To organize a Secret Santa, agree on a budget and a date, collect the names of everyone taking part, and draw names so each person secretly gets one person to buy for. Block pairs that shouldn't match, like couples, and ask everyone for a wishlist. GiftMyCrew handles the draw and the wishlists with one link.
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Choose when gifts will be exchanged and a spending limit everyone is comfortable with. Decide both before anyone draws a name.
Ask people to opt in rather than assuming. It's easier to handle a no now than a dropout later.
Settle anything that tends to cause friction, such as whether gift receipts are expected and when names will be revealed.
Use a hat if everyone's together, or an online draw if they aren't. Make sure nobody draws themselves and couples don't draw each other.
Ask everyone to list a few ideas with sizes and links. It saves guesswork, especially when people barely know each other.
Swap gifts on the day, in person or by post, and decide whether Santas stay secret or reveal themselves.
Every group sets its own, but most come down to a few basics that keep the exchange fair and fun.
Draw early enough that people have time to shop and, if needed, ship a gift. For most groups a few weeks ahead of the exchange works well; for relatives in other places, allow more. Fix the date before the draw, too, so nobody draws a name for an exchange they can't attend.
Drawing online means you don't need everyone together to do it. People can reveal their match whenever they next check their phone.
Start with the wishlist. It exists so nobody has to guess, and buying from it is never a cop-out. If an idea is vague, like "something for the garden", use the notes for clues and pick something at the budget, not far below it.
Without a list, go for something small and useful the person would enjoy but might not buy for themselves: a good version of an everyday thing, a treat they've mentioned, or something tied to a hobby. Add a gift receipt in case you miss.
No. In Secret Santa, each person is randomly assigned one person to give a gift to. In a white elephant exchange, also called a Yankee swap or Dirty Santa, everyone brings one wrapped gift to a shared pile. Players then take turns to unwrap a new gift or steal one that's already been opened.
White elephant needs no draw at all, just an order of turns, so it's best done in person. GiftMyCrew runs Secret Santa draws and wishlists, not white elephant games.
The idea travels under several names. It's often called Kris Kringle in Australia, Canada and the Philippines, usually alongside Secret Santa, and Kris Kindle in Ireland. However it's named, the draw works the same way.
No. Some groups keep the giver secret for good, and others reveal everyone at the exchange. Agree which before you start so nobody gives the game away.
You can, but it won't stay secret. With three people, whoever you draw has to have drawn the third person, so everyone can work out the whole draw. It works better with four or more.
Talk to them privately first; it's usually a timing problem rather than a snub. Some organizers keep a spare gift within the budget so nobody leaves empty-handed.
Ready when you are. It takes about a minute.
Want to see the result first? See a finished example exchange and wishlist, or browse all guides.