What do I get? The invitation usually clues guests in as to what to give on the day of the bridal shower. It's not necessary to be discrete here. If you're throwing a themed party – an Around the House party, Linen and Lingerie party, Co-ed party, Stock the Bar party – the type of gifts to give should be pretty obvious. If the couple would like to receive gifts from the registry, then it should be specified on the invite. However, if there is no theme, the theme doesn't call for gifts found on the registry, or if you personally know the bride has needed something for some time, we encourage you to go for it!
How much do I spend? This is always a sensitive subject, but shouldn't be! We encourage you to give what you can afford. Generally, $25 to $75 is a good price range, but can always vary depending on the situation. A set of inexpensive wine glasses will mean as much as a high-end espresso maker knowing that you took the time to pick it out.
Tradition, tradition, tradition… It's always encouraged that the bride-to-be open gifts at the bridal shower however embarrassing it may be. The maid of honor is tasked with the duty of keeping track of the gifts by recording who gave what. A great way to lump two duties into one is having the attendees address their own thank you note envelopes so the bride can quickly send out thank you notes to the correct addresses. The maid of honor also helps the soon-to-be bride open her gifts, show them off and place them in a safe location. It's also customary to gather all the ribbon from the gifts to create a mock ribbon bouquet which the bride usually carries during the wedding rehearsal.
Give Thanks! If you're purchasing bridal shower invites for yourself or for your friend, why not pick up a set of matching thank you notes while you're here? If you're planning on sending out notes to thank everyone for attending and for their generous gifts, include what they gave you, how it's being used and how much you (or the bride-to-be) are enjoying it. Remember to send out thank you notes within a week or two of the shower.
