Gender Revealing Parties

I guess we kind of had one. I didn't realize it was a "thing". I just thought 'Hey, it would be fun to have everyone over to dinner and announce the gender to everyone at once. Just my aunts and uncles and immediate cousins (We are a really close family). Pizza and blue cupcakes :)

We also announced that we were naming him Oliver James. My grandfather is Oliver, and my dad is James... Guess which of the two guests were EXTREMELY excited to hear that news? Lol

I've never heard of that - wow!

I'd be OK if it was part of a baby shower, but otherwise I think it's a bit self-indulgent.

JMO.

Oh they're cute.
But I completely get what you are saying...
It pained me just to announce my pregnancy on FB, it seems so "look at me".

I love to buy gifts for people. My DH does not. Lol.
I don't think you need to take a gift. Just go and have fun!

Well, it's a far tamer event than what popped into my head - six foot cross dressing Cher leaping out of a cake shouting, "Surprise!!! I'm a..." Obviously I need a vacation. Back to your question, on the surface it is a cute idea. First time parents are so excited they want to share, share, share. Hard to fault that sentiment. Go, have fun and be in the spirit of sharing the excitement.

Never heard of it until your post! Interesting. If it's done as part of a baby shower that's fine, but if it's a whole separate party--? To me that smacks of "another chance to get gifts, hooray!" I would attend either a shower OR this party but not both. I bet this got started somewhere as a simple theme for a baby shower and morphed into a separate event. I can definitely see announcing it with the cute cake idea to close family with hugs all around and that's all. But I cannot see an event with invitations going out to co-workers or friends as others describe. Sounds...trendy and kind of gift-grabbing when it's done that way.

If you are sure this couple will have a baby shower too, you could always say no to one or the other. There is no obligation to say yes to invitations.

Oh...and I hope folks go on more than ultrasounds for these parties. Imagine announcing "We're having a girl" and it's a boy that comes out. Yep, happened to friends of mine -- ultrasound tech said it was a girl, photos looked like a girl, and the birth was a TOTAL surprise. The mom hadn't done amnio -- which is the only way to be absolutely certain!

My daughter had one and it was a lot of fun. I guess they did it because the baby's paternal grandfather had cancer and they weren't sure if he'd make it to see the baby born. They were taking every opportunity to celebrate with him there. The ultrasound tech put the information in a sealed envelope so even the mom & dad were in the dark until the reveal moment. He got to be the one to find out first and he ordered the cake. It was just close family and we all had no problems bringing gifts. I've also seen it done with a big box that had pink or blue helium balloons in it that float up when the mom & dad open the box. I don't think this has any long standing traditions so go or don't go, gift or no gift...do whatever you want to do with a glad heart.

I have a friend who was expecting her 2nd baby....at the first baby's 3rd birthday they did the "reveal" with the color of the cake inside thing....birthday girl was the first to bite in to her cupcake of course. I thought it was a fun and cute way to announce, without making a big adoo about just the new baby, but while close family and friends were in attendance having a little fun.

I've never heard of them until my friend just went to one. I guess there was about 50 people. i don't know about the gift part, but i have mixed feelings on this. I think it's a cute idea and maybe do just parents and siblings - but when you have a huge to-do - you may look a little attention-grabbing. I think it depends on how it's done.

Again... it's a cute idea though.

I had never heard of them until I got an invitation to one to be held next week. As a certified nurse midwife (CNM) who has seen the 18 to 20 week ultrasound appointment be both a very joyful event and a very sad event (if the baby is found to have abnormalities), I'm a little uncomfortable with this much attention being drawn to the baby this early in the pregnancy. The sex of the baby is was always what I cared about the least when I had my ultrasounds.
The party I have been invited to attend is for a friend who is 36 and had 3 prior miscarriages last year. I'm thrilled everything seems fine so far, but there is still a lot of unknowns. Hopefully, all looks healthy at the ultrasound appointment next week, but what if concerns are discovered with the baby? Do you go ahead and have the party and pretend all is well or how do you handle the cancellation? I appreciate the question you posed and others thoughts listed in the following posts.

I'm with Angela on this one, unless it is a baby shower too (which adds a cute touch) then it seems a little self indulgent. Alexis! I thought the same exact thing at first! I was like what the heck? Hahahahahahaha.

These are suddenly all the rage around here -and I guess everywhere else too! I'm kind of like you -stuck between thinking it's a cute idea, and if the couple wants to do -why not, and also thinking it's a bit silly. I mean, babies are a HUGE deal, but I kind of feel like a baby shower should suffice, and the parents-to-be can find out and tell or not tell on their own time. I guess if others want to do them, then great, but I don't think I would have ever done one.

Shhhhhh! Don't let my SIL hear! She's had five million parties for herself in the last 2 years to celebrate everything about her (and make sure she receives lots of gifts) and if she hears about a Gender Reveal party I will be forced to attend with a gift in hand.

Funny. I just saw pictures posted about one on facebook last week for a friend's daughter. It was held at a church and they invited EVERYBODY. It all seemed a little over-the-top self indulgent to me as well. I mean, they aren't the only people having a kid. I think if I were invited to one, I'd probably be busy that day. But that's just me.

Never heard of one, don't think I'd go to one. Seems rather indulgent and over the top. I mean, other than the parents to be and some members of their immediate families, who cares?

annoying... Cute if it's just close family members and friends, but to actually invite over other guests and such... no.

Who has time for such events?

I prefer the way old fashioned way of waiting until the birth to find out.

I never heard of this but I think it is great! I celebrate 1/2 birthdays though too:).
I would bring a gift even if there was a shower planned at a later date.
Lastly, every baby is a huge deal so have all the celebrations you want! If someone doesn't like it they don't have to come.
Congratulations!!!

I've never been to one, but I would think it would be a combo gender reveal/baby shower. If it's not a combo, then yes I can see both your points - fun and yet... Also, if it's not a combo, I wouldn't think a gift would be expected, but as with any party, I would bring a hostess gift.

Now, on to read the other answers because I'm curious about the LMAO one and need a little laugh myself;)

I'm chuckling because I kinda feel the same way. I was recently invited to one (unable to attend), and the baby shower is coming up next week. The two events are only three months apart! I don't know their motives. Maybe they are just so excited about their baby that they want to do every little thing that's on the books. I'll show up where I can. It's not like they're asking me to raise the baby. I was more reserved in my pregnancy...felt like I was already getting too much attention with the belly. I shouldn't project those feelings onto them.

Considering so much can happen during a pregnancy, it would not be my choice to have one. It would be heartbreaking!

I almost lost my first pregnancy at 28, 30 and 32 weeks. I had a baby shower after the fact. And was very cautious during my second pregnancy.

Never heard of them.

We are always looking for new ways to party! First time I heard of this one..

We had one for my daughter. Only immediate family was invited and no gifts. We did a lunch so it was like a normal Sunday get together and was easier and more exciting then having a large group at the ultra sound and everybody feels included. We are a close family.

I live in South Africa and this "new type of party" hasn't started here yet.

I didn't want to know the birth of my first baby (although I privately felt quite sure he'd be a boy ... and he was) and we couldn't tell with the second (again, I really thought she'd be a girl ... and she was). :)

I do, however, agree that if there's any chance that an elderly or sick relative won't be around for the birth and you're CERTAIN you've got it right, having a "gender reveal party" for your family would be a nice thing to do.

I also think that it might be a fun thing to have a "reveal cake" as part of a baby shower, but I don't think a big, separate "to-do" is indicated.

I have never heard of this, but I find it really obnoxious. This is not event worthy of a party, in my opinion. Yes, it is very exciting for the parents-to-be, but not something where you need to invite all your friends and throw a party.

If they want the gender revealing to be a big deal, combine it with the baby shower.