Bridal Shower Gifts, Wedding Shower Gifts, Wedding Gifts
March 21, 2009
We recently received a question from a reader, asking if she needs to give BOTH a wedding shower gift and a wedding gift. While I completely understand why that can be confusing, the general etiquette is: yes. You’re supposed to give gifts for everything. Gets expensive, right?!
photo from The Wedding Lens
That said, if you are engaged and you have NOT planned to have a bridal shower or wedding shower or both, then etiquette dictates that you do not have to! In fact, as you may have gathered from my blog on alternatives to bridal showers, I think it’s only appropriate to have any of these showers if you are doing so to celebrate… and I think it’s important to emphasize to your guests that they are not obliged to give gifts. (Having been in the “broke” + “invited” category a number of times, I have a lot of sympathy for people who just don’t have the money to give gifts, but want to be there to celebrate with everyone!) But maybe that’s just me!
What do I give? For all three occasions — bridal shower, wedding shower, wedding — the gifts should be intended to help the couple start their lives together. The only big difference is that it is NOT appropriate to give cash for a bridal shower or wedding shower gift.
What about a theme? Bridal showers and wedding showers sometimes have themes to them. If they do, then the invitation will indicate this and should let you know if the gift should be along the theme’s lines.
Invitees? If you are the one planning the showers, then note that it is inappropriate and will offend guests if you invite them to the shower and not the wedding.
If you’re looking for other gift giving advice (like timing of when to send, how much to send, and what to do if you can’t attend), check out our blog on gift giving advice or what to do about wedding gifts. We also have blogs on best man gifts, gift ideas for the maid of honor, how to ask for gift cards or cash, or tips on the gift registry.
Something blue….
March 2, 2009
A friend was trying to figure out what her “something blue” should be during her wedding. In light of that, I decided to come up with a list of things that you can do/wear/have that are blue — so you have your something blue!
photo from The Wedding Lens
One of my favorite ideas was something another friend did above: she wrote the date & her and the groom’s first initial on the bottom of her shoe. It was discreet, but it was there. And look how cute!
You can also accent your dress with blue shoes:
photo from Dannielle & Tim’s Real Wedding on The Knot
Or try wearing some kind of blue jewelry: earrings, a ring, or a bracelet like the one below.
photo from thechainmaillelady
Those are the easiest ways to incorporate blue into the wedding. What was your something blue?