlfriend didn’t consider her boyfriend’s interests. To make matters worse, he spent significantly more on her birthday gift than she did on his. Things continued downhill when he told her to return the candle, and she told him she couldn’t. At this point, she admitted she took the candle from her mother’s house. 

Not what it looks like 

Sometimes, getting a gift that looks like one thing but is another can be cute. This works exceptionally well when you stick to a theme or topic the recipient is interested in. However, there is also a high risk of failure. This poor woman received what she thought was a camera lens. Only to then have to be told that the gift wasn’t a camera lens but a coffee mug. From the video, it looks like she isn’t thrilled with either idea. 

Gifts gone wrong: unusable gifts

Watch this son’s face go from pure excitement to confusion to amusement as he opens his gift. He loves to golf and was thrilled to get a new club. But his excitement quickly changed to confusion as he realized it was a left-handed club and he was not left-handed. He and his father then laughed together at realizing the club wasn’t right. 

Recipients fail too

A son gets a brand-new hoverboard as a gift. He immediately takes it into the backyard to ride it. Upon hitting a crack in the concrete, he falls. The hoverboard goes straight into the pool. You can hear the increasing desperation in his voice as he calls his parents. The hoverboard slowly sinks to the bottom of the pool. 

Take care when shipping gifts 

This woman felt the same excitement we all feel when we come home to a mystery package around our birthday. She excitedly opened what she thought was a thoughtful gift. It could have been if it was delivered correctly. Unfortunately, something went wrong. What started as an elegant bouquet turned into a box of petals and rotting stems. 

Read the fine print 

It’s happened to all of us at some point. You see an item online and buy it without reading the full description. It then arrives in the mail, and disappointment sets in. One woman thought she had a sweet gift idea of buying her boyfriend a watch case. Except when it arrived, it said “best dad of all time.” Her boyfriend is not a dad. Her failure wasn’t in the idea but in failing to read the fine print. The on-sale item she thought was a great deal was a Father’s Day promotion. 

Avoid a birthday fail and give a winning gift

Make sure everyone gets the gift they want for their birthday and every other occasion. Create a family group on Gifster so everyone in your family can create and share wish lists. With the ability to add items from anywhere, Gifster makes it simple to manage and share your wish list. Add your preferences for each item to ensure you get the exact size, color, and style that you want. Family members can then purchase items from the list and keep it a secret until they give the gift.

Happy gifting!

The post Birthday Bloopers: Hilarious Videos of Gifts Gone Wrong appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

In the UK alone, consumers use 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year.

Are you interested in giving less to the landfills this year? Here are some ideas for eco-friendly wrapping paper alternatives.

Stockings 

All of those stockings hung by the chimney with care are excellent eco-friendly gift wrap options. You don’t need wrapping paper for presents that fit in stockings, so to reduce waste make sure not to double up. 

On the topic of stockings, socks can be great wrapping options for small items like jewelry. Choose a cozy, holiday-themed pair for a useful, waste-free gift wrap.

E-mail 

You might be tempted to purchase gift cards and place them in holiday cards. But for an eco-friendly wrapping paper alternative, digitize them instead. 

Most stores have electronic gift cards or certificates that don’t use paper or plastic (and are harder to misplace). “Wrap” them up in an email and the recipient still gets to “open” them.

Furoshiki

Furoshiki are traditional Japanese fabric wrapping cloths. They are reusable, versatile, and creative. Once you’ve tried this gift-wrapping art, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to wrap even the most oddly shaped present. 

Learn more about how to tie Furoshiki here, and all the gifts you give this year will be eco-friendly and beautiful.

Old papers

Do you get a newspaper delivered to your home? Are there unused road maps in your car? How many coloring book pages are on your refrigerator? 

Think of how fun and environmentally friendly it would be for a gift recipient to have a present wrapped in the Sunday comics, a map of a famous city, or a crayon drawing of a dinosaur.

Containers

If you think about the gift you’re giving, you might be able to come up with a corresponding “container,” like a box or jar, to put it in. They are incredibly versatile, which means the recipient of your gift is likely to reuse the container it’s “wrapped” in instead of throwing it away.

A few ideas might be candies or cookies in a tin or mason jar, books in a fabric tote bag, or spa items, wrapped in a towel, in a basket.

Just a bow (or no wrapping at all)

Potted plants, bottles of alcohol, or candles would look lovely with a simple ribbon or no wrapping. And while it might seem unconventional, according to AP News, “nearly two-thirds [of U.S. respondents] said they would happily receive gifts without wrapping.” 

If you want to be creative with just bows, here are 25 Ways to Wrap Ribbon and Bows on Gifts.

No matter which method you choose, we hope you and the recipients of your gifts are happier with these environmentally friendly options for gift wrap.

Happy gifting!

The post Eco-friendly Wrapping Paper Alternatives appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Chances are also good that you struggled to have a great party. Friends were out of town, no one could figure out what to get you for two celebrations back-to-back, and everyone always seemed more excited about the holidays than your birthday. 

Let’s not forget that with all of the seasonal treats, your birthday cake probably didn’t stand out much, either.

As we start to approach the holiday season again, here are some ideas for how to make your birthday stand out. After all, everyone deserves to have a truly special day once a year.

Choose a fun, non-holiday theme

If you want your party to stand out from the holidays, invite them to more than just a birthday party. Invite them to the event of the year. Choose an amazing theme and some matching elements your guests can enjoy. 

For example, at a Barbie-themed birthday party, you might serve a pink cocktail and ask your guests to dress up for a “fashion show.” 

Do you plan to host the party at your house? Take down any holiday decorations or knick-knacks you have around your home so guests will focus on the occasion of your birthday instead.

Turn the party into an outing

Kids have birthdays at fun places all the time. Why can’t you? At a time of year when everyone is already gathered in their homes with friends and family, make your birthday stand out by hosting it at a fun location.

Steer clear of cookie decorating classes or a trip to the Nutcracker ballet. Instead, find venues that are holiday-free. You might even be the hit of the season if your party lets your guests burn off some of their holiday stress at a fun event like axe-throwing or indoor go-karting.

Ask for experiences instead of things

During the holiday season especially, people are in the gift-giving spirit. But this often results in an abundance (if not overabundance) of new items around the home. If your birthday is during the holiday season, your gifts might feel more of the same.

To make your birthday stand out, ask for something a little different. Experience gifts can include any of your favorite hobbies or interests.

Here are some ideas:

• Tickets to a sporting event, concert, or theatrical experience
• A class or “how to,” like cooking, pottery, glass-blowing, writing, or a sporting technique
• A night away in a hotel at a destination you’ve always wanted to visit (even if it’s just a nearby lake where you can go fishing)
• Self-care like a yoga class, massage, float spa, or manicure
• Babysitting so you can go out and enjoy any one of these activities
• Housecleaning, lawn care, or other home services to free up your spare time for other things

Looking to feel at ease about birthday gifts every year? Create a group on Giftster and you and your loved ones can create and share wish lists year-round.

Happy Gifting!

The post How to Make Your Birthday Stand Out from the Holiday Season appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

When can you celebrate someone’s old age? Well, it’s probably best before they are really old. “Over the Hill” birthday parties have more of a sense of humor about the whole “getting older” thing. You can probably choose the age, like somewhere around 40 or 50. (But don’t pick 30. That just seems cruel.)

So if you’ve got the perfect victim (I mean, birthday person) in mind, here are some tips to plan and execute an amazing “Over the Hill” birthday party. 

Keep it a surprise 

You can tell the birthday guy or gal that you’re hosting a party. You can even tell them who’s invited. But saying, “We’re throwing you an Over the Hill party” ruins a bit of the fun. 

If you want to see the celebrant laugh when they walk into their party, at least keep the theme a surprise. Keeping the whole party a surprise, though, is probably a lot more fun for everyone. 

Just make sure you know your audience. Not everyone enjoys surprises. In that case, a subtle surprise for the “Over the Hill” theme is probably best.

Decorate with “old age” items

Part of the humor of an “Over the Hill” party is that someone is getting older, but they aren’t exactly geriatric yet. Dentures, arthritis creams, adult diapers, reading glasses, and “Caution: You’re Old” signs are all humorous decorations you can incorporate into the party space. 

You might have even seen a themed tombstone or two as these types of celebrations, so if everyone has a good sense of humor, a “Here lies Daniel’s youth” grave marker is a perfect extra touch. 

Match the food to the “Over the Hill” birthday party theme

Eating party food that matches the theme is a good time for everyone. It also gives you a chance to be creative and clever. So here are a few ideas of party snacks and treats you can put together for an “Over the Hill” birthday party:

• Think back to your childhood and make some dirt pudding for someone Older than Dirt 
• Mix up some party punch (these are for adults only) and label it “The Fountain of Youth”
• Fill a bowl with “Pain Pills,” like Skittles, M&Ms, jellybeans, or Mike & Ikes
• Serve any food (burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, etc.), just make sure there’s a sign nearby that says “Early Bird Senior Special”

Give the perfect gift

For a clever present, create an “Over the Hill” gift basket complete with prune juice, denture glue, and a book of crossword puzzles. Then, to even out all the teasing and fun, make sure to give a few things the birthday guy or gal really wants. Ask them to create a wishlist on Giftster that you can share with all the guests, so they’ll leave their party a little older, a little wiser, and a lot happier.

The post How to Plan & Execute the Perfect ‘Over the Hill’ Birthday Party appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Of course, once all the guests arrive, it will all be worth it.

Here’s our guide with all the dos and don’ts of sending party invitations so that you can move on to the fun stuff. 

Do include important details

You’ve put a lot of effort into your party. Make sure the guests know what to expect.

Here is the information you should include:

• Occasion (graduation, baby shower, birthday, anniversary, etc.)
• Date
• Time
• Location
• RSVP
• Dress code 

Kids’ party invite tips

For a children’s party, there are a few other things you should probably include, such as whether it’s a drop-off event if the kids need to wear anything (like sneakers for playing or a shirt that might get dirty), how long the party will last, and whether food will be provided.

Formal party invite tips

If it’s a formal or catered event, you might also include if guests should expect a cash bar.

Do match the invitation to the occasion

There are many ways to invite people to events, from simple text messages to formal printed invitations. When you’re trying to decide how to send invitations, you should think about how casual your party is. The more casual the party, the more casual the invitation can be.

Backyard BBQ? A text message with just the details is acceptable.

Bridal shower? It’s better to mail printed invitations to the guests.

Other invitations fall somewhere in between, like electronic invitations through e-mail or printed invites you can hand to recipients. Try this free birthday invitation maker to create something custom for your upcoming party.

When planning the invitation type, you can also think about design. For example, the invitation can help share your party’s theme with the guests.

Don’t send your party invitations too early or too late

For most parties, aim to send your invitations 3-6 weeks before the event. 

The less formal the celebration, the less time you need to give. These are the events where you plan a party, send invites (maybe just through text or email), and “see who shows up.” 

For more formal parties, like baby showers or wedding showers, you should give guests more time to plan. After all, they would want to prioritize and attend these occasions, and some guests might need to travel from out of town. 

Don’t forget your wish list

If you’re planning a celebration in honor of a bride, mom-to-be, married couple, or birthday, guests are likely to want to bring presents. You can include the registry information on the invitation for most formal parties where a registry is appropriate.

However, for birthday parties, it’s not the best etiquette to include a wish list with the invitation. If someone asks directly you can share it with them.

We still recommend that you make one, especially for kids. Giftster is a great website for creating a web-based wishlist you can share with anyone who asks.

The post The Dos and Don’ts of Sending Party Invitations appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.