Registry and Bridal Shower

thurmanpowell

What gifts work best for bridal showers? What should I be adding to my wedding registry in anticipation?

I mean... I know I should register for lower/moderately priced things but should they be traditional wedding gift type things (like say, oven mitts) or would it be appropriate for me to register for things just for me (like say, a flat iron)?

Also, what types of gifts do people typically get for showers instead of the wedding? I'm sure luggage is a big one, but any other recommendations?

tiffysue2012

kitchen gadgets like measuring spoons and cups, spatula, slotted spoon, whisk, bakeware, servingware, dishes, silverware, kitchen towels and washclothes, rug, curtains, tablecloth, chair cushions
bath stuff like towels and washclothes, shower curtian, rug, toothbrush caddy,
bedroom stuff like sheets, comforter, curtains, wall art
misc. luggage, travel pillows, luggage tags
A lot of places give you a checklist when you go to register and in the packet there are a ton of ideas... we registered at target and a lot of what we registered for came out of there...

coraloc

I don't think you should register separately for the wedding and shower because you're worried about price points.

We just had the standard registry of everything we needed for our home together and received all sorts of things from guests.  Some were really expensive - our bridal party purchased our Dyson vacuum for us and others were on the inexpensive side.  Just register for what you both need and let your guests choose what they wish to purchase.

You could be happily surprised especially when multiples go in on a gift together.

My standard shower gift is usually within the $50-$75 range, but we spend more if they're really close to us.

ElisabethJoanne

Rosle garlic press. No less than 4 Sur la Table employees have enthused to us about how great a shower gift the Rosle garlic press makes. I almost canceled my Sur la Table registry, they were so insistent. [We already have 2 garlic presses, and I refuse to register for stuff just to register. I hate clutter.]

But, a bit of the reasoning behind their enthusiasm makes sense. Things around the $30 price point that are a bit nicer than you might buy for yourselves.

egm900

The majority of my shower gifts were serving pieces to match the every day dishes we got at our e-party and some small appliances, with some other odds and ends tossed in.  I usually give an assortment of small kitchen utensils, kitchen linens, maybe a cookbook to go with it.  Most of the showers I've been to the bride receives a lot of "every day" items that she might need in just normal day to day life.  

I don't think I've seen luggage given at a shower, in my circle that's a wedding gift (most people who I know like to send luggage try to send it at least a month in advance of the wedding in case the couple is taking a HM right after).  As PP said, try to stick to things you can both use. If you really want a nice straightner, I would wait until after the wedding and use cash or a gift card to get it.

jessicabessica

I wouldn't register for things that are just for you.  We had the same registry from my shower as for our wedding.  I got a lot of kitchen stuff off our registry for my shower, plus some cookbooks that people picked out for me.  I only got one gift more for me, a bathrobe (cousins mailed it, though, and I didn't open it at the shower or register for it).  

thurmanpowell

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_registry-and-bridal-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:d89fd322-2eb6-4307-b216-9e8493ab2347Post:3e0218e2-bf43-4c17-bead-1057cfcb06d3">Re: Registry and Bridal Shower</a>:
[QUOTE]Rosle garlic press. No less than 4 Sur la Table employees have enthused to us about how great a shower gift the Rosle garlic press makes. I almost canceled my Sur la Table registry, they were so insistent. [We already have 2 garlic presses, and I refuse to register for stuff just to register. I hate clutter.] But, a bit of the reasoning behind their enthusiasm makes sense. Things around the $30 price point that are a bit nicer than you might buy for yourselves.
Posted by ElisabethJoanne[/QUOTE]

I like this a lot. I keep meaning to look at sur la table, I think you've just convinced me!

sparkles776

I agree with the PPs, register for things that both of you can use, and make sure to register for things at different price points. One of my good friends did the universal amazon registry and had tiffany necklaces and coach purses on there. seriously.

mcskatcat

I agree with everyone else about registering for stuff that the two of you can use.  A newly wedded relative had a CHI straightener and hair dryer (both $100 a piece) on her registry, which I thought was appalling in the first place, and then her friends actually bought them for her!  I feel bad because that is like $200 in other stuff they could have used around the house, and people didn't buy much else off their massive registry.  

For the shower, I would know what price point is common in your family/friends.  For me it was under $50, so I had plenty of stuff in that range.  

hoffse

CB is also nice for shower stuff - they have things in a good price range, but they also sell a lot of pieces individually, so somebody can buy you a pair of wine glasses for $10 or a dozen for $60, depending on how much guests want to spend.

emeejeeayen

What would you like to give at a shower? I know that I like to give sets. So for instance, I bought my friend a zoku ice pop maker and a recipe book. Mixing bowls plus cute cookie cutters could be a cute cookie themed gift. I don't know; I'm big on themes rather than matchy match stuff. If I couldn't spend a lot of money, I'd probably go in with some other friends so that one of us could buy the cupcake tin, another the mixing spoons, another a pastry bag to ice the cupcakes, etc. 

With that said, put some practical items on your list as well, since there might be an aunt that would rather stay more practical than cute/fun. 

Honestly, I understand the gift grabby thing, but just put everything you want on the list. Then people can choose. You'll have stuff left over, but who cares? I'd much rather have a LARGE selection on a registry so I can pick something I feel is a bit more personal to my relationship with the individual.