How to Throw a White Elephant Gift Exchange

How to Throw a White Elephant Gift Exchange

Step 1:
Send out party invitations to all of the people on your guest list. Specify that everyone should bring a wrapped gift to the party for a white elephant gift exchange, and include any additional rules for the exchange, say a price limit or a stipulation that all gifts must be used items.

Step 2:
As guests arrive, have them deposit their gift on a table.

Step 3:
Then, pass around a hat with numbered pieces of paper (one number for each gift), and have each guest draw a number.

Step 4:
The person who draws "1" gets first pick from the pile, and opens her gift for everyone to see.

Step 5:
Then it's the turn of the person who drew "2." He can choose to steal the first person's gift or pick another gift from the pile, and open it. If the second person chooses to steal the first persons gift, the first person gets to choose another gift from the pile.

Step 6:
The person who drew "3" goes next, and must choose between stealing one of the first two gifts or choosing a new gift from the pile.

Step 7:
The game continues in this manner until everyone has a gift.

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