Bridal Shower Gifts
 

James' thread on wedding gifts gave me the idea for this. What do you consider a good shower gift, for a close friend or not so close friend?

The last wedding shower I went to was one that my fiance's mother told me about the day before! I didn't know anybody there (including the bride!), but I felt funny not bringing a gift.

So, I gave them gift certificate to Red Lobster. I did know that they enjoyed seafood, and thought, "every bride (and groom!) needs one night when they don't have to cook!" Since I didn't know them, it was for $30 - enough for a nice dinner for both of them.

Is there something special that you like to give, or would want to receive?

My friend was getting married in Toronto (where her fiance's family is from) and they were going to be moving there.

For her shower, I got her a few books about Toronto, including a city map and a Zagat's Restaurant Guide. I know it seems a little out-of-place for a bridal shower, but she told me they made her feel so much more ready for such a big move and life-change-- and they were the "little" things that mattered most to make her feel less lost!

I mentioned my engagement party idea in James' wedding thread-- but here it is again-- take a basket and add some ribbon and raffia with some fun items for a Newlywed's Date Night-- wine, a blockbuster gift card, some snacks like popcorn, etc.-- they'll be pooped from wedding planning and parties and it's good to have a night in to relax and cuddle :)

I also think lingerie is a great gift for a girls'-only shower-- whoo hoo for the honeymoon!

I've always given gifts from the couple's registry at showers as well as for the wedding. Most people I know have registered for fun, inexpensive stuff at places like Crate & Barrel, so it's easy to get something there.

Re: Bridal Shower Gifts
 

If you're a not so close friend, you shouldn't even be at the shower. :p This is something that drives me nuts - showers that are almost as big and elaborate as the wedding. IMO, they should be for bridesmaids, CLOSE friends and close family only.

Re: Re: Bridal Shower Gifts
 

A friend of mine was planning a shower for her big sister, and was going to ask me to the shower, fully knowing that I wasn't going to be invited to the wedding (she was having about 40 people at a club). I told her that I would be insulted beyond belief if I received an invitation to a shower, but not the wedding!

Re: Re: Bridal Shower Gifts
 

One of my co-workers just had her shower....SEVENTY FIVE women at it, in a community room at the rec center. I was shocked beyond belief (not counting the "bride and groom are combining homes, so housegoods are not necessary" insert in the invite :eek: ").

I was a fan of anything on my registery, or gift certificates. Getting married and having a baby taught me there is no gift better than a gift certificate-then you get the opportunity to prioritize and get what you REALLY need.

If I don't do gift certificates and I'm short on cash, I usually make a gift basket. For a "honeymoon" themed shower, I bought the basket, a bottle of wine, two wine glasses, a massage book, an aromatherapy candle, and massage oil. It was cute, and the bride loved it. I've also done specfic kitchen themes (French cooking, Italian, wine, etc.).

I never go to a wedding shower...... we dont have that in our culture we do have engagement parties which is close families only. and the gifts are usually gold and money and a big dinner reception.

That's what I do too. Kohl's is a popular place for people to register around here, and they ALWAYS have good sales, so that's a good place to get things. Target too. And if all else fails I get them a gift card from one of the places where they registered.

I love that idea!!! One of my sorority sisters is getting married at the end of October and I think her shower is coming up (invite hasn't arrived, but I know I'm invited considering one of our other sisters called for my address....;) ). I think I might do that for her. It'd be a nice "get-away", I guess you could say!

I really like that date package idea.

When I was a bridesmaid, I got her a whole bunch of stuff from their registry, but I split it with my boyfriend because he was a groomsman. We got a shower massager for her (she was very stressed), a barbeque set for him, and fondue plates for both (since we knew the other couple in the wedding had gotten them a fondue set). I know some people think you should spend a ton of money if it's a close friend, but we were both broke from renting tuxes, buying dresses, shoes, and we were both still in college. And I dropped a lot of money paying for the shower itself.

I'm going to a wedding in a few weeks for an old high school friend. I have no idea who her husband-to-be is, so I kinda got something that was more for her. She had a foot spa on her registry, and since she has a 15-month old to run after, I figured she needed to relax! She loved it.

I realized I give a lot of "relaxing" gifts. Hmmm...

I really like the gift certificates idea, all the "little things" and money, definately.

Re: Re: Bridal Shower Gifts
 

Heh. So true. I went to a bridal shower where the bride-to-be openly admitted she didn't know most of the people there (about 100+).

ETA: Oh, and I try to buy off the registry for the bridal shower, and then give money at the wedding. If I'm not invited to the bridal shower (which, btw, I'm okay with) then I'll usually buy a gift for the wedding.

I threw my best friend a bridal shower before her wedding. She only wanted one party so we had a mix of young friends & older married women. It was interesting to see the sexy lingerie right next to the potato peeler.
Older married women gave her things she needed. The younger set gave her things he would enjoy! :)

My bridal shower that was in my husband's hometown was an "Open" shower. People were sent invitations but there were also notices in the local newspapers so pretty much anyone could come. This is the tradition in his hometown so I went with it even though I knew only about 10 people there.

I like to try and give something personal if I know the bride really well--like something I know she really wants off her registry or something that she didn't register for but I know she'd like and use. Similar to the "date" package, for Christmas one year my B/SIL gave my husband and I margarita mix, margarita glasses, salsa and the Newlywed game. It was a fun present even though we have yet to play the game!

If I don't know the bride as well, then I'll try and pick something off the registry or give them a gift card.