Wedding Shower

Hi D.,

My favorite gift to give is a small travel bag filled with necessities she might forget on the honeymoon. A friend gave this to me and I loved it. I have passed it on mulitple times to other brides and have been told often it was one of the favorite gifts.

Things I have included in the bag have been Qtips, toothpaste, dental floss, bandaids, little deodarants for him and her, shampoos,gum, safety pins, clear nail polish and files, hair spray, comb,tooth brushes, tylenol, chapstick etc. All can be found in travel sizes at places like Target or Wal-Mart.

The downside is all the little things can add up pretty fast so I don't know if it is the economical idea for you.
I just love this gift and thought I'd throw it out there.

At my shower, I received a comfy throw blanket with a small fancy box of chocolate. I really enjoyed that one.

Happy Shopping.

Scentsy wickless candles make a really nice gift. I just got my friend one for her shower and she loved it! They are very inexpensive, $20 for a small plug in and the scented wax. You can find them at www.scentsy.com/danacarey

Maybe find out where they are registered and shop for things you know she has already picked out. You can also try to find out what nail salon she uses, if she does, and get her a gift certificate for a manicure/pedicure...most brides want that done before the big day and go throughout the year anyhow. Something SHE can save money on is usually really appreciated. I have even given movie gift certificates so the bride and groom can go have a nice night out together. It's so expensive to go to the show, it's nice to feel "treated" to one these days. I would put in the card, "Never stop dating each other." It is great wedding advice I got on my wedding day.

The hostess might have ideas for gifts that are personal to the bride. Don't be embarrassed to ask about "modest" gift ideas. Nobody is going to be surprised these days that gift givers are looking for economical ideas.

Registry! I know it might feel impersonal, but those are the things the bride needs. And I know this probably sounds kind of lame, but get a gift receipt. At a lot of stores, the registry isn't kept up as accurately as it should be, and sometimes duplicates happen...and some stores won't take a return without the gift receipt, even if you are registered there (Target). On her registry, there are hopefully a number of items for many budgets. Otherwise, I'd recommend gift cards to a movie or a restaurant.

Unless...is this a "personal" shower for lingerie, etc.? Check with the hostess, or perhaps it says on the invitation. In that case, have fun! get a cute nightie (it doesn't need to be expensive, just pretty!), some fun undies, or even some scented lotion, tiny candles that she could take on her honeymoon, or linen spray for the bed.

I like to get a cute nighty that she can wear on her honeymoon! Fredericks of Hollywood has a cute white thong panty with a vail on the back, it's kinda of gag gift but brings on lots of laughter when the bride to be opens it. Runs about $8 or $12 dollars.

Many brides will have a registry (such as at Target or Bed, Bath & Beyond). Most of the registries I have seen will include more expensive items which will probably be purchased by family members. The are also less expensive items on the registry with might include stuff like kitchen utensil & gadgets. Gift cards are another way to go...for whatever amount you want to spend, included inside a nice bridal shower greeting card

I usually do one of two things, and I stole both ideas from gifts people got me during my shower. The first was a great gift of a small bottle of champagne (you can get these at World Market for $12-16 and I've even seen them at Vons)and a breakfast in bed cookbook (I like http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0912365307 )with a little note on the inside to enjoy the little things OR I will get something from their registry (or sometimes off the registry) that ties into their wedding present. For example, we bought one friend their fancy schmancy coffee maker for their wedding so we bought her 3 pounds of cool coffee beans for the shower. It was funny, because she said "thanks..." and you could tell she didn't know what it was all about, then in the thank you card she told us it was a great "pre" present :) Another one we did was a basket of ice cream sundae goodies and the ben and jerry's sundae book for a couple that got an ice cream maker off their registry from us...

I don't know if she drinks, but, a bottle of wine? Or movie passes, gift card to a restaurant. I went to a shower and a guest gave a day of gift cards-it started w/ starbucks, and i have no idea where else...But, it was all gift cards w/ low amounts, so she spent maybe 30 bucks total. Off the registry you could get accesories, like a pizza cutter and tongs. If your comfortable you could get her a nighty. Places like TJ Maxx have them at great prices.

I agree the registry is the best way to go. I had gotten big spoons, big tongs, etc. I did register for them though. I loved it. I also got towels for the kitchen and the little kitchen items I asked for. It was great. They all add up $ so it was great to get them. Some people just bought me a few items and that was good too.
Sue

Seriously, I know people mean well when they get gifts off the registry, but repeat after me...STICK TO THE REGISTRY! You can register for practically everything under the sun these days, so if they want, they have probably registered for it.

There is nothing more annoying that someone who buys a gift for someone thinking of themself rather than thinking of the person receiving it. Chances are this bride is excited about the registry she and her fiance made, is checking it often to see what's been taken, imagining the things in her home with her husband. Just stick to the registry.

If you're not sure where she is registered go to www.weddingchannel.com or www.theknot.com and you can search for their registries.

Other than that, I would say, go have fun! I normally do a Crate and Barrel type gift (which is pretty economical) for the shower and then save a Macys type gift for the wedding...again, depending on where they are registered!

-M

My mom ususally hits up ross or TJ maxx home goods and finds something "fun" for their home. Once she found this really cute Ice cream sundae set with adorable glass sundae dishes. Stuff that is inexpensive, different, something they could use but not necessarily need.

There is really no wrong gift to bring. It could be anything for her new life, from kitchen stuff to photo albums and frames to lingerie. If she's registered anywhere, that could help; or, you could ask what she needs.

A fun shower gift for someone you attend church with could be a basket or bag with small household items with Bible verses you've written out or computer printed taped to them: a salt and pepper shaker set with the scripture saying, "Ye are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13)," a clock or kitchen timer with the verse saying, "A time to every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1)," a CD (or other item to play music) with, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord (Psalms 66:1)," a ceramic set of pitchers or creamers saying, "... unto a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8)," a flowering houseplant (or plant for her yard) with the verse saying, "Consider the lilies of the field (Matthew 6:28)," and/or other items with appropriate scriptues on them. I've done this before, and everyone loved it. It's possible to find very inexpensive items to put the scripture tags on, but the gift never seems "cheap."

you can get something off her wedding registery.

I would check her registry, sometimes there are affordable gifts, depending on where she is registered. You could buy a gift card to where she is registered. Not sure how much you want to spend. We have bought books (this could be for shower or wedding) and then a smaller amount for a gift card or money. A couple of book suggestions: The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman or Thriving Marriages by John and Claire Yzaguirre.

I get the same thing for every new bride. It's a book called "Getting the Love You Want" by Harville Hendrix. This book will save them 20 years of frustration in their relationship. Everyone I have ever given this book to tells me that it was by far the best gift they got at their shower. Get the happy couple started off on the right foot!

Hi D.!! My name is A. and I have a big family like yours, except I have 6 kids... 3 girls and 3 boys and they range from 16 all the way down to 4!!! Well, I will tell you that it is hard to find a nice gift for a bridal shower so I think of what would she need for her new home... Cleaning products!! you can buy a nice size bucket and decorate it with a nice bow and fill it up with what ever you think she will need... Cleaning wipes, gloves, Ajax, a toilet brush, sponges,disinfectant, 409, dish soap, and even a couple of aroma candles. You can also add a gift card for groceries. I think she will remember this gift and it will sure come in handy!!! God bless you and your fam.

Hi D. ~ what I do is for the shower I buy a gift for the bride like scented lotions, a book, a nightie, something personal based on how close we are. For the wedding, I buy off of the registry. Since you know each other from church, you may considering a religious gift like a cross, a bible, a plaque with the lord's prayer for them to hang in their home. There are a lot of cost efficient gifts you can give. At Hallmark they have really nice hardbound recipie keepers. You could purchase one of those and put a few recipies in it for her. Those are my suggestions. Have a great day. - L.

if she is interested in books at all here's a suggestion. 3 books with a note in the card saying: 'food for the mind, food for the body and food for the soul'. have a small encyclopedia, or thesaurus or dictionary for the mind, a cook book for the body and a religeous book or poetry book for the soul.
its pretty unique....and well loved by any book-y.

Hi D.,
I was going to suggest the same thing. Ask the host if they are registered somewhere then you can't go wrong with your gift. Have fun!