Along the lines of gifts...

[mkissa]

My Bridal Shower is this coming weekend and I have no idea what to get the three women who are hosting my shower. What did you get your shower hosts? What are you getting your shower hosts? What would you like if you helped to host a shower?

Any and all input is appreciated!

Comments

[lizzie]

Well, what do they like? Do they have any hobbies?

[redfield79]

I wasn't aware that you needed to give a gift to the hosts of your shower. The hosts should be your maid of honor or bridesmaids though that's not always possible. I got all my bridesmaids gifts but if someone other than my bridesmaids were giving me a shower I wouldn't be getting the host a gift.

[resend_end]

I'm in this boat as well - I read the OP's post and became dismayed, thinking "You mean there are even MORE ceremonial gifts I have to buy for people? D:"

I expect that my shower host(s) will be my mom, my sister (who will be my MOH), or my bridesmaids. I don't really have anyone else, actually. I don't have any aunts nearby or any other friends outside my BMs that would do it. I'm already gifting my BMs and my sister (MOH), but I wouldn't gift my mom... I also don't plan to buy gifts for the parents of the bride & groom, even if they do give us money for the wedding (not sure if they will or not yet, haven't discussed it). I would write them a sincere and heart-felt thank you letter each, as well as thank them verbally and publicly at the wedding reception.

[redfield79]

Right, I said something similar to that in the post about gifts right before this one about parents and other people. I'm not getting my parents gifts and they know and don't expect it. Budget wise it's just not possible...especially since both our parents are divorced and so it'd really have to be about 8 gifts instead of four. Oh my! But yeah, I think most people understand that the bride and groom aren't expected to gift everyone. They should only really gift the bridal party, since they're spending money on you for your wedding and it's a generous thing to do after all their help! :) (even if only the sheer fact that they have to hold up your dress while you use the bathroom! hahaha)

[ipsafictura]

It's common to get people a gift if they throw you a party, but not absolutely de rigeur. Sometimes your shower is thrown by people other than the bridesmaids. A thank you note is, in my opinion, a necessity, but a gift is more optional especially if it's someone you're already getting a gift for.

[x_patti_x]

First of all, you absolutely should get a gift! IMO, They are spending their time (and usually $$) to plan a party for you- they're doing a bit more than just picking up a gift, so they should get more than just a thank you card!

flowers would probably be the most common gift. Sent to their home a couple days after the shower so you can gush in the card about how great the party was! Similar gifts of fruit baskets or something could also be sent.

If it is someone you know really well and could get something personal, go ahead and do that! As we all know, planning a party can take a lot of someone's free time- so a day at the spa, or dinner out or tickets to a play - could also be a nice "thank you" gift- where you can acknowledge that you know they probably have spent their free time planning for you!
Good luck!

[krazyhippie]

I don't necessarily agree. Word got back to my MIL and SIL/fiancee's MOH that we were looking for a gift and they flipped. They said "the whole point of the shower is for us to help you. we know you're spending a lot on the wedding, and just starting out together, and we did this to be helpful. if you then go out and get us a gift, that's just silly." so we didn't, we just sent a special thank you outside of the one for their gifts. They're not throwing a party for you because they want it tit-for-tat and need something back. They're doing it to help you. I am the MOH for my sister's wedding next April, and I certainly don't expect her to get me a gift for throwing her a shower...I will be upset if she does!

[spiltvinegar]

My shower was hosted at one of my bridesmaids' homes, and so, while it was thrown by both sets of parents and my 4 bridesmaids, I only got a gift for the homeowner, because I know she really worked hard to make sure her house was spotless and had to do all the coordinating with the caterers and such. My gift was really a token gift-- her favorite flowers are gerbera daisies, so I got her a plant in a cute planter.

[lehulei]

For host of showers/parties, it'll probably be flowers, edible arrangements, or a gift-basket themed towards something they like. I'd give it to them at or shortly after the shower, so it's correlated to the shower itself and not other wedding-related activities, such as being an attendant.