It's not just bridal and wedding gifts.

Then there was the couple who thought it was perfectly fine to host a gift-giving event (wedding BBQ in their backyard) and attendees were told it was specifically so those not invited to the wedding would have an event where they could bring their gifts.

Seriously. Gift grabbing at its finest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I don't do gifts! Honestly, just get a wedding gift. Bridal shower gifts are optional.

No. The whole point of the "shower" is to "shower" the bride with gifts. It would be so awkward to go to a shower and not bring a gift.

Which:

(1) is why I hate bridal showers -- seriously, sitting in a circle and watching someone open housewares that she picked out is the dullest possible way to "celebrate" anything. Whyyyyyy is this a thing? And the lingerie tradition is worse. I do not want to pick out or view my friend's clothes for having sex with her soon-to-be-husband. Extremely weird tradition that feels like it has nothing to do with the world we actually live in, where the vast majority of people have sex with and even live with their partners before marriage. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

and

(2) when I feel compelled to participate in a shower, I give my gift there so as to avoid the awkwardness not having a gift to contribute during the dumb gift-opening portion of the festivities, and then I don't give another gift at the wedding because WTF, I'm not made of money.

Most of my friends are married or happily and likely permanently single, or divorced and unlikely to to this $hit for any second wedding, so I am blissfully past this part of my life. I am hoping by the time our kids get married, people will stop insisting on this stuff. But the idea that you should spend your 20s and 30s buying MULTIPLE gifts for each of your friends as they get married, plus spending money on destination bachelorette parties and weddings, is crazy. Save your money, buy a starter home, and when you get married, elope. This whole thing is a scam.

I always give lingerie.

Anonymous wrote:This is why I don't do gifts! Honestly, just get a wedding gift. Bridal shower gifts are optional.

No. The whole point of the "shower" is to "shower" the bride with gifts. It would be so awkward to go to a shower and not bring a gift.

Bridal shower gift: something off the registry that is very practical for the home--towels, pots and pans, every day dishes, etc.

Wedding gift: Check/cash or something off the registry that is more formal--fine china, crystal, silver, etc.

Anonymous wrote:The bridal shower gift is something off the registry. The wedding gift is a check.

Yup.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bridal shower gift is something off the registry. The wedding gift is a check.

This.

Yup! OP do not give the bride to be jewelry

I don’t like to give cash (tho it’s perfectly fine!) Two items off the registry.

Anonymous wrote:The bridal shower gift is something off the registry. The wedding gift is a check.

This.

Anonymous wrote:The bridal shower gift is something off the registry. The wedding gift is a check.

Same here.

Anonymous wrote:This is why I don't do gifts! Honestly, just get a wedding gift. Bridal shower gifts are optional.

They absolutely are not.

If there is a registry I purchase a smaller gift along with something personal for the bride for the shower and a big gift from the registry or cash for the wedding.

I always buy from the registry.

The bridal shower gift is something off the registry. The wedding gift is a check.

This is why I don't do gifts! Honestly, just get a wedding gift. Bridal shower gifts are optional.

What do you typically give for each? What type of gift?

I was thinking of earrings or necklace for the bridal shower or something for the bride alone but something for the house/couple for the wedding. Is that strange?