How to Shop Bridal Shower Gifts

By Olaoluwa Olowu




Your friend’s big day is just around the corner, and she’s just invited you to her bridal shower. Of course, you’re excited for her but more than that, you want to get her a gift to celebrate the occasion appropriately. However, picking the right gift can often be a difficult task.

Most brides usually have a wedding gift registry for the wedding gifts they plan to receive which makes it easier to pick a wedding gift. This can be very helpful in selecting something to give her. Conversely, you may be more inclined to give the bride – who may be a close friend – something a little more personal and thoughtful. Wedding registries are often filled with functional gifts that are beneficial to the couple and may not provide options that have high sentimental value.

You can even get a little more creative with it by organizing a combination gift, such that the bridal shower gift works in conjunction with eventual wedding gift. For example, you might purchase a new set of pots & pans for the bridal shower that you then follow up with an oven.



Speaking of themes, some brides today are throwing themed bridal showers. In situations like these, brides often ask that guests bring gifts that are tied to a central theme. A bride might want only lingerie gifts, or only items for her new kitchen. She might even ask for items that are all in her favorite color. The hostess of the shower should be able to furnish you with any details you need about theme or etiquette.

Shopping for the perfect bridal shower gift can be made easy in these simple steps. Just follow them and you’ll have yourself a great gift that your host won’t soon forget.

1. Check for a registry
The first step in shopping for a wedding or bridal shower gift is to check if the bride has got a gift registry. If the bride has got a bridal shower registry, it’s pretty straightforward to pick out a gift for her. Just check the list for something that’s within your price range and go to a store where you can purchase it. It’s always a good idea to stick to the registry as they reflect the gifts the bride would most appreciate at that given time.



2. Consider your relationship with the bride
If she doesn’t have a registry or you wanna spice things up a notch by not selecting something from her registry, you can still ensure that you’re absolutely getting her something interesting and noteworthy.

Picking out something that’s not off a registry or predetermined list requires understanding your relationship with the bride. You want a gift that’s just right in that sweet spot between “I didn’t put much thought into this” and “I overdid it”. How much you should spend on a gift will intentionally or unintentionally reflect what you think of the bride as well as your relationship with her.

The personality of your gift as well as the cost will ultimately depend on the kind of relationship you and the bride have. If you’re best friends with the bride, you have a lot more leeway in terms of how off-brand or quirky you can make your gift. However, if you’re simply an office acquaintance, opting for the simple, classic gift is a great idea.

Lastly, the bride is expecting the best gifts from the people closest to her. Even if you mean well, upstaging her friends with your gift may very well not sit right with them. Get her something nice without giving off the impression you’re trying to steal her friends’ thunder.

3. Take a look at your budget
How much you should spend and how much you have to spend are in reality, two very different things. Make sure you have no reason to get into debt in trying to get the perfect gift.

If you’re low on funds, rather than borrowing to purchase the gift you have in mind, take time to really scour for something that has great sentimental value but low monetary cost.

4. Find out if there’s a theme
Bridal shower themes often mean a lot to the brides and getting a gift outside the theme is sure to indicate that you couldn’t care less about what you got her.

Reach out to the bride and find out if she’s going with a theme and what the theme is if she is. Once, you’ve gotten all the necessary details you need to understand the theme, get creative with your gifts and channel the spirit of the themed party.

5. Keep it simple
A bridal shower gift is usually a prelude to the main wedding gift. You want to save the best gift for last and most people expect you to give a better wedding gift.



Once you know what you wedding gift is, shop for a bridal shower gift that’s plays up your main gift even while still being an excellent gift in itself.

Shopping for gifts is an art that many have not mastered nor will ever master. Yet, with these tips in mind, you can shop for an excellent gift without breaking the bank. So, next time you’re invited for a bridal shower and need to get a gift, you’ll be ready!



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