Wedding season typically involves a series of events that lead to the big ceremony, including one that the future wife especially anticipates: the bridal shower. While the ceremony and reception are filled with plenty of love, attention and gifts, this intimate celebration is the perfect opportunity to give the couple your well-wishes and some personalized presents to complement their new lives together.
The pre-wedding ritual dates all the way back to 16th century Europe, originally serving as a time to provide the bride's family with enough funds to compensate the groom. While the tradition has evolved over the centuries, the sentiment of setting up the happy couple for post-nuptial success remains.
For those in need of extra guidance as we approach peak wedding shower season, Shop TODAY spoke to an expert to reveal the latest nuances on bridal shower gifting. Whether you're in search of a set of plates for the future spouses or the perfect bridal shower treat, we compiled a list of bona fide products the couple will be using for years to come.
What is an appropriate gift for a bridal shower?
If you're familiar with the term "not safe for work", you should keep the same mindset when shopping for a bridal shower gift. (Remember, the bride will probably open her gifts in front of everyone attending the party.) Therefore, keep it appropriate and safe for her parents and future in-laws.
According to wedding planner Charissa Eykelhoff, it's better to gift something their wedding registry and stick to items the couple will use after they tie the knot.
"If your bride-to-be has a specific interest, use that for inspiration," Eykelhoff adds.
Below are some of Eykelhoff's recommendations and general go-tos for bridal shower gifting:
- Home storage and organization items
- Meal service subscriptions
- Wedding albums
- Ring boxes or items they can use on their wedding day
Do's and don'ts for bridal shower gifting
While there are no general rules on how much you should spend on a bridal shower gift, there is some etiquette involved with what you decide on giving the couple. Eykelhoff advises avoiding re-gifting or giving things for the bedroom. Instead, give the bride something thoughtful, useful, affordable and sentimental (based on your relationship with the couple).
"You can also gift a talent/skill as an example. If the couple is fixing up a house and you are a great woodworker, offer to help them with renovations," she shares.
The wedding expert also recommends keeping your gifting simple if they're limited on resources for bringing everything from the party venue back to their residence.
"Remember, they will have to cart everything home. Instead of bringing a large gift, mail it to the couple's home and put a photo of the gift on a card to let them know it's on the way."
Unique bridal shower gifts to shop
These buttery cookies are ideal for the couple celebrating a cultural wedding. Siete Foods is known for incorporating traditional Mexican heritage into their grain-free products, and these bite-sized sweets are a great treat they can enjoy on their way to their honeymoon.
Give the future Mrs. something cute to hang her wedding dress on. This personalized wooden hanger will make her day extra special and is a great way to add a little extra oomph to her closet.
If they plan to pen their own vows to read during the ceremony, gift them these paperback booklets (the groom is sure to appreciate being included!). Available in an assortment of colors, you can choose to have “Her Vows,” “His Vows,” “Our Vows,” or “Their Vows” written across the cover in a plain or cursive font.
Comfort is key while getting ready for the wedding, so give your bride these chic slides with the phrase “I do crew.” It’s a great way to remind her of the big day whenever she wears them, and she’ll appreciate the cozy memory foam underfoot.
How well do you know your partner? Well enough to be able to guess what color they’re describing? 2024 bride Maia Augustine and her partner love this guessing game that puts them to the test.
“Hues and Cues is a great game to play with friends and family, with any age that’s different from any other game,” she says. “In our experience playing, it’s engaging, easy to learn and brings a lot of laughs.”
Brides-to-be know they're always being asked to see their ring or to have pictures taken of it, so it's important to have their nails done at all times. Luckily, Glamnetic released an entire bridal collection, aptly named "Happily Ever After." It contains eight different nails, all of which are great for every event from bridal shower to wedding day.
"Glamnetic always has the cutest nail designs," says associate editor Kamari Stewart. "I recently got engaged and can't wait to wear these for all of my bridal events."
Their love will always meet at the intersection with this adorable home decor gift. This art print can be personalized with the bride and groom’s name.
Keep their engagement ring sparkling with this jewelry cleaner. Commerce editor and producer Julie Ricevuto says, “ I use this to clean my engagement ring and I love it! It really works. Plus it comes in travel-friendly towelettes to help with cleaning on the day of your wedding/on-the-go.”
While it's easy to don pajamas while getting ready for the ceremony, she may want to rock some silk on her special day. This mulberry silk robe features a premium drape and comes in four colors.
Tap into the “pearlcore” trend with this initial necklace that features a gold letter. It’s ideal for the bride who loves a minimalist and feminine style.
Commemorate their big day in a big way with this customizable picture frame. Associate editor Lauren Witonsky got this frame for her friend and says, "It’s super heavy/high quality and the engraving service was relatively inexpensive compared to other brands."
Personalize this beaded clutch with her new last name, color scheme and add the couple’s “I do” date for a gift she won't want to put down — even after the wedding.
“If you’re having trouble deciding (or need a last-minute gift that won’t be influenced by shipping times), a gift card to their registry is a nice gesture, too. The couple can use this toward any items not purchased by the wedding date that they’d still love to have," says senior partnerships editor Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil.
Fill out the blanks in this book as you reminisce on your first year together, answering prompts such as “Something new we learned about each other,” or “Favorite adventure together.” With a spot to tape a photo down, this book has enough room for 50 years worth of memories.
For the couple that holds a special place in their hearts for a specific spot (perhaps the bar where they had their first date or the park where they had their proposal), these custom coasters can be personalized with their location of choice.
She'll get the most use out of these sunglasses from Diff Eyewear's bridal collection — especially if she's a spring or summer bride! They promise 100% UVA/UVB protection and the lenses are made of premium scratch-resistant polymer, according to the brand.
"I've pretty much only worn Diff Eyewear sunglasses for the past 5 years and they're all still in great shape," says Stewart. "They're an investment but the brand partners with a non-profit organization to provide vision services to people in need, so you both look good and feel good about your purchase."
If your bride is all about the classic things in life, BedHead Pajamas has you covered. The soft fabric was chosen with comfort in mind to keep her cool throughout the night. But be mindful, shoppers say these pajamas run large.
There are so many events leading up to the wedding, it can be expensive to buy all new outfits every time. Nuuly is a subscription service where you can rent outfits and return them at the end of a month.
A gift card for $150 will cover the cost of a subscription for one month ($98 + tax), plus a little extra she can used toward outright buying any of the pieces she really loves.
Home bridal shower gifts to shop
If the couple loves hosting guests, give them a personalized charcuterie board. This classic kitchen piece comes with a customized engraving of the couple’s initials and is conditioned with mineral oil to ensure it lasts beyond their first wedding anniversary.
If the couple enjoys drinking wine, this Yeti tumbler will come in handy. The mug can be customized and comes with a smooth-sliding lid to protect her libation while keeping it cold.
Give them the royal treatment with this "Bridgerton"-inspired teacup set. The fine china cups and saucers are dishwasher-safe and will add an elegant vibe to their table setting.
Bring the spa to their home with this beautiful gift set from Williams Sonoma. The towel can be personalized and adds a delicate texture to their bathroom.
With how much time Augustine and her soon-to-be husband spend outside, they're excited about how easy these lounge chairs are to pack and take along with them when camping.
"I think they are a great idea for those who do not have room for patio furniture and/or want something comfortable and relaxing, but easy to move when going camping," she says.
Every couple will appreciate a new set of sheets and this option from Brooklinen is the ultimate gift. The luxurious-feeling weaved cotton fabric will make the future couple’s slumbers more peaceful and enjoyable.
"This is high on my want list," says 2025 bride Haylee Knudsen. "Living with men, pets, (and eventually, kids) I need something that can take on heavy-duty messes," she says.
This little, green, powerhouse of a machine promises to clean carpeted and fabric areas with ease, thanks to its hose and scrub brush features. The brand notes it collects pet hair, cleans dirt and debris and will leave areas looking spotless.
According to the brand, this blanket will change their married life. With a near-perfect rating, this 10-by-10-foot throw is the perfect piece to keep the bride and groom comfy during a movie marathon.
“I no longer have to stick my arm or leg out to try and regulate my temperature from being too hot or too cold. It’s also one of the softest blankets I’ve ever had!” added one shopper.
If this Ninja ice cream maker is not on their wedding registry already, the couple will appreciate this delicious surprise. Indulge their sweet tooth with this must-have kitchen appliance that will churn a smooth, creamy gelato in just minutes.
Whether it's cookies, a loaf of sourdough or one of the recipes they've been passed down, this KitchenAid mixer will quickly become a go-to gadget in their new kitchen.
"This is at the top of my list!" says Knudsen. "As I enter this new era, I find myself baking or wanting to bake more and more and now that I have a house with space to store a stand mixer, I feel like it's a must."
For the home chef that loves creating new concoctions, give her this Le Creuset Dutch oven. The brand’s cookware tends to sell out quickly (especially when they do a vibrant color drop!), so the newlyweds won’t hesitate to invite you over after the honeymoon’s over.
Travel-themed bridal shower gifts to shop
A travel jewelry case is perfect for keeping essential pieces safe, protected and neatly stowed away. This one from Azazie can be customized with her name, the happy couple's name or even their wedding date. You can also opt to add a cute little floral graphic. It comes in seven colors.
This personalized bag from Azazie can hold all of her toiletries and then some. Not only is it perfect for travel, she can also use it on the big day to hold makeup touch-up essentials or anything else she'd like to keep on hand.
Start their honeymoon with style and gift the happy couple matching packing cubes.
These compression packing cubes were made for the over-packers who want to fit just a little more into their vacation. The couple can also rock their new last name if you choose to customize it with an embroidered monogram.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY team works hard to find the best products and coolest gifts out there. We use our own personal experiences with brands to find the best gifts for bridal showers.
Meet the expert
- Charissa Eykelhoff is a Connecticut-based wedding planner with almost a decade of event planning experience.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present for every anniversary milestone including five years, 10 years, 20 years and more.
Bedsure Gentlesoft 2-in-1 Queen Comforter Set
Bedsure Gentlesoft 2-in-1 Queen Comforter Set