Birthday party order question

Our Lil' Family wrote: Do you do cake then presents or presents then cake?

I was thinking presents then cake, just because if Thomas gets messy I don't want to have to stop the party to clean him up and get him dressed again. But it seems most people do cake then presents.

How do you do it?

Nina J replied: We do presents, then cake. That way, no one is eager to see what the presents are so they don't rush through the cake

~~*Missi*~~ replied: we did presents then cake for that reason messy LOL
i had finger foods out at all times for people to snack on and then we did the dinner and then cake. after that sabrina was so in need of a bath glad we did! She had cake in every hole crack

MommyToAshley replied: I think we did presents adn then cake because we also served lunch. We wanted to give everyone a little break between lunch and the cake & ice cream.

luvmykids replied: This year we did pizza parties all around, ate the pizza, did presents, then cake for all the reasons everyone else listed.

C&K*s Mommie replied: If I remember correctly all I have known was cake then presents, oppisite of everyone here. I am trying to remember but we always sing the birthday song, blow out the candles, eat the cake, then open presents, then let the kids have their fun with the presents. I do believe for us presents were always the very last thing before the thank yous, and playing/going home.

holley79 replied: We have always done presents then cake.

ediep replied: I think we did cake then presents, so people could eat their cake while watching the presents...although I have been to tons of parties where they do the presents after everyone goes home.

coasterqueen replied: We always do cake then presents. That way people can eat cake while watching her open her presents.

booey2 replied: I think we normally do presents then cake both because of the mess and because around here for our family parties usually once the cake and coffee is done most of my family will leave the party. Many because they live out of town and don't want to be getting home too late (most live about 1 hour or more away). It also lets the birthday boy or girl focus on the presents and if they chose not eat the cake (my boys don't normally eat their piece) they can still be a part of the party and play with some of their gifts while the rest of the party eats their cake.

kayla's mama replied: We have always done presents before cake. Our family is know for eating and running so that way we make them stay longer

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: We didn't open presents at Wil's first birthday, only because the kiddos are so small and they just don't get it. So we had lunch and then cake. But I would have done presents before cake or both at the same time (because people get bored with presents...cake is something to do while watching, kwim?).

Our Lil' Family replied: Ok, so what about this:
Thomas (and I of course) open presents while the guests watch and eat cake. Then once he's done he can dig in to his cake.

Would that kinda rush things or do you like that idea?

Our Lil' Family replied: