Can't decline shower!

meganb1977

I don't want people giving me a lot of gifts so I told everyone I didn't want a shower, but one of my bridesmaids went behind my back and has planned one anyway and sent out the invitations, so now it's too late for me to stop it or at least suggest that it not be a gift-giving event.

It is a couple's shower and she mentioned our Bed Bath and Beyond registry on the invitation and also suggested gift cards to Lowes/Home Depot.  I wasn't anticipating a shower and didn't register for many small items.  We're established in our home and I didn't want/need any of the "little" things like pot holders, mixing spoons, etc. so I didn't worry about those types of items when we registered.

Now that I'm having a shower whether I like it or not, do I need to register for more small items to give people more suggestions?  Or will it be okay to just have the more expensive items and if those things are too expensive for shower gifts people will give gift cards to put towards a bigger item?

Hilraythebride

I wouldn't register for things you don't want or don't need, if someone doesn't find something on your registry they can always go with cash or a GC.

Simply Fated

Definitely don't add things you don't need or won't use. People want to buy you things you'll appreciate. I'd personally be hurt/annoyed/weirded if I found out the bride and groom I bought a gift for didnt' really want what I had bought for them.

Is there anything you might want to upgrade or wouldn't think of registering for, like new beach towels? Pillow case protectors? Shower curtain rings? Hangers? Laundry basket? Coffee flavors? Cookbooks? I'm just randomly clicking around BBB site.

It's true, if people can't afford or don't want to spend money on the items you already registered for, they can get you a gift card. However, a lot of people don't like to get gift cards, especially for showers. So, you might end up with stuff you don't want and that could have been avoided, kwim?

jessicabessica

I agree with SimplyFated.  If there are things you can think of to register for that weren't on your immediate wishlist, but you could use on second thought, I would add to your registry.  Extra sets of sheets for your bed and a guest bed, if you have?  Towel sets?  Set of drinking margarita glasses with a fun pitcher?  Picture frames?  Serving pieces (BBB has some cute and practical items for entertaining, I think Emeril and B.Smith brands)?

hoffse

Also, new bakeware? Some relatively inexpensive non-stick pans?  Those things wear out and BBB carries some good lines.  I always do either cookbooks or bakeware for showers, I'm not sure why.

MandaK12

You could register for a couple of big ticket items. Guests may go in together for them or buy gift cards for the store where they're from. We're doing a Honeymoon Pixie registry for a few extras for our honeymoon as well. I know these types of registries aren't always well-received here on TK, but our guests have had fantastic reactions so far.

gananoque

What price ranges are we talking here? In my circles, $40 seems to be a pretty standard amount to spend on a shower gift. So certainly mixing spoons are much less than that. Don't register for stuff you really don't want, but like the others said, it might be a good idea to have a good range on your registry. And you just have to get over the whole guilt thing here. Just think of it as a "goes around, comes around" kinda thing. Many people get married and everyone gets their turn at getting gifts. Don't be so stressed about it.

People are likely not going to bring gift cards or cash to a shower because most women know that the main event tends to centre around watching the bride open her presents. So if there's nothing on your registry, people will be forced to go off-registry which will result in either a) them being stressed out by having to try to figure out what the heck to get you; or b) YOU being stressed out by receiving a bunch of crappy stuff you don't want.

Go back and make sure there are at least a few appropriately priced items to choose from.