<p>I’ll be the lone voice in favor of Graduation Announcements. I like them (both getting and sending.) We have a large family. I’m still close with many of my cousins who live here and there. I don’t interpret an announcement as an expectation for a gift. I see nothing wrong with sending an announcment to an aunt in a different city or my old college friends who’ve followed my children’s lives. In many, we enclosed a picture and noted at the bottom “onward to xyz university.” These close relations are excited for my d. We have zero expectation of being lavished with gifts. It’s a milestone in her life. I sent out maybe 25 of them.</p>
<p>I concur that registering at BBB is tacky. If you get some $ – sweet. you can buy what you need before you leave.</p>
<p>If folks want to ask you about what you need, you or your folks can give them some suggestions. Most folks are aware of the issues of having to pack, avoiding duplicates, return policies of the stores and consider these in choosing gifts.</p>
<p>kollegkid…agreed, practical gifts are nice. If the folks you are inviting to your graduation are GOOD friends, they will know this. You will get things like gift cards to Target and BB and B. You don’t need to ‘register’ for high school graduation gifts.</p>
<p>And just for the record…you won’t die without a microwave or paring knife in college. My kids had neither…and both survived.</p>
<p>Oh, I’ve got no problems with the announcements themselves. I like both getting and sending them. But except for immediate family and very close friends, graduations are not to my mind an obligatory gift occasion the way weddings are. Which is why a registry seems way over the top. Announcements yes, gift registry no.</p>
<p>Beyond extra long sheets, what do you possibly need in a dorm room that you don’t already have? It’s NOT an apartment. You don’t need paring knives and pasta cookers. You need your personal clothing, toiletries, towels and these days a computer. Sorry, you’re not “setting up an independent life.”. You’re moving to a dorm room.</p>
<p>coureur - I agree with your sentiments. I’d never heard of a graduation gift registry and think it’s totally inappropriate.</p>
<p>(A few others had posted on this thread that they thought Grad Announcements were brazen notices requiring gifts.) An announcement is just an announcement. Graduating from High School is a very happy life event. </p>
<p>The op had subsequently posted: “I do not intend to send announcements now that I have read about how much people dislike them.” </p>
<p>I just wanted to contribute that many people like them. Especially for close family and friends. I didn’t want the OP to feel he/she shouldn’t send out announcments. It’s a personal thing, but done in proportion to the event, to people who care … is NICE.</p>
<p>Although OP has already decided…another vote for “tacky” to include registry info. with the invitation.</p>
<p>It seems that there are parts of the country where graduation parties are a big deal, and …in some parts of the country…when you go to a party, you bring a gift. </p>
<p>So, I’m not so opposed to the registry. There are people who are absolutely tortured by having to pick out a gift. Gift cards are really the best option for these people, but some of them don’t like to give a gift card…they want to give a tangible item.</p>
<p>Whoever heard of such a thing? Registering for grad gifts? Yes, registration info in an invite is the worst! A guy at my husband’s office invited us to a party (shower, I guess) with the BBB registration info on a little slip of paper. I couldn’t believe it.</p>
Amen. And in most dorm rooms, the most valuable thing is space!</p>
<p>
I concur with doame, Tiredofsnow, and coureur on this. Graduation is a milestone, and announcements are a nice way to share your joy with the people who’ve seen you grow up. Some folks have surprised me by letting it be known that they would be very happy to receive an announcement from my son… and one or two (I’m told) would actually be hurt if they didn’t receive one.</p>
<p>I too am one who likes receiving announcements. We sent them out for our D, about 30 to family and friends who have kept up with her growing up. We included a picture of her in her chosen college’s t-shirt to let everyone know where she will be off to in the fall. Did we do it in expectation of gifts? A resounding NO! I do however anticipate cards from several wishing her well…</p>
<p>I agree with the “No” on including a registry with the announcement. Though I do know someone who registered for college stuff I think it was for ease of letting a lot of family know who asked what to get. Not my D’s kind of thing though!</p>