Collect Money to Host a White Elephant Gift Exchange

A white elephant party is an easy and versatile party game. It lets close friends be silly and share inside jokes, and it’s the perfect icebreaker for people who don’t know each other well. Keep it light and remember the point is to share some laughs and enjoy the company.

Know the Basics

Here’s how it works. Everyone brings one wrapped gift and draws a number. Guest number one selects a gift and unwraps it. Guest number two can either steal guest number one’s gift or take an unwrapped gift from the table. It continues until everyone has chosen a gift. At the end, guest number one gets to choose from all of the opened gifts.

Set the Rules

Tailor the game to your group with variations on cost and kind of item. You might set a spending limit of $15-$20, or choose one specific place where gifts must be purchased, like a dollar store. Many people host a recycled or re-gifted exchange where guests pass on a new gift they can’t use or a perfectly good item that’s sitting unused at home. Set a theme, like crazy beauty products or silly kitchen gadgets.

Limit the Participants

A white elephant exchange works best with six to 20 people. Any fewer, and there’s little trading going on. Any more, and the game tends to go on too long. If there’s a large group, ask people to RSVP on PayIt2 to participate in the exchange, and specify a set number of participants. Take a contribution of cash from each person, and draw a number from a hat at the end of the game. The winner gets the "entry fees" in addition to her white elephant gift.

Get Prepped

Write out numbers on slips of paper. You should have the same number as those who have RSVP’d on PayIt2. It doesn’t hurt to have a few extra gifts on hand in case a couple brought only one gift or if someone completely forgot to bring something. You should also buy a few spare gift bags for those who didn’t have time to wrap. Gather enough chairs for people to sit comfortably to participate in the game.

Set the Menu

Highlight the white elephant theme at your holiday gathering with some simple menu options and decor choices. Put elephant shaped ice cubes in drinks. Bake elephant cookies. If there are little ones coming, see if you can pick up some trunk or elephant masks for them to wear and enjoy the fun.

So get the invitations ready and start taking RSVPs on your PayIt2 page. Get started now or schedule a demo to learn more about how PayIt2 can work for you