No gifts for birthday party

[legal girl]

Sorry if I haven't put this in the right section, but I'm new to this! I'm having a 30th birthday party and I don't want to be ungrateful, but I don't want to receive presents from people I don't see too often, because I don't want to be inundated with presents I don't really want/need that will then sit in a cupboard for years. I was going to put something on the invites like "No presents please, your presence will be a gift in itself"; do you think this would be ok?

[Veggibear]

This would not offend me, but you WILL offend some people. The best thing to do with unwanted gifts is give them to charity shops.

[legal girl]

Thanks for your answer. I figure some people will ignore it anyway. Will probably give my parents some sort of list in case anyone feels strongly they want to give a gift.

[yinyang]

My grandparents decided on no gifts for their last anniversary because after 60 years they figured they have everything they need. So they chose a charity and put in the invitations that in place of gifts a collection box would be available on the night for people to make a donation.

Close family still gave them small gifts as well as the donation but they raised quite a bit and felt this was more worthwlie than , like you said, cupboards full of stuff they don't need.

[Binky]

I have received a number of invitations in the past that have had a similar wording and it is actually a relief! You could add something like "just bring a bottle and yourselves".

[Marguerite02]

My Dad is having a big 60th birthday party and we've invited loads of old friends and he put on the invite 'no presents please, just your company required' and i thought that was really nice. takes the pressure off!
Happy Birthday!

[Hellion]

If people really want to buy something - what about Oxfam Unwrapped where they can buy things like 100 school dinners for kids in Africa, a teachers kit, a water pump or even a toilet!