Dear Abby: I have a question about invitation etiquette. I want to invite family members and friends I haven’t seen or spoken to in a long time to my children’s birthday parties and special occasions like baptisms. However, I don’t want to seem like I’m asking for gifts or money.
I’ve heard that it’s inappropriate to ask for “no gifts” on the invitation because it assumes that gifts will be given. What is the correct etiquette in this case? I want to see my family members, but I don’t want to offend them.
— Celebrate in New York
Dear Celebrate: I can’t imagine that family members invited to a child’s birthday party would be offended. If they want to attend, that’s fine. If they can’t, so be it. However, some kind of gift is required at children’s birthday parties and it shouldn’t be a hardship to bring something. Relatives and friends whose children are invited to the party automatically bring a gift.
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Dear Abby was written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and created by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or PO Box 69440, Los Angeles, California 90069. Copyright 2024, Andrews, McMeel Syndication.
