The Bridal Shower – Gifts & Tips
The main event at a bridal shower is opening the gifts! You want yours to be memorable without going over the top. Bridal Fantasy has put together some great ideas to help you help the bride-to-be with some "wow" gifts that really stand out. Ask yourself what type of girl the bride is, and keep that in mind when picking out a gift for her.
Give what you can afford and in the case of the bridal shower, $25 - $75 is an acceptable price range but don't discount the emotional value of a thoughtful, homemade gift either. The shower invitation should help clue you in to what type of gift you should look at. If it's a couple shower, try to stick to items on their registry, and a tea party is a great time to go super-girly. If you're not 100% on the taste of the bride, check with the person hosting the party.
Don't confuse the bridal shower with the bachelorette party! While cute and sexy lingerie is a nice touch, stay away from the more "naughty" gifts for the shower. A great test for your gift: is the bride's mom (or yours!) going to be there and would they approve? Save that type of stuff for the ladies night out.
Some ideas for your bride-to-be include: lingerie like silk nighties, lace up corsets or satin garters. Fabulous prints can be a great hit – think a leopard print sheet set. A beautifully arranged gift basket of bubble baths, soaps, lotions and other bathing goodies are always a good choice; what bride doesn't need a little pampering? Or go together with some of the other attendees and get her a day of luxury at the spa.
Other great options for bridal shower gifts are scrapbooking kits, complete with wedding stickers and a starter kit, or a tea set with some of her favourite flavours. Classic showers gifts include linen napkins with napkin rings, picture frames, champagne glasses, and beddings. If you're looking for something more contemporary try, relaxation materials like scented candles with a breakfast-in-bed tray, travel gear, theatre tickets or beach towels in a cute beach bag.
Homemade gifts can be very beautiful; things like a hand-knitted afghan, monogrammed his-and-her towels or a personalized photo album can really impress. If you're a crafty one – go for it! Just make sure you tailor the gift to her taste, not yours.
The final tip for the bridal shower – the package. While we know you aren't about to hand over your gift in a plastic grocery bag, keep in mind how nice it feels to receive a gorgeously wrapped present. You can use ribbons or faux flowers as nice accents and don't forget the "to/from" card with your last name on it, just in case. This will make it easier to keep track of the gifts when you bride-to-be is writing her thank-you cards.
