What To Bring?
April 17th, 2007 @ 1:31 pm by Mrs. Kiwi
Mr. Kiwi and I are jam packed with wedding stuff. Other people’s wedding stuff! We have a wedding (in our venue) this Saturday and then I have a bridal shower to go to the week after that. I’m a little stumped as to what to bring to the shower as a gift- a girly present, something off their registry, or something off their honeymoon registry?
Of course, I could always give money, but do you give money for the shower when you’re going to be giving money for the actual wedding? Mr. Kiwi is a groomsman (we were finally told this), so what’s the protocol?
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11 Responses to “What To Bring?”
If you don’t the bride that well, I think the registry is your best bet, since it’ll def be something she requested. Cash at a shower seems kinda weird~ what is she going to do when she opens up all the presents, wave a check/bill around? A gift certificate may work, but again, I say go w/ a registry item.
I feel that it’s better to give a registry gift at a shower, especially if you don’t know the bride very well.
REGISTRY. IMHO, she wouldn’t put it on her registry if she didn’t want it (I realize there are exceptions here), and I think we brides-to-be realize that random gifts, while they could be fun and thoughtful, aren’t always a guaranteed “home run” with the receiver. If you don’t know her that well, I say registry, and then personalize it w/one more thing of your own (i.e. get her baking stuff off the registry and then add some cookie cutters or something).
I would go with the registry if possible, but a lot of times by the time I shop, everything is very picked thru or only expensive things remain. For one shower, I picked up the towels she registered for, but personalized it by putting them in a large, lined wicker laundry basket with candles, linen spray, etc. Or if that’s not even an option, I get a gift certificate from that store so that the bride can purchase the things she wanted but didn’t receive.
A can’t-miss is nice stationery monogramed with her first initial (wouldn’t try to figure out her full initials, married name, etc.). Even if she’s not a letter writer, there are enough wedding-related purposes to use it up at this time in her life. Pick a neutral color if her registry doesn’t give away her favorite colors.
Also, this is a great opportunity to re-gift something “bridey” you received that is a duplicate or isn’t you but is in alignment with her registry. Hey, it’s a time/money-saver and de-clutters a small apartment.
you can never go wrong with a registry gift. i’d save the girly/off register gifts for close friends and money for the wedding itself.
I agree that the registry is the way to go. I know I will have a few random people at my shower and I am hoping to get a few items knocked off my registries then.
not money. a gift card, if nothing else.
why, Why, WHY??? would you give anything other than a registry gift? I am getting super frustrated that we haven’t received ONE registry gift yet. I didn’t spend all that time deliberately picking out what we want for no one to pay any attention to it? It isn’t that I don’t love the personalized gifts and I truly appreciate the thoughts and love behind them…but how many personalized (read: unreturnable) tsochkes does one couple need?
sometimes the invite will specify to bring lingerie, hence something girly. otherwise, i think it is wise to bring a registry gift.
Mrs. Kiwi, Los Angeles
Age and Occupation in 06: 27, Bookkeeper
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, P.E. Teach/Coach @ private schools in LA
Engagement Date: March 31, 2006
Wedding Date: November 3, 2007
Venue: Radisson Hotel
About Me: I'm a bookkeeper who failed high school algebra. I'm currently living in Los Angeles, literally a street over from where I grew up with Mr. Kiwi, my honey of three years. We have a jumbo mini-dachshund (seriously, he's huuuuge), and we're planning an autumn themed wedding on a shoestring, paid for by ourselves. The wedding date is my late grandma's birthday, I needed her there somehow, and that seemed like the best way for us. I can't believe I'm a Bee! I couldn't be more proud!
I think, in part, it also depends on what kind of shower, how formal, venue, etc. Look at the invite. Is the shower at an upscale restaurant with super nice invitations? Get something from the registry that she would love to have. Is it at a friend’s house, mid afternoon, with finger foods, go for something fun and girly. HTH!