Is it weird for me to throw my own baby shower?

Question

I live hundreds of miles away from most of my friends and family so I was thinking about putting together a website that will have pictures, a guest book and a link to my baby registry. My plan is to mail out invitations for people to visit my website and participate/browse and calling it a virtual baby shower. The weird thing is that the invites will be from me. Is this a good idea? If not, can you give suggestions?

Answer 1

Whether or not it's 'weird' it IS extremely tacky. What you are doing is telling all your friends that they have to buy you presents -- and that's as tacky as it comes.

When baby arrives, feel free to send out announcements (either by mail or email.)  If your friends/family feel moved to send you a gift, they will do so.

(THose friends/family members who are close enough to you to want to buy  you gifts before baby arrives will do so without any sort of prompt from you -- or link to your baby registry.)

Answer 2

If I got such an invitation, I would be very surprised and not in a good way.  

If you want to celebrate your baby's birth with your family, then you should travel to where they are and see them.  If they want to give you a shower while you are there, that's really nice of them, but the idea of your staying home while soliciting for presents which is how it will be taken will do nothing but cause offense.  

Answer 3

I think that the idea is good, but extremely rude.

What I would do is get a good friend to "host" the site. You can do all the leg work and give her names of people to invite, and she can act as if it is her idea. That way, you are not acting like you're having a "gift grab" which is very tacky.

I understand your dilemna. My husband and I moved to a new city, almost 24 hours drive from friends and relatives. I love your idea, just don't 'organize' it yourself. Make the site, but have a friend send the invitations.

Answer 4

I think it is a great idea. I PLANED MY OWN and it worked out great  

Answer 5

It sounds like an open request or demand that people with any sense of obligation or friendship buy you a gift.

That's un-cool.

Answer 6

Actually,

I think this is a GREAT idea! I always like to plan things my self, and i always say if i ever get pregnant i want to be in charge of my baby shower. So yea, this is an awesome idea. =]

Oh and Congrats!!!

Answer 7

No it's not. I threw my best friend one. She lived 3 hours away from all of her family and a lot of friends. And when she got back home she threw one for herself that her coworkers and other friends attended.

Answer 8

Sounds good to me but the only thing is people usually bearly ever get anything off your registry they just get whatever they please and dont even bother looking at the registry. =/ yes sucks.

Answer 9

no, its not weird. just different.

however, i am not too fond of these "virtual parties" i guess i am  old fashion.  it sounds like a way to get gifts out of people.

edit: pippin's on point

Answer 10

I'm the kind of person that's all for doing whatever you want.

Currently, ettiquette says its tacky to throw your own shower.

The preferred alternative it to throw your own "welcome to the world" party after the baby is born.

But honestly, who cares. Do what makes you happy.

Answer 11

It isn't tacky! It's practical! Women have bridal registries for God's sake. If you feel bad, have your mom or sister send them out. Who gives a c**p in the end? You aren't hurting anyone's feelings or snubbing anyone - that is the stuff you should worry about.

Answer 12

It sounds good to me.

Answer 13

hey this sounds like an AWESOME idea i wish i would have thought of that with my previous pregnancies i knew no one and had just invited a few people i had just met and only 3 people showed out of the 12 people i met. so i think that your idea is way way better.  

Answer 14

Well, it considered kind of tacky to do that. I'd find a friend near you to send out the invatations, so it doesn't look like you are just trying to get gifts out of people, which I'm sure you are not- but it might come across that way.

Those who really care about you will send gifts anyway, but in the mean time, maybe just have someone throw a shower for those you know in town. They may not be your best friends, but it will still be fun! The website is a good idea to keep those far away updated on the progress with the baby and everything, I think that's a cute idea. But I'd find someone else to send invatations and such.

Answer 15

I think it sounds like a cute idea.