How Much to Spend on Bridal Shower Gift

WhatToGetMy Instructional Article

• There isn’t per se a rule of thumb on how much to spend on a bridal shower gift. However, the norm is that $25 – $100 is normally spent on a bridal shower gift. Read on to find out what you should consider in choosing an amount that works for you from this spectrum.
• How about bridesmaids? Do they also buy a bridal shower gift? Of course, they do. Read on to find out how much to spend on a bridal shower gift if you are a bridesmaid.
• We also answer other bridal shower questions you may have such as how much is a good budget for a bridal shower. Be sure to check out the FAQs section for these answers.

Bridal showers are the celebration of the bride before the wedding itself. They are usually a little more formal than bachelorette parties because the guest list is a mix of both family members and friends and the tone is not as informal as a party. This is unlike the bachelorette party which is very much a party with the bride’s girlfriends and therefore very informal.

If you’ve been invited to a bridal shower you should get excited because attending the bridal shower is a chance to be a part of the bride’s wedding story. And you do not want to turn up empty-handed without a gift as that would not be exactly cool.

But how much should you spend on this bridal shower gift is the burning question right? What is a good amount to spend so that you don’t make the wrong impression? We can understand the little anxiety you are faced with over this question. Knowing how much to spend on a bridal shower gift would help with knowing what to buy as a bridal shower gift.

If you don’t know exactly how much is a good bridal shower gift etiquette amount, read on to find the answer.

You may like this wedding-related article on How much to spend on wedding anniversary gift.

Do you bring a gift to a bridal shower?

Good bridal shower gift etiquette requires that you come with a gift to a bridal shower. Even if it is a small gift, it is better than showing up empty-handed.

It is also important to remember that bringing a gift to a bridal shower is not a substitute for a wedding gift. And thus, it is important to bear this in mind when drawing up your budget. And if you are on a tight budget, then split your budgeted amount into two to cater for both a bridal shower gift and a wedding gift.

You might also like our article on Gift giving and receiving etiquette for more gift-giving etiquettes.

How much should you spend on a bridal shower gift?

There isn’t per se a rule of thumb on how much is an appropriate bridal shower gift amount or what is a good bridal shower gift price. It is more the thought that counts more than anything.

With that said though, the practice appears to have evolved around spending between $25 to $80 on a bridal shower gift. How much you spend on a bridal shower gift from that spectrum will depend on the following factors:

1. Your budget.

This is usually the main determining factor of how much you get to spend on a bridal shower gift. You don’t need to break your bank account if you cannot afford to splurge on a bridal shower gift. And especially since you still need to buy a wedding gift.

Whatever your budget may be though, try to budget at least the minimum threshold of $25 for the gift. $25 is doable and is a reasonable amount regardless of how tight the budget may be. You can budget $25 for the bridal shower gift and $25 for the wedding gift, making a total of $50 for both gifts and everybody is happy.

If however, your budget would not allow at all for even that $25, then think of giving a personalized DIY gift that would be sentimental and lovely. This would still bring a smile to the bride’s face because personalized gifts always strike a special chord in the heart of the receiver.

If you don’t have a budget and are flexible to spend any amount, then consider the higher end of the spectrum in buying a gift. And remember not to spend it all because there is still the wedding gift to buy.

2. Your relationship with the bride.

Your closeness or otherwise with the bride would also determine the type of gift you purchase and by extension how much you ultimately spend. If you are not very close to the bride, you could get away with purchasing a gift of $25 which is likely to be small. If however, you are close to the bride, the expectation may be that your gift should be a little more weighty than a $25 gift.

3. The preferences the bride may have.

The bride may have preferences of gifts she would like to receive. It is commonplace these days for couples to create a wedding registry of gift items they would like to receive. This is a good place to start in finding out what the bride’s preference(s) might be. And if she doesn’t have one and you are not very close to her to know what type of things she likes, you could ask a close friend or family member. This would also help you know how much to spend on a gift.

How much to spend on a bridal shower gift if you are a bridesmaid.

What is it like to be a bridesmaid today? Source: Ultimatebrides

Bridesmaids are the other glam feature of the wedding after the pretty bride. Some weddings have as many as 6 bridesmaids as seen in the above chart. And so, if you’re a bridesmaid then you know that you stand in a different position from other attendees at the shower. Your gift should stand out from the rest or at least have an extra personal touch to it.

How much you spend on a bridal shower gift if you are a bridesmaid has to be above the minimum $25 threshold. For bridesmaids, the lower threshold is usually $50 and can go as high as $100.

Frequently asked questions.

1. Is there an appropriate bridal shower gift amount?

There isn’t one per se but the practice has evolved to having gifts in the range of $25 to $100. Persons who are not very close to the bride can get away with $25 gifts but close friends and family cannot exactly get away with giving a $25 gift. They would usually be expected to give gifts of at least $50.

2. What is the average cost of a bridal shower?

The average cost of a bridal shower will be determined by the number of guests invited to the shower and the budget of the organizer of the shower. Conservative spenders normally spend as little as $10 per guest while big spenders go as high as $50 – $100 per person. So, if for example, you have 20 persons on the guest list, that would translate to $200 on the lower end of the spectrum or between $1,000 or $2,000 on the higher end.

So, the average amount is really for the bride to decide looking at her budget and the estimates given.

3. What is a good budget for a bridal shower?

A good budget would be anything in the region of $200 – $300 for a 20 person guest list, at the cost of $10/$15 per person. This is a good budget for the conservative spender who doesn’t have a lot of money to splurge. If however, you can afford something a little higher, then a good budget would be anything in the region of $1,000 to $2,000 for a 20 person guest list at the cost of $50/$100 per person.

4. How much to give for a bridal shower?

While there is nothing wrong with giving money as a gift for a bridal shower, tangible gifts work better than monetary gifts. This is because with tangible gifts they can always look at it and remember you whereas, with monetary gifts, it would be spent and forgotten. And not to mention that the other risk with monetary gifts is that they may not have as much dazzle as tangible gifts and may not be appreciated as much. So, unless the bride has specifically asked for monetary gifts, it’s best to buy a tangible gift.

And the amount you will spend on the gift will depend on your budget, your closeness with the bride, and whatever gift preferences the bride may have. Within these 3 considerations, the norm is to give a gift that ranges between $25 to $100. If you are not very close to the bride, you can get away with giving a $25 gift. If however, you are close to the bride, like being a bridesmaid or a very close friend, then you can’t give anything less than a $50 gift.

5. What are some bridal shower money gift ideas?

Rather than give actual money, you can buy the couple tickets to a special show you know they like. For this option, it would be great to find out from their close friends or a family member what shows or events they love and give them tickets for the event.

You could also gift them cash vouchers from their favorite store or even an Amazon gift card loaded with money so that they can buy whatever they want.

6. What is an appropriate bridal shower gift?

The best bridal shower gifts are usually gifts the couple wants. And they would usually indicate what they want in their gift registry. It is best to buy an item from that gift registry as a bridal shower gift and still buy the wedding gift from the same registry.

If you decide you want to be creative and come up with your gift, personalized gifts always work best. If you also have some time to spare, DIY gifts that are personalized are also a winner. Our helpful article on 23 Best Gifts for newly engaged woman has other creative gifts you could consider.

Gift items that have to do with a new home also work because she is starting a new home with her husband. You can get some ideas of such types of gifts in our article on Gifts for new apartment owners.

Try to avoid rather risque gifts like lingerie at a bridal shower because of the semi-formal nature of the bridal shower. You never know which of the bride’s guests are super conservative and may not appreciate something as risque as lingerie. Save the risque gifts for a less formal occasion like a girl’s night out or the bachelorette party.

Conclusion.

Attending a bridal shower without a gift would not look very appropriate. It is good to attend a bridal shower with a gift even if it is a very small gift.

When it comes to how much to spend on that gift, even though there isn’t a rule of thumb on how much to spend, the norm is that the amount to spend normally ranges between $25 to $100. Where one would fall on that spectrum will ultimately be determined by their relationship and closeness with the bride. Not so close invitees can get away with buying a gift of $25. Close friends and family and the bridesmaids however would be expected to spend $50 at the minimum.

And for the best bridal shower gift, gifts on the bride’s gift registry are always the best to purchase. If you however want to be creative, settle for personalized gifts. You can also check out our two earlier gift articles that we mentioned for great gift ideas you can settle for.

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