{"id":11643,"date":"2019-10-01T08:00:15","date_gmt":"2019-10-01T12:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=11643"},"modified":"2023-02-21T12:07:58","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T17:07:58","slug":"4-ways-to-draw-names-from-a-virtual-hat-elf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/01\/4-ways-to-draw-names-from-a-virtual-hat-elf\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways to Draw Names from a Virtual Hat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"629\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shutterstock_731263756.jpg\" alt=\"When you draw names from a virtual hat, everything is easier and more fun.\" class=\"wp-image-11645\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shutterstock_731263756.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shutterstock_731263756-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shutterstock_731263756-768x483.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shutterstock_731263756-429x270.jpg 429w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A few years ago, my wife and I hosted a tree trimming party. We had never done one before, so we looked up <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"\/blog\/2018\/11\/26\/how-to-host-tree-trimming-party\/\" target=\"_blank\">how to make our tree trimming party fun and memorable<\/a>. Our guests were excited because we were one of the few in our circle of friends who had a real tree. So, perhaps carried away by the scent of pine (okay, and the egg nog), we expanded the party by adding a Secret Santa gift exchange.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What happened next could only be described as \u201ca pointless flurry of hats.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let me explain: we decided to put names in hats to match everyone up. Several people wrote down names on different pieces of paper, leading to duplicates and misses. After a few false starts, we decided it would be easier to draw names from a virtual hat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the right virtual name drawer means more than matching givers and giftees. The right Secret Santa sets you up for a successful party. It facilitates giving. It facilitates fun. It keeps the pine-scented memories peaking throughout the whole season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 4 Best Ways to Draw Names From a Virtual Hat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First off, we have nothing against real hats. But they aren\u2019t always practical, and they limit your drawing to people who are physically present. If you want to draw-by-proxy, you have to find someone to keep track of things, ruining some of the surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you don\u2019t care about surprises\u2014some people don\u2019t, we understand\u2014it\u2019s just a pain to keep everything in line. Maybe you think your holiday could use some more pressure, but we sure don\u2019t!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, using a virtual hat helps you expand the circle, simplifies things for everyone, and promises a surprise for all players. But while using a virtual hat is super easy, not all of them do exactly what you need. Here are some of the best ways to draw names from a virtual hat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Random Name Generator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A random name generator is an easy way to get your Secret Santa going. Basically, you go to a site (most of them are free) and enter your name and the names of the people with whom you\u2019ll be playing. Some of them make it simple to set up groups, others are challenging.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros.<\/strong> Free and easy, and it\u2019s impossible to draw your own name. Some of the better generators can set it up for a group to play without requiring one person to organize it all.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons.<\/strong> It\u2019s just an algorithm on a no-frills site. That\u2019s fine for what it is, but it doesn\u2019t capture the spirit of the season. Also, of all the ones we looked at, very few could do exclusions, and the ones that did were limited to \u201cdon\u2019t draw who you drew last year.\u201d That means everyone in your group is in the same draw.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. A True Virtual Hat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are simpler algorithms that mimic a hat almost exactly. You put in a bunch of names with the emails of your participants and the algorithm shoots them an email with the name that was picked. It\u2019s 100% random.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros. <\/strong>This is truly random, which means every group could have every conceivable combination. It doesn\u2019t get much easier than that.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons. <\/strong>Well, for starters, you can potentially draw your own name. Also, it\u2019s not the best way to start a Secret Santa, especially because you don\u2019t have immediate access to a person\u2019s wish list. There would have to be a shared document where everyone puts their ideas. It\u2019s a bit of a hassle, especially for the person in charge.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Wheel of Names<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a lot of Wheel of Name type things on the internet. You put in everyone\u2019s name, hit spin, and it whiz-click-slows down to one name. Whoever hits \u201cSpin\u201d gets the name on which the fateful wheel stops.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros.<\/strong> It\u2019s fun! Look at the wheel spin. There\u2019s a lot of suspense in a goofy sort of way. And if you enter new names every time someone draws, you can essentially set up exclusion lists (i.e. when it\u2019s Jill\u2019s turn don\u2019t put her wife on the wheel).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons.<\/strong> But the thrill is only for one person. Someone has to set it up so that not everyone sees what is happening. There isn\u2019t a shareable way to do this for groups. And if it\u2019s just one person having fun, what\u2019s the point? And, needless to say, there\u2019s no way to create or share wish lists.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. A True Secret Santa Generator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are virtual hats that facilitate every part of your gift exchange. These are designed specifically with Secret Santa gift exchanges in mind. Or, more to the point, they are designed to make <em>your<\/em> Secret Santa go perfectly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But they aren\u2019t all created equally. Here are a few things you should look for in a virtual hat:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Is there a well-functioning <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/secret-santa-name-picker\/\" target=\"_blank\">name draw generator<\/a>?<\/strong> That is, can you generate exclusion lists easily? Will it automatically remove the possibility of reciprocal matching? Can you organize your groups in a simple, intuitive way?&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Does it need a boss?<\/strong> A good name generator makes the picking anonymous for everyone. No one has to keep track of things because the system does it all for you. Everyone is on equal footing when it comes to being surprised.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Does it help you get started?<\/strong> Not everyone knows <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/secret-santa-rules\/\" target=\"_blank\">how to play Secret Santa<\/a>. But the best ones make it easy with <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"\/blog\/2015\/10\/31\/lets-get-gifting-helpful-tips-to-get-started-with-your-secret-santa-gift-exchange\/\" target=\"_blank\">guides on how to get going<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Does it fit with your life? <\/strong>Not everyone is tied to a laptop. The best virtual Secret Santa exchanges let you use a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">draw names app<\/a> so you can play on the go.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Does it set your Secret Santa up for success? <\/strong>Sure, you have names, but do you have wish lists? Do you have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/shop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">gift guides<\/a>? Can you update your list if you think of something later? Can you ask anonymous questions? Do you have everything you need to make Secret Santa easy and fun for everyone?&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve found a virtual hat that checks all these boxes, then congratulations! Your Secret Santa gift exchange is going to be that much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting Your Virtual Name Draw Right<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Virtual name draws help you bring your Secret Santa party to loved ones around the world. But to do it truly right, you have to make sure you have a few things:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Secrecy for everyone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The ability to set exclusion lists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No reciprocal matching<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anonymous communication&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gift guides<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shareable wish lists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>FUN!&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The whole point is to have fun. That\u2019s why we made our tree-trimming party into a Secret Santa. If you use the right system, you can make drawing names something special. The hat may be virtual, but the fun it generates and the memories you create are real and lasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"cta-box\"><strong><em>The <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/\"><strong><em>Elfster<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> virtual hat helps you draw names and so much more. Our online <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/secret-santa-generator\/\"><strong><em>Secret Santa generator<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> makes your Secret Santa even easier, and you can <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/auth\/register\/\"><strong><em>start a Wish List<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> to get and give the best gifts. Don\u2019t forget that you can play on the go with our <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/elfster-secret-santa-generator\/id751594890\"><strong><em>iPhone app<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> or <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.elfster.elfdroid\"><strong><em>Android app<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>.&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">A few years ago, my wife and I hosted a tree trimming party. We had never done one before, so we looked up how to make our tree trimming party fun and memorable. Our guests <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/01\/4-ways-to-draw-names-from-a-virtual-hat-elf\/\" title=\"4 Ways to Draw Names from a Virtual Hat\">[read more]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2745,"featured_media":11645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[534],"tags":[546,545,474],"class_list":{"0":"post-11643","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gift-exchanges","8":"tag-draw-names-from-a-hat","9":"tag-virtual-name-draw","10":"tag-virtual-wishlist"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>4 Ways to Draw Names from a Virtual Hat - 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