Catholic bridal shower gift ideas

[Monica4316]

If a good friend of yours who is a devout Catholic was getting married and had a bridal shower… what do you think are some good gift ideas to bring to the shower?

I’m asking because in the culture I come from we actually don’t have bridal showers, and I’ve never been to one! I want to bring a gift that is appropriate but I’m not sure if there are any guidelines? I’m not even sure where to ask! I know with weddings, it should be something for both bride and groom, but here it’s only for the bride… I wouldn’t feel comfortable giving anyone lingerie, etc, or anything of that nature. I was thinking some bath things or a good book. Does anyone have any advice/thoughts? thanks

 

[1ke]

Call the hostess and ask if the bride is registered somewhere. Most shower gifts are of a practical nature such as kitchen wares the bride needs, bed and bath items, etc.

I think a Catholic gift is a lovely idea, but maybe not for the shower unless the bride and groom are already well established with household goods.

 

[JackieMom]

Call the hostess and ask if the bride is registered somewhere. Most shower gifts are of a practical nature such as kitchen wares the bride needs, bed and bath items, etc.

I think a Catholic gift is a lovely idea, but maybe not for the shower unless the bride and groom are already well established with household goods.

Ke is right. Something mid-priced from the registry. A “personal shower” is where lingerie is expected, not a regular bridal shower.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

What do you mean by “only for the bride”?

Do you mean that the party centers around the bride and the groom is not present? Or do you mean specifically that the gifts themselves must be for the bride only?

I ask because here the party does center around the bride and indeed, the groom is not present, but the gifts are for the couple, and usually include items for the house (silverware, bath towels, vacuums, etc.) Here, the bride and groom typically have a “registry”—basically, a wishlist. That makes gift buying much easier for relatives and friends, so they don’t end up getting the couple the same things (e.g., no need for 1,000 wine glasses…lol).

The bride gets more “personal” gifts at the bachelorette party (curiously, the groom does not get gifts at his bachelor party).

Anyway, if you do indeed need something “personal” that gets tricky. I know clothes are usually not a good choice, because women can be picky about those things and more often than not–they will be returned/exchanged.

Bath salts/bubble bath/perfumes/etc. seem like a great choice. But then, that’s a problem, because they seem like a great choice to everyone, so she’ll probably get too many of those.

A book could be a good choice, but I figure that’s a 50/50 proposition. 50% chance she’ll love it, 50% chance she’ll never even open it up.

Gift certificates sound like a great idea, but they’re no fun usually.

I’m not sure about photo frames. My wedding was recently, and all I can tell you is that between the engagement party and the bridal shower, we got like 20+ photo frames. Ugh.

Honestly, if I couldn’t find a better option—and if the couple had no registry—then I would probably go for a spa/massage gift certificate. Then again, I’m not a woman.

Definitely see if they are registered first.

 

[Monica4316]

thanks for the replies!

about the registry… how does this work? I do know where they are registered. What do I do with this, is it just so people know what store the couple prefers? lol sorry, I haven’t been to many weddings and never bought from the registered store before.

What do you mean by “only for the bride”?

Do you mean that the party centers around the bride and the groom is not present? Or do you mean specifically that the gifts themselves must be for the bride only?

hmm… my understanding is that only the bride would be there (?) and people also give gifts at the wedding, in my understanding… so I thougth it’s like: you give ‘general’ gifts at the wedding, and gifts that are more for the bride, for the shower. But I’m not sure. Of course, many gifts would still be for both. But I assume that the groom won’t use the fragranced bath stuff etc

I ask because here the party does center around the bride and indeed, the groom is not present, but the gifts are for the couple, and usually include items for the house (silverware, bath towels, vacuums, etc.) Here, the bride and groom typically have a “registry”—basically, a wishlist. That makes gift buying much easier for relatives and friends, so they don’t end up getting the couple the same things (e.g., no need for 1,000 wine glasses…lol).

The bride gets more “personal” gifts at the bachelorette party (curiously, the groom does not get gifts at his bachelor party).

I see! I wasn’t going to give anything “personal”… and I remember reading where they are registered, so I’ll check that out.

Anyway, if you do indeed need something “personal” that gets tricky. I know clothes are usually not a good choice, because women can be picky about those things and more often than not–they will be returned/exchanged.

Bath salts/bubble bath/perfumes/etc. seem like a great choice. But then, that’s a problem, because they seem like a great choice to everyone, so she’ll probably get too many of those.

A book could be a good choice, but I figure that’s a 50/50 proposition. 50% chance she’ll love it, 50% chance she’ll never even open it up.

Gift certificates sound like a great idea, but they’re no fun usually.

I’m not sure about photo frames. My wedding was recently, and all I can tell you is that between the engagement party and the bridal shower, we got like 20+ photo frames. Ugh.

Honestly, if I couldn’t find a better option—and if the couple had no registry—then I would probably go for a spa/massage gift certificate. Then again, I’m not a woman.

Definitely see if they are registered first.

thanks for the advice!

 

[JackieMom]

What do you mean by “only for the bride”?

Do you mean that the party centers around the bride and the groom is not present? Or do you mean specifically that the gifts themselves must be for the bride only?

I ask because here the party does center around the bride and indeed, the groom is not present, but the gifts are for the couple, and usually include items for the house (silverware, bath towels, vacuums, etc.) Here, the bride and groom typically have a “registry”—basically, a wishlist. That makes gift buying much easier for relatives and friends, so they don’t end up getting the couple the same things (e.g., no need for 1,000 wine glasses…lol).

The bride gets more “personal” gifts at the bachelorette party (curiously, the groom does not get gifts at his bachelor party).

Anyway, if you do indeed need something “personal” that gets tricky. I know clothes are usually not a good choice, because women can be picky about those things and more often than not–they will be returned/exchanged.

Bath salts/bubble bath/perfumes/etc. seem like a great choice. But then, that’s a problem, because they seem like a great choice to everyone, so she’ll probably get too many of those.

A book could be a good choice, but I figure that’s a 50/50 proposition. 50% chance she’ll love it, 50% chance she’ll never even open it up.

Gift certificates sound like a great idea, but they’re no fun usually.

I’m not sure about photo frames. My wedding was recently, and all I can tell you is that between the engagement party and the bridal shower, we got like 20+ photo frames. Ugh.

Honestly, if I couldn’t find a better option—and if the couple had no registry—then I would probably go for a spa/massage gift certificate. Then again, I’m not a woman.

Definitely see if they are registered first.

Actually, at a personal shower (usually close girlfriends and bridal party) lingerie IS expected. Often times the hostess has the bride’s sizes ready for anyone who asks. The point is to stock the bride’s boudiour for the honeymoon : )

 

[VivienneJ]

thanks for the replies!

about the registry… how does this work? I do know where they are registered. What do I do with this, is it just so people know what store the couple prefers? lol sorry, I haven’t been to many weddings and never bought from the registered store before.

At the registered store, the bride would have made a list of items the store stocks that she would like. A courteous bride makes sure she includes a good variety of prices in the items she chooses. It can be a good way to build up, for example a good set of dinnerware - a whole say 8 place setting is expensive, but, as the store keeps a record of what has been bought, you could, for example top up the already purchased 4 or 6 places with another 2 or whatever your budget allows. Or there is no worry that you are the 5th person to buy the couple a toaster, but they don’t have a kettle.

 

[jilly4ski]

Showers… Yes you could look at the stores the bride has registered at. (The hostess should know where) and you can look online for the couples name and see what they registered.

In my family, showers tend to be smaller gifts more midranged price (but showers are also attended by my older Aunts and more extended relatives who would not really be comfortable give more intimate gifts). So bath towels. kitchen utensils. I like giving some pyrex storage containers with homemade potholders. Showers can be a nice opportunity to give a nice homemade gift (while you give something more expensive or nicer or off the registry for the wedding). But in general the two gifts can be interchangable. Like i got a crockpot for my wedding, but I got an electric griddle at one of my showers.

If it is Catholic couple- I deeply appreciated the crucifixes I received for my wedding, so a nice crucifix or other religious item might be appropriate if you know the couple well.