Bridal Shower Gift Etiquette

Bridal shower gift etiquette

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A bridal shower is a way to celebrate the bride, and for family members, friends, and loved ones to mingle and connect before the main event. During the party bridal shower gifts are given to the bride-to-be either to enhance her new home.

When it comes to bridal showers and gifts, people have a lot of questions about bridal shower gift etiquette, questions like do I buy a bridal shower gift and wedding gift to appropriate bridal shower gift amount and more. Read on to get answers to these questions and other bridal shower gift etiquette related questions.

1. Do I bring a gift to the bridal shower?

Yes, it’s customary to bring a gift along to the bridal shower. The bridal shower gift is to help enhance the bride-to-be’s new home.

2. Do I have to buy a bridal shower gift and a wedding gift?

Yes, if you have been invited to both the bridal shower and the wedding, the proper wedding gift etiquette is to bring gifts to both parties. Usually the bridal shower gift is smaller in value to the wedding gift.

You can split your budget between the bridal shower gift and wedding gift, making sure the budget for the bridal shower is smaller than the wedding budget.

In a case where you have also been invited to the engagement party as well as the bridal shower and wedding, you can split your gift budget between the bridal shower, engagement party and the wedding using the 20-20-60 rule with one-fifth of the gift budget going towards bridal shower gift another one-fifth towards the engagement party gift and the remaining money going towards wedding gift.

 3. How much should I spend on a bridal shower gift?

Bridal shower gifts are always less expensive than the wedding gift. If you are using the 20-20-60 rule then one-fifth of the wedding present budget should go towards the bridal shower.

In a case where the couple won’t be having an engagement party, one-third of the wedding gift budget should go to towards the bridal shower present. Usually bridal shower gifts usually cost between $25-75 depending on what you can afford.

4. What bridal shower gift can I buy?

When getting a gift for the bridal shower you have to consider the type of shower you are attending. Is the shower a themed shower? Is there a gift registry?

If you are attending a themed bridal shower (it would be indicated in the bridal shower invitation if it’s a themed bridal shower) then you should try to buy a gift that fits with the theme.

If the bride also has a bridal/wedding registry, you can check the registry and use the registry when purchasing gifts for the bridal shower.

5. Should I bring the bridal shower gift with me to the shower or send it via the registry?

Due to the fact that the bride opens the bridal shower gifts during the shower, you should take your gifts along with you to the bridal shower. If you are unable to bring your gift along to the wedding shower due to the fact that you sent the bridal shower gift to the bride already or if the wedding shower gift would be arriving after the shower, you should come to the shower with a card making her know this.

6. Can I give cash as a bridal shower gift?

Cash gifts are acceptable as wedding gifts but not as bridal shower gifts. If you don’t have an idea of the gift to give at the bridal shower you can look through the bridal/wedding registry and select one of the gifts.

7. Should I send a gift if I can’t attend the bridal shower?

If you have been invited to the bridal shower but won’t be able to attend the bridal shower you should send a gift to the bride-to-be. If you are unable to send a gift due to financial reasons or any other reason, you should send a handwritten congratulatory note to the bride-to-be on her upcoming wedding.

8. As the bridal shower hostess(es), am I required to bring a bridal shower gift?

Every one attending the bridal shower is expected to bring a bridal shower gift for the bride. Usually all the shower hostesses pool money together and get a large gift off the registry. If you’re hosting the wedding shower alone you can get a small gift you are sure the bride would appreciate.


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