Bridal Shower Gift Ideas

If you’ve chosen a lamp from the wedding gift registry, and some cute cookie cutters for the kitchen tea, you might be wondering what on earth to buy the bride for her bridal shower. The key thing to remember about bridal shower gifts is that they should be primarily aimed at the bride rather than at the couple or their home. They should be a little luxury just for her that will help her to prepare for married life.

Bridal shower gifts can be items to be used in the home, but they should be additional extras and accessories for the bride rather than the everyday essentials that will be given at the kitchen tea or for the wedding itself. Bridal shower gifts can also be saucy and seductive, depending on the character of the bride.

Here are some bridal shower gift ideas:

• • Sexy lingerie is the obvious choice for a bridal shower gift, and negligees are a safe but glamorous choice. Ask the Maid of Honour for the bride’s size.
• • A luxurious dressing gown to be used when the bride gets ready on the morning of her wedding. Have the pocket embroidered with her post wedding initials.
• • New bed linen, either in a sexy silk finish or in a fun outrageous design such as zebra or leopard prints.
• • Sensual toiletries such as bubble bath or massage oils are always a bridal shower winner. Have these packaged in a beautiful basket for the bathroom.
• • Scented candles help to create an erotic atmosphere, and cedar wood, vanilla, jasmine and cinnamon are all good choices to heat up the newlyweds’ home.
• • A spa treatment is the ideal way to reduce pre wedding stress. Look for home based treatments or buy a voucher for day at a local spa.
• • A monthly subscription to a magazine or club that suits the tastes of the bride. Home magazines are usually a good choice for a newly married woman.
• • A cocktail maker along with a cocktail recipe book can provide hours of fun for the bride, along with imaginative ways to seduce her hubby.
• • Cute pyjamas are an alternative to saucy underwear, and are perfect for those lazy Sunday mornings in bed.
• • A breakfast in bed tray and a breakfast recipe book could also make the weekend mornings more fun.
• • A couple’s dance class is a great present. They can use it before the wedding to perfect their first dance, or learn a fiery tango when they return from honeymoon.
• • A coffee table book with photos of the couple’s honeymoon destination or another place that is significant to them is a luxury item for the marital home.
• • Honeymoon accessories such as a beach bag and towel, or co-ordinating flip flops and sarong will remind the bride to get packing before the wedding.

How many gifts do I have to buy?

If you have been invited to several bridal celebrations in the run up to the wedding, it can be hard to know how many gifts to buy. Ideally the same guest should never be invited to more than one bridal shower, but if you are you should never be expected to bring a gift to each one.

To save feeling awkward about turning up empty handed, you could always buy two small gifts that go together, such as the beach bag and towel, and present one at each shower. If you are invited to a kitchen tea, a bridal shower and a hen’s party, maybe you should ask the bride if she’d rather have one large present or three tiny ones.

How do I know what to buy?

The maid of honour or whoever is hosting the shower should be able to tell you if there is a theme to the gifts, and may well know what other people are buying so you don’t double up on presents. They can also tell you who else is invited so you know how raunchy your gift can be.