What's the difference in gifts for a bridal shower and an engagement party?

The shower (usually called the bridal shower, but it's for the couple) is for registries or gift lists. On that include things you will need for your home, such as bedroom items, bathroom and kitchen items. The engagement parties are not typically a gift giving occasion. The engagement party is to celebrate the engagement. Some people do bring gifts, but they tend to be smaller items such as wine, picture frames, etc. The bachelorette party or personal shower is where you would get items for you, such as lingerie, wild stuff, etc.

An engagement party is a party thrown by the engaged couple themselves, usually about a month or so after getting engaged, to just sort of celebrate the good news with their friends and family. It is usually rather informal, like a cocktail hour at their home or a nearby restaurant, and gifts are not to be expected. More often than not, close friends and family members will bring a little gift for them, just a token of affection like a wedding planning guide or a nice bottle of wine, but nothing should be expected, and there is no registry for engagement gifts.

A bridal shower, on the other hand, is thrown by friends or family of the bride (usually the MOH and bridesmaids throw her one), about a month before the wedding. Sometimes it's a surprise shower, and sometimes she knows about it, but the bride should never throw her own shower. As for the gifts, there is no separate registry for a bridal shower. Guests are encouraged to buy shower gifts from the same registry that the bride and groom created for wedding gifts. However, the bridal shower presents should be considerably smaller than wedding presents. For example, a good thing to bring to a shower is a set of nice towels, whereas a good wedding gift would be a bit bigger, like a cookware set or a kitchen appliance of some kind. Either way, your wish list should be all-inclusive, not a separate list for each event.

I would say that the engagement party is more about the couple-I have never really been to an engagement party where there were gifts, mainly just food, congratulations and hugs! Bridal shower is good for personal items and items off your wedding registry. If anything you and your significant other could just go register at a few places and include where you are registered in the invites to all your parties. The guests and decide based on that what they want to spend for each occasion.

Good luck and have fun!

Bridal shower gifts are usually given to the BRIDE (lingerie, perfume, house stuff...). Sometimes the groom to be comes to the bridal shower....at least the few I've been to recently.

An engagement party is generally just a celebration of the engagement....light refreshments and if gifts are given they are given to the couple.

The engagement party is not to solicit gifts - it is to acknowledge the engagement, provide food and party. Gifts are given at the bridal shower (house stuff) and at the wedding (usually cash gifts).

In my community, gifts are not given at the engagement shower. On the other hand, we seem to give more showers for the bride than alot of areas, so the people who are invited to the engagement party will also be invited to at least one shower. At my nieces engagement parties (she had two, one in her home state and one in her current state, her family one place, his family in the other) she got a few gifts, bottles of wine, mostly and a couple of Christmas ornaments since it was the season.....

gifts are not usually expected at an engagement party unless from family and close friends....usually the presents are for both the future bride and groom...a bridal shower , gifts can be whatever the bride and groom registered for, or if it is a specialty shower, gifts that relate to that

Bridal shower is more personal for the bride....very personal. Bed room attire and toys are given at this party. Not for those under the age of rated R movie......ha ha kidding. it is mainly for the bride and gifts for her and her use wit her husband and such...maybe bath stuff to make you feel all pretty and clean. =P

Engagement party is for the couple...so gifts that would benefit both not just one of you.

i agree with wild joke...

engagement is usually right off the registry (if anything) and at bridal's i've seen everything from 'pantie' parties, to 'dress the kitchen' (buy cookware) or 'dress the bedroom' (pillows, bed linens).