Bridal Shower and Wedding Party Gifts

The tradition of a bridal shower is believed to date back to a time when it was expected for a bride to bring a dowry with her into her marriage. The dowry was meant to give the married couple a start in life by giving them a little financial help. The times have changed, but to this day it is customary for female friends and relatives to throw a bridal shower party for the bride and give her gifts to help her move to the next level.

Bridal shower gifts are supposed to be thoughtful and practical. Items to be used in the new household, such as silverware, dishes or a bedspread would make a wonderful gift. If you are more adventurous, you can give the bride a very avant-garde moss garden:

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On the other hand, the gifts can be fun, romantic, or even for use during their honeymoon. A soft feminine wrap or a scarf, a nice evening purse will make the bride happy, just as they would make happy any woman at any point in her life. A set of organic body butters or massage oils could also go a long way.

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Another gift-giving tradition associated with weddings is for bride and groom to give gifts to the members of their wedding party. These gifts are a way of thanking bridesmaids and groomsmen for all their time and effort, and making sure they feel loved and appreciated. Usually, all bridesmaids get the same or similar gifts, and so do the groomsmen.

While giving a piece of jewelry or a monogrammed item is on the more traditional side of gifts for bridesmaids, there are a lot of other things that can be given. If bridesmaids love art, a framed art piece could be a great gift for each of them. A fun beaded necklace that can be worn in multiple ways would be a wonderful gift too. Candle holders are always popular, especially those with a more modern spin on the traditional idea.

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Traditional groomsmen gifts offer a touch of class: monogrammed scarves, watches, flasks, cufflinks and money clips. While most men now don’t wear shirts with cufflinks, keep a flask in their pocket and prefer a credit card to cash, the timeless significance of these gifts is what makes them special. A modern groomsman gift generally reflects the taste of the man receiving it. So, a necklace with a silver coin for a pendant would be a good money clip substitute, and a bracelet could be given in place of a watch.

Photo sources from top, then left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4

Story by Alla (FleetingStillness)