Bridal Shower & Wedding Gift Guide

Basic Engagement Party Etiquette

Traditionally guests do not have to bring a gift to the engagement party. However with the growing trend of engagement parties, bringing a gift is becoming more common these days. So what should you do?

Traditional engagement party etiquette states that guests are not required to bring a gift to the engagement party so there is no need to feel any pressure to do so. Not only are you not required to, the bride and groom are not expecting you to. However if you want to bring a gift because you are particularly close to the couple or overcome with joy for the happy couple then of course you are able to. (No one’s going to turn down a gift!) If you choose to bring one take into consideration the setting and expectations of the bride and groom. The engagement party is not the event to give the couple a large item such as an espresso machine or other appliance.

If you want to bring a gift, consider bringing something for the home. Engagement party gifts should be moderate in price. This isn’t the occasion to buy a big item off the couple’s registry (that will come later with the bridal shower or actual wedding gift). Some gift ideas include vases or picture frames. If the engagement party is hosted at someone’s home perhaps a nice bottle of wine or champagne that can enjoyed at the party. So enjoy the festivities and share in the joy of your soon-to-be married friends!

Bridal Shower Guest Tips

• It’s always a safe bet to get the bride something from her wedding registry if she lists her registries on the shower invitation.

• If the shower is themed and you’re feeling a bit creative try to find a gift that goes along with the theme. For example if it’s a BBQ go along with the theme and give a set of grilling utensils. If it’s a cocktail party perhaps a nice set of bar glasses or a wine rack will do. If it's a color themed party, try to get the blushing bride-to-be a few knickknacks (a hair brush or hand held mirror) in that particular color!

• If you’re the type to plan ahead and already know what you want to give as a wedding gift, give a related shower gift. Example: If you’re giving the margarita maker on their registry why not give margarita glasses for a shower gift?

• If it’s a small and intimate gathering, feel free to make your gift more personal.

• Remember that this isn’t the big wedding gift. Depending on your relationship to the bride and your own budget decide how much you want to spend. Experts say that $25 is a good minimum to build on.

• What to Give: Traditional wedding gifts are centered on the home as the bride and groom start their lives together. This includes kitchen items, flatware, cutlery, glassware, appliances and decorative objects. Most couples register at various stores and department stores. By picking something off their registry you know they won’t be given multiple gifts of the same thing. It is usually listed on the wedding invitation, however if it is not, there are multiple websites that will search for wedding registries. If the couple does not have a registry, use this Wedding Gifts guide for unique gifts that the newlyweds will be sure to treasure.

• Giving Money instead of a Gift: Aside from the traditional registry, it has become more common for couples to request that charitable donations be made to a charity of their choice. Perhaps you are familiar with where they are going with on their honeymoon? Why not treat them to a gift certificate to your favorite restaurant there or a cute boutique? In addition, money is always a gift that will be appreciated. You can always include a personalized note; perhaps you want them to spend it on a romantic dinner on their honeymoon?

• When to Give: Do you have to bring the gift to the wedding? Can you mail it to them? When it comes to giving a wedding gift the traditional rule allows the wedding guest a year to give the newlyweds a gift. However it is best to keep it to a maximum of three months. Unless it is a common practice in your region, when it comes to actually giving the gift try to avoid bringing a gift to the reception, lots of things are going on and it’s only one more thing for someone to keep track of and transport after the reception. Sending wedding gifts directly to the Newelyweds is the best route to go, it is convenient for both the guest and the new couple.

• How much should you spend?: Depending on your own budget and relationship to the couple, decide how much you’re willing to spend. Many suggest that at least $50 should be spent on the wedding gift, however according to Etiquette Queen Emily Post there is no rule governing how much should be spent.

Foodie:

In addition to eating great food, foodies love to involve themselves in every aspect of food consumption such as growing herbs, cooking and handcrafting new recipes! Send the newlyweds on a culinary adventure with award winning All Clad cookware sets and Shun Steel knives (like the ones used on Bravo’s reality TV show Top Chef). If you want to get specific, the Japanese brand Global and German brand Wusthof produce what many critics hail as the “best” kitchen cutlery available. And even the most contemptuous cook will appreciate a new spice rack filled with exotic spices such as Himalayan pink salt, Cajun spice, and saffron. If the couple is more hands on, you could always gift them with the classic and fun Chia Herb Garden. Got a baker in the house? I’m sure they would appreciate a Kitchen Aid stand mixer—the absolute best out there! Kitchen Aid bakeware comes in a variety of colors (even Tiffany blue) to match any household. And to top off all the new culinary experiments and creations: a recipe box!

Crafty:

Crafty couples enjoy making things! So cultivate that habit by supplying the blushing bride and groom with a bounty of new art and hobby supplies like tempura paint, stickers, and crazy scissors. Get personal by getting them supplies specific to their interest. Antique furniture restorers may appreciate a bucket of white glossy paint for transforming old and weathered dressers or bed frames into a beautiful shabby chic work of art. Scrapbookers welcome all sorts of trinkets and knickknacks. Help them break out from their two-dimensional life into 3D with shadowbox kits! Shadowboxes are deep set wooden frames with a glass cover; perfect for combing sea shells, pictures, flowers and other non flat objects into a coherent “scene”. They can convey a memory much more powerfully than a page in scrapbook.

Sporty:

Eco Friendly:

Environmentally responsible couples take pride in living a sustainable, organic, and sometimes vegan lifestyle. It’s a thought process that permeates throughout all aspects of their life—so it makes sense that you put as much thought into their wedding gift. If the couple is big on gardening, they may enjoy a compost bin to reduce waste and create all-natural compost. Or if the couple loves cooking, they may appreciate a set of bamboo utensils and tableware. Bamboo is one the most versatile, sustainable products around. Used for food, clothing and shelter; bamboo can grow up to 4 feet each day! Don’t forget that eco friendly, organic cotton bedding collections can also be a great gift. An otherwise overlooked option; your eco friendly comforter and sheets will wrap the couple in luxury and give them peace of mind after a hard day of fighting for the environment.

Relative (brother, sister, cousin):

Coworker:

Long-time friend:

Acquaintance or guest:

Budget Friendly (and Creative) Wedding Gifts

• DIY Cheese and Wine basket: Throw together a bunch of the happy couple’s favorite wines and cheeses. We recommend pairing liver with fava beans and a nice chianti. This will be a great welcome back gift when the newlyweds return from their honeymoon!

• Digital Picture Frame: Here’s an idea—Wrap up a nice digital picture frame, then bring your digital camera and act as the impromptu wedding photographer. Capture the laughs, the tears, and the drunken relatives on camera. Then import the pictures on a digital SD memory card. Tape it to the inside of a blank greeting card with the words “Enjoy” written in it. Classic.

• Personal coupons: Got special talent? Offer to paint their portrait or compose a song for them.

• Personal iPod: Get an iPod Shuffle ($49) and fill it with a wedding mp3 playlist for your best buds!

• ?: Have fun with it! Whatever your preference, we're sure this bridal shower and wedding gift guide will help you out!