Do you do anything special to prepare for a new doll's arrival?

I took pictures of Xavier looking out the window while he was waiting for the UPS truck to bring his wife, she actually came during the shoot! Then I took pictures of him opening her box, kissing her awake, laying next to her while her face up dried, and dressing her. When their son arrived they opened him together, dressed him, and put his wig on. They'll do the same with their daughter.

With Taffy he opened his twin brother and I was able to set up a few shots like he was doing Jareth's face himself.

 

That's so cute!

With mine, all I did was try to find a space in my room to sit them (which I ended up not liking when she actually got here). And I also tried to sew stuff for her, which is much harder to do for a doll you've never seen.

 

I have not received much dolls in the past but if, then I try to have everything done in my household.
I like to have everything clean to concentrate on my box-opening and the new doll. Most of the times I have one of my dolls with me to help me welcome the new arrival It is always so exciting to receive a new doll

 

I tidy up the house so it looks presentable. I do post box openings, so it's just more presentable to me if the house doesn't look like a total mess. I do try to get as much out of the way as possible with cleaning, but since there are days when they arrive rather late - aka, I've been at work and have only a limited time from when I get home to quickly make an hour walk to pick them up and then make the same hour long walk back home again, sometimes it's difficult to make sure the house is perfect.

If the character is important, I actually draw storyboards for their box opening, plotting any story I want and the shots I want to get. Sometimes I'm just too excited to do this or just haven't had the time though. Sometimes... when opening the box... I'm too excited to follow said storyboard and it all gets muddled.

Lastly, I always try to have at least their eyes and wig ready for them. I'm not so picky about clothing. I can pretty much make their clothing myself for the most part - except for pants.. I'm horrible at pants... but their eyes and wig... I want at least that much for when they arrive. And they're never far from the box, along with selected first outfit choices, for when the new comer needs them. I don't like looking around for things when I'm in the middle of opening my box :3

 

I like to make sure the incoming doll has a complete outfit ready, together with wig and eyes; I'll also go through all my face-up supplies and lay them out ready, as I prefer to get on with the new face-up straight away.

 

throw some scented candles down, turn on some Barry manilow....lol just kiddin I don't do much actually except for wait patiently.

 

I don't really take box opening photos because I'm so excited that I just open the box as quick as I can and also because I don't have a cat. I used to buy clothes, wigs and eyes for them before they got here, but that didn't always work out for me. Now, after they come, I try on the random eyes and wigs I already have (lots!) and only then do I decide if something needs to be bought. I've spent a shocking amount of money on eyes that don't fit eyewells and wigs that are too small, even though they are reported to be the correct size.

 

I've always wanted to do really awesome box opening photos and stories, but the reality is that tend to just explode the contents. Everything stays in tact, it just doesn't stay packed up very long. The only thing I seem to really do is to open with someone else around. With my first, it was my boyfriend as he picked her up from the P.O. for me. My second, I used a lot of bungies to attach to my bike, which made it barely mobile and unrideable, then walked the much shorter distance to my prof/boss's office. I got a ride home later from ze boyfriend, but it was much nicer opening him on the floor of her office than to risk the very slow very urban walk home with a gigantic box.

 

Greeting a new arrival at our home is a family affair. All of us to include our dolls take part. It's like bringing a new baby home, everyone is involved!

 

I never really prepared for an incoming doll before when i was collecting pullips and dals, but once i got into BJDs (tinies, pukifee and lati yellow)

I was SO excited, i started making bedrooms right away!
wall paper, flooring, window sills, and bought clothes, wigs, eyes, and furniture all before the arrival of the doll On flickr i kept photo updates of the housing progress and as the clothes and shoes and stuff arrived.
Its just a way to have fun while waiting FOREVER for new babies

 

Lolz. XD

I try to have a toy or accessory specifically for that doll. Mylo's going to be the first time I really need eyes for one.

 

We have a massive party- every doll friend we have comes over (about eight or nine people, not including ourselves) and bring their dolls... prior to that, I find a name for the doll, which can take ages and ages... If a doll doesn't have a name within three days of arriving, it can't stay and it has to find a new home, so the naming is a very, very important preparation o3o

 

I freak out three seconds after I get the exact day and time the doll arrives. I'll be dropping things and be a total disaster for the whole time until I take hold of the box.
Otherwise I have no preparation rituals or such. I like it, when the BJD is an ongoing project for the first few weeks he or she is here. Weeks of total BJD nakedness are quite normal for me

 

I would tidy up my room first make sure everything in order, since doll's box usually is big, takes space.
But one time my doll came when i was about to move out in couple days, so everything was messy.. many big boxes and things cluttered. So the doll had to wait for awhile until i managed to clear up some space. The messiness were still shown in the opening box pictures tho.

I didn't prepare the wig or eyes, since usually i ordered them with the doll, unless he got specific looks that the company didn't have.

 

Prior to their arrival, I keep myself happy and motivated by creating a new display space just for them. It's very important for me that they have a "home" ready...someplace specific where they belong, something perfect for their character. I spend a great deal of time on these elaborate displays for my dolls. I love the creativity of it, and it really helps me to bond with them before they even arrive. I also make sure I have a wig and eyes ready. This helps me with color and style decisions for their faceup. And finally, I won't open the box until everything at home is tidy and in it's place, and the house is quiet and serene so I can really take my time and enjoy meeting them for the first time.

 

I tidy and clean my room!! Haha i dont no why i guess its cause i want them to have a nice atmosphere haha i also make sure to have their clothes and stuff ordered so when they arrive I am prepared ^__^

 

I don't take box opening photos at all. It is just something I like to do by myself. I don't clean up the house or anything but I always have to wash my hands. That's about it, heh.

 

I have realized as of late that it is very, VERY important to me to have at least a starter outfit and one wig available for my new doll. I thought I was doing it for Rai simply because he was my first doll and I was just buying stuff out of excitement. But, while that is also true, it is, apparently, VERY IMPORTANT they become their character, or as close to it as I can get, first thing out of the box. I think I have this fear of not bonding with my doll since I'm so new to this hobby. So, anything that can help the bonding process is appreciated.

So, I have to have wig, eyes, a starter outfit. Then, day of, I have to clean first, make sure me and my cats are fed, and then shower so I don't feel like I'm getting grossness all over my new purchase. And then I open. I'll probably record all of them, but them being as complete as possible is what matters most. XD

 

Not much to prepare, no... I just need to ensure that he'll have a place to sit when he gets here! And sometimes even that ends up being an after-the-fact scramble for space. : (The Harem is getting rawther full.)

I don't often do box-opening shows anymore, unless the package was really knockout or otherwise amuses me. But after a doll's arrival, I do have habits (dare I call them rituals?) for integrating the new boy. If he's a fullset, first he always gets at least one "as is" Full Monty photoshoot with all of his default gear on-- to show who arrived. Then the default clothes come off & he gets a nude photoshoot (or two ^^)-- to show what he looks like underneath all the concept stuff. Then, there's usually a bunch of wig-and-eye trial photoshoots & different-new-outfit photoshoots-- to show who he might become. I also enjoy hearing feedback from a random audience while I experiment & brainstorm, so there's often several of those photoshoots.

If I had control over when the doll would arrive, it'd always be on a Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend, so that I'd immediately have 3 days to play with him & start getting to know him. :> All of this experimenting takes time, and I've got this stupid day-job...!