When it comes to the wedding shower, gifts are almost a must. While there is no restriction that you should never go to a wedding shower without a gift, it is somewhat assumed that you will.

The gifts given at a wedding shower are designed to help the bride and the groom to begin their life together. For that reason, the gifts given are generally things for their household. You may give them things for the kitchen, the bath, the bedroom or any place else in the home that you know that they need something for.

If you are not sure what the bride and groom need for their new home, it is okay to ask the bride's parents or the groom's parents, or other close family members for advice.

You can give a monetary gift for the wedding shower if you feel that this is a more appropriate gift for the couple. Often, a monetary gift will be one of the most appreciated gifts given at any time simply because of the sheer cost of the wedding itself.

Yet, it is important to take note in the fact that a gift that is given at a wedding shower is the most customary thing given, and the most prized.

At the wedding shower, it is also customary that these gifts will be open for the guests to see. For that reason, gifts should be purchased with this kept in mind.

Other Appropriate Times

The co workers of the bride may decide to give the bride an office shower. At the office shower, those that know the bride well will give her a gift. Generally speaking the gifts are something for the home. But, they are often much less costly than the gifts given at a bridal shower.

The office shower is less formal, generally only being a 'lunch hour' occasion. There should also be a cake and/or a deli tray presented to those that come to the shower. The person closest to the bride will give her the shower but a boss can do so as well.

Guests invited to an office bridal shower do not have to be invited to the wedding shower and do not need to be invited to the wedding unless it was originally planned.

Appropriate Choices

Gifts at a wedding shower can be virtually anything that is needed for the home. While every family is different, gifts are usually given that are high in quality, something that is useful or something that has sentimental value.

The goal of the gift is to help the couple to prepare their new home for their arrival. For that reason, virtually anything for the home, from dishes and pots and pans to fine china and large appliances are acceptable.

Those that are closer to the bride and the groom generally will give a larger gift, but there is no hard rule for this either.

It is customary for the maid of honor and other bridesmaids to give gifts to the bride and groom as well. In most cases, the parents of the couple will also provide a gift to them at this occasion, unless they feel that it is necessary to keep it to themselves, in which case they can.

From The Other Point Of View

If you are the bride or the groom, you too have gifts to give out to those that are in your wedding party. It is customary for these gifts to be given, but what you give is really up to you and your budget. Wedding gifts are a sign of thank you, of welcome to our new life and of a significant start to the new life that you will be leading together.