So you have been invited to a wedding – congratulations! Soon you will be celebrating the wedded bliss of your friend or family member. You will get to dance the night away, have a nice dinner and spend time with everyone. Other than showing up and dressing nicely there is just one piece of social etiquette you will need to follow – bring a wedding present. And to make things a little more confusing, if you get invited to an “extra party” like the bridal shower, you will need to bring a present just for that as well. But don’t worry – just follow these easy steps and you’ll do fine.

The easiest way to pick a great wedding gift is to check the bridal registry. Most couples will have registered at a department store that sells everything from appliances to home furnishings. If they have a registry the best thing you can do is go to the store in person (or just check online) and see what they have wish-listed that’s in your price range. You will find anything from cutlery dining sets to toaster ovens, or bedding to washroom items. Feel free to pick anything at all – everything you see on the list will have been hand-selected by the bride and groom so you know they are sure to like it.

If you are not so lucky to be guided by a wedding registry, don’t worry. Here are some of the most commonly given wedding gifts. Pick any of them and you will be following etiquette and giving something useful:

• Dining room sets (plates, cutlery, napkins, etc)
• Small appliances (toasters, microwaves, etc.)
• Artwork
• Towels and bedding

Another option for people who either can’t shop at the registered store, or need to do their gift-giving last minute, is giving good old-fashioned cash. One of the biggest benefits of giving money for a wedding present is the freedom the couple will have to decide exactly what to spend it on. Maybe there was something on the registry they didn’t get. Maybe they want to put it toward buying a house together. Whatever the case, you can be sure it will go to good use.

As mentioned earlier, giving a gift at the bridal shower is a separate event. The bridal shower is usually held in the month before the wedding takes place. On that occasion, you will be able to give the bride something special. You can still give something off of the bridal registry, or something just for the bride-to-be. Here are some good gift ideas for you:

• Wine or wine & cheese sets
• Lingerie
• Jewellery
• Kitchen ware
• Towels

You might also ask – what about the groom? Well, the groom usually has a stag party but it is not really a time of gift-giving. For the most part, the stag party is a time for the groom to enjoy being with his mates. So if you go to one you can certainly bring a gift but it is by no means expected of you.

Just remember that no matter what the event or occasion might be called, when it comes time to give a gift to friends or family getting married, it is a joyous time and they are happy to see you.

Guest Blogger: From the Wedding Hanger Shop – your source for custom wedding hangers for the perfect wedding dress photo.

Did you know?

“Always” is the name of a popular song written by Irving Berlin in 1925 as a wedding gift for his bride, Ellin McKay.

-Tari

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