Invitation wording for a housewarming party?

My husband & I are throwing a housewarming party & I'm having difficulty w/the word play. I know what I want it to say but I'm not sure how to make it flow. I bought blank invitations.We know that our families will bring gifts but their taste is very different from our own. To avoid any awkward moments w/disliked gifts- we've decided to throw a themed party. I want to have a "stock the kitchen" party where guests can bring cookware, bakeware, tuberware, silverware..etc & then a favorite recipe along w/their gift. I'm not sure if "stock the kitchen" is the best wording because I don't want anyone to mistake it for groceries. Also I want to include this short rhyme in the invitation:With a roof over our headAnd floors under our feetThe move to our new homeIs finally completeAny suggestions on a better "theme" title & tips on how to make this all flow? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

You could always do something fun.On the front of the invitation, you could haveBurning down the house.On the inside.Well, not really but we are trying to warm it up some, so we need something cooking in the kitchen.To keep this home warm and friendly and me cooking we request the following things, tupperwear, bake dishes, crock pot and etc.

Your poem is cute and appropriate. Maybe the theme could be "Kitchen Gear" rather than 'stock,' which could imply canned goods! In order that you have the opportunity to get what you want, ask for gift certificates to a Crate & Barrel or Sears. Tupperware gift certificates can be found online. Then you don't risk having to return gifts. Don't include this info in the invitations unless they are going to be very informal and you know all of the guests very well. But you can pass the word discretely amongst friends and family.I have enjoyed receiving house plants and bottles of wine during housewarming parties. No matter what you ask for, lots of people just wing-it and bring whatever they want, but usually it's useful. When you write your thank you notes, just mention that the certificate was used towards a ------- and you absolutely love it! Everyone will be glad they contributed.

(Front of Card) Title: Now that the boxes are unpacked, it's time to cook up a feast. / A spoonful of love (Details in the Card) Invitation:Help ____ & _____ cook up a feast as they celebrate their new house.orJoin ____ & ____ as they celebrate a new chapter in their new house in a "Stock the Kitchen" themed party.[DATE] [ADDRESS][RSVP info](Back of Card) With a roof over our headAnd floors under our feetThe move to our new homeIs finally completeDesign: If you put cooking equipment around the card, I'm sure your family will not mistaken it for a groceries party. Maybe for the front of the card you could put a giant oven or pot or bread-maker....

First and foremost, etiquette rules state that you should NEVER under any circumstances mention GIFTS of any kind in an invitation.Your poem is great, but in lieu of asking for kitchen items, perhaps you could just request a family / favorite recipe (if you REALLY want them and it wasn't just a way to make your trolling for kitchen items more "acceptable".) BTW, when my brother in law and his wife got married they put stupid things on the registry which they could have purchased for the kitchen and it was just a big joke - a wooden spoon, spatulas, etc. Are you kidding me? If you can buy it yourself, don't ask for it as a gift.Most people will bring you a housewarming gift, but they are not required. It is not YOUR place to tell people what to give you. If your family and friends know you well, they will already know that you like white wine, or gardening or ________________.I found a few good websites that might help. Happy New Home!