What are your go-to gifts for shower and wedding?

MissOwl

I'm always really curious about what normal is for others. What are your typical shower and/or wedding gifts?

My go-to gifts:

Shower: something from registry, typically baking-related

Wedding: cash in card

adamar15

Whatever is on the registry that is in the price range I want to spend.

dumdumfroggie

I try to get something off the registry for both.

If they have no registry, something either kitchen related or some linens in a neutral solid color.

tenofcups4me

Shower--something from the registry. I like to buy china, crystal, silver or serving pieces--something that they'll theoretically keep "forever" rather than everyday dishes or glasses or sheets or other things that will eventually be replaced.

Wedding--check.

annakb8

This is kind of boring, but I usually get people either a place setting of their dishes or their silverware. I think it's something everyone needs and it's annoying to only get three sets when you wanted eight. I know when I got married I was way happier to get my dishes and silverware than I was to get whatever other random gadgets might have been on the registry.

AdeleDazeem

I hate shopping straight from the registry.  HATE.

Typically, I pair a boring registry item with something more fun.  For example, I've bought tapas pans for friends and added a gift certificate to a tapas restaurant.  Or, I bought the mugs from their china set and paired it with high end coffees, teas and hot chocolates.  Once I bought several baking items for their registry and paired it with many recipes for cakes, pies and bought some ingredients.

Wedding gifts really depend on if I went to the shower or not.  If so, I'll just give some money.

mica178

Shower -- something off the registry + something fun or pretty

Wedding -- something off the registry and/or a check

H hates giving checks for gifts, so if one of his friends gets married and doesn't have a registry, my go to gift is Riedel wine glasses engraved with the couple's last initial.

achiduck

For the shower I purchase off the registry, usually wine or baking related since that always seems to be in my price range. If it's wine I usually like to throw in a bottle or two of my favourites or if it's baking I'll get a nice baking cookbook.

For the wedding I'm always 100% cash and the amount depends on what I can afford to spend and how close I am to the couple.

Simply Fated

For the shower I always try to buy off the registry. I usually aim for things I know that particular couple really wants. Like for my friends who LOVE to travel, I beelined right for the luggage.

For the wedding, I'm all about cash or checks.

Meg1036

I buy off the registry for both the shower and the wedding.  Like Anna, I tend to buy place settings.  I spend ~$50 for showers and ~$100 for a wedding.

specialk84

It depends on my relationship. If we're not super close, we give registry gifts for both the shower and the wedding.

If we are really close, we still get a registry item for the shower, but pair it with something fun. The wedding gift is usually something off-registry. When H's cousin got married, we paid for their mini-moon.

At my shower, SIL bought the french press from our registry, then also bought a grinder and an electric kettle. We use them every day, and it's not something we thought to register for. It was one of my favorite gifts.

MissOwl

thanks ladies. it's always cool to see what others do.

great note about place settings. i love that. 

Kate61487

For the shower I go to the registry; usually something in the $50 range.  I tend to look over the registry and get whatever item in my price range that I imagine I'd want most if I were the bride.  For weddings it's cash in an envelope, start at $100, more if we're closer

hbatchel2

It depends on how well I know the person. If its a good friend, I would probably get a small registry item for the shower plus something fun. Then probably cash and something else fun for the wedding.

If its just a cousin or someone I don't know as well, I would go with something from the registry for both.

One of FI's cousins who's met me like twice tried to go the fun route and bought me this set of kitchen towels with different martini glasses and stuff on them. Totally not my style at all plus I had already gotten all the kitchen towels I registered for, so I definitely didn't need it. I ended up giving it to a friend who just got her first apartment.

rebarobert2012

For the bridal shower, I like to get something from the registry because then the bride can open it at the shower.

For the wedding, I almost always give cash.  However, if there is something on the registry that I really want to get them, I do that.

I try to avoid getting items that are not on the registry.

jemmini6

Shower (if I even go, I hate showers): something from the registry

Wedding:  Cash or check (amount depends on closeness to the couple).

MyUserName1

For both I buy off the registry.  If its someone I know fairly well, I'll try to buy something that I can pair with an off-registry extra.

Like if its the french press, I'll buy some coffee and flavored syrup.  

If its cookware, I'll include an appropriate cookbook, etc.

I hate it when people go entirely off registry and give a gift basket full of "things everyone needs and never thinks to register for!" from the dollar tree.  Just take that 30 bucks and spend it on something they actually need.  If they didn't register for spatulas, spoons, dish towels, etc. it's because they don't need them.  Not that they didn't think to register for them.

sarahrarah16

Shower- I usally do something off the registry. I like to get a laundry basket and fill it with their towels/linens.

Wedding- Usually just a card w/ cash or a check.

jemmini6

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_gifts-shower-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0d09dce7-c18b-4ab9-bebf-5feb140048cfPost:3167eaed-8b4a-4c1c-b214-5c9e22c2b0cf">Re: What are your go-to gifts for shower and wedding?</a>:
[QUOTE]For both I buy off the registry.  If its someone I know fairly well, I'll try to buy something that I can pair with an off-registry extra. Like if its the french press, I'll buy some coffee and flavored syrup.   If its cookware, I'll include an appropriate cookbook, etc. I hate it when people go entirely off registry and give a gift basket full of "things everyone needs and never thinks to register for!" from the dollar tree.  Just take that 30 bucks and spend it on something they actually need. <strong> If they didn't register for spatulas, spoons, dish towels, etc. it's because they don't need them.  Not that they didn't think to register for them.</strong>
Posted by MyUserName1[/QUOTE]

This!  My mom told me her neighbors had bought us a new set of pans because "I can't believe they didn't register for them, everyone needs good pans."  Uh yeah, we needed good pans 3 years ago when we bought the house, so we bought them for ourselves (and better pans than she bought us anyways). 

My mom told her we already have some which is why we didn't register for them, so she ended up returning them herself and just gave us cash.

misstomrstodr

If pyrex is on the registry, I usually buy that. There's something about pyrex that makes a great wedding gift to me for some reason. That and anything Oxo.

As for the wedding gift... I'm with you. Cash in card!