How the Event Date Works on BennyList
Your event date is the key to BennyList's surprise protection. Set it to your birthday, wedding, or shower date — purchases stay hidden until the day after, then automatically unlock so you can see who bought what.
How it works
The event date lifecycle
Set an event date when creating or editing your wishlist
When you create a wishlist or registry, there is an Event Date field. Enter the date of your birthday, wedding, shower, or holiday. You can also add or edit this date any time in your list settings.
Purchases stay hidden until the date passes
From the moment items are reserved, the buyer's identity is hidden from you. You can see how many items are reserved, but not who reserved them — this keeps the surprise intact.
The day after your event, purchases are revealed
After your event date passes, open your wishlist and click View Purchases. You will see each reserved item with the buyer's name and any message they left — perfect for writing thank-you notes.
No event date? Purchases stay hidden indefinitely
Without an event date, BennyList won't reveal purchases. If you want to see who bought what, add an event date in your list settings. Set it to today if you want to unlock immediately.
Quick Tips
Event date tips
Set your event date to the actual date of your birthday or celebration — not before.
You can change the event date any time in your list settings before it passes.
Gift-givers can see the event date on your list so they know when to shop by.
Purchases are revealed automatically — no manual trigger needed.
If you forgot to set a date, add one now and purchases unlock the following day.
For registries (wedding, baby), add the ceremony or shower date as the event date.
Event date FAQ
What does the event date do on BennyList?
The event date is the date of your birthday, wedding, shower, or other celebration. BennyList hides the identities of gift-givers until after this date — protecting the surprise. Once the date passes, you can open View Purchases to see who bought what.
How do I set an event date?
When creating a wishlist, fill in the Event Date field. If you already have a list, open it, click the Settings or Edit button, and add or update the event date.
What if I don't set an event date?
Without an event date, purchases are hidden indefinitely. BennyList needs a date to know when to unlock them. Add an event date in your list settings — set it to today if you want to see purchases right away.
Can I change the event date after setting it?
Yes. Open your list settings and update the event date any time before it passes. Changing the date to an earlier one will unlock purchases sooner; changing it to a later date will keep them hidden longer.
Can gift-givers see my event date?
Yes. The event date is visible on your public wishlist so gift-givers know when to shop by. It doesn't affect what they can see — it only controls what you can see.
What time on the event date do purchases unlock?
Purchases unlock after midnight on the day following your event date. If your event is on June 15, purchases are visible starting June 16.
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