bridal shower gifts...wedding gifts?

If they gave you a gift at a shower, record it as a shower gift. But know that not everyone will give both a shower and a wedding gift. About 50% of the guests at my shower did not buy me an additional wedding gift, which was fine with me. I don't expect my guests to buy 2 different gifts! Seems silly. Its all for the same reason: My marriage.

First, sometimes bridesmaids go into a gift together and instead of getting her a few smaller items, they combine their money to buy one big item like the pot and pan set or professional mixer. I would ask the Maid of Honor if there is any plan like this. Second, you can always go the registry route. It's the most common and this way you can be sure you get something she likes (she picked it!) and you can choose what to spend (most brides register for an assortment of things in different price ranges). But you can always go for something original. You are her best friend and you are a bridesmaid so do you know of something she needs/wants that you can help with? One of my bridesmaids was in town for the shower and i happened to be picking up my wedding shoes the day she was with me. While there she sprang for the matching handbag for me. It's not something I would have spent money on for myself but it was something I loved and not something anyone else would have thought to get for me. Does your bride have her toasting glasses, her throw garter or her cake set? As for a wedding gift, most people (speaking from my own personal experience) give cash for the wedding gift. Few will want to walk into a reception w/ a wrapped gift so they will put some cash or a check in a card for the couple. If you don't like that idea you can go the gift certificate route. Find out where they are going on a honeymoon and get them a gift certificate for couples massages, to a show or for a good dinner. Most people spend what the couple spent on their plate at the wedding (within reason, if a couple has a $250/head wedding no one is expected to give that much in return). Between $50-$100 per person is appropriate if you can afford it.

You would send separate thank you cards for bridal shower gifts. Then when you receive gifts for the wedding (which should be something other than just the bridal shower gift), you would send thank you cards for your wedding gifts too.

So basically...send thank you cards for your shower now.

Then when everything settles after your wedding, send the thank you cards for your wedding gifts.

A shower gift is different from a wedding gift. You should send separate thank you cards.

Bridal shower gifts that you send a separate thank you card for, and probably before your wedding.

Bridal shower gifts are different than wedding gifts. People normally give cash for wedding gifts.

Since there's no way to know what they plan to do, just thank them for the gift. Something like: "It was great seeing you at my shower, and I truly love the blah blah blah. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness".