The Complete Guide to Wedding Gift Giving

Posted by jackthomas on October 4th, 2019

Lots of gifts will exchange hands when there is a wedding! Whether you are the bride and groom, a member of the bridal party, or simply a guest, you can expect to give at least one or two gifts after an engagement is announced. Sort it all out with this complete guide to wedding gift giving.

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen. Give: A wedding gift to the bride and groom. Bridesmaids will also likely be invited to a bridal shower, meaning they will also give a shower gift. Groomsmen do not usually give a gift to the groom other than their wedding present to the couple, although they will probably chip in to take him out on the town for the bachelor party.

Get: It is customary for the bride and groom to give bridesmaid gift and groomsmen gifts to their attendants. Bridesmaid jewelry is the most traditional gift for the ladies, and engraved silver items like cuff links or pocketknives are tops for the guys. The bridal party will also receive a wedding favor at the reception.

Flower Girls and Ring Bearers: Give: Nothing. Surely no one expects a wedding present from a child? If the flower girl is invited to the bridal shower, she can sign her name to the card on her mom's present to the bride.

Get: The flower girl and ring bearer should be given small gifts of appreciation by the bride and groom. Flower girl jewelry is a favorite present for little girls. The flower girl jewelry can coordinate with the bridesmaid jewelry gifts, or be something totally different. The ring bearer should also receive a gift, such as a small silver piggy bank.

The Bride and Groom: Give: Gifts to the bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, and ring bearer. The couple may decide to give one another wedding gifts, although sometimes they decide that the wedding rings are gift enough. It is also nice for the bride and groom to give a gift to their parents, as appreciation for throwing their wedding, and just for helping to raise them. Gifts for wedding vendors like the bridal salon owner or caterer are optional, but thoughtful if the person has really gone all out to make the wedding a grand success. The bride should also give a small gift of thanks to the hosts of any parties in her honor, including the bridal shower. And don't forget the wedding favors for all the guests!

Get: Lots! Wedding gifts from the guests and their parents, bridal shower gifts, and possibly presents from one another. It should be noted that it is not expected that guests will give engagement party gifts to the happy couple.

Wedding Guests: Give: A wedding gift to the happy couple. If invited to a bridal shower, there will also be a shower gift (if the shower is attended).

Get: A wedding favor. And hopefully a great time at the wedding!

Parents of the Bride and Groom: Give: In many cases, the wedding itself is a gift from one or both families. It is also customary for the parents to give their children a separate wedding gift. This can range from a house to the honeymoon to a pretty picture frame engraved with the wedding date, depending on how much cash is left over after paying for the wedding expenses.

Get: The bride and groom will often decide to give a gift to their parents, usually on the weekend of the wedding. Popular gifts include wedding jewelry for the moms, gift certificates to a great restaurant, or a bottle of wine with a heartfelt note.

 By

 Guy Antonelli