Cash Is An Acceptable Bridal Shower Gift, But Do Your Research On The Couple First
Every occasion surrounding an upcoming wedding is both celebratory and stressful. Whether you are the bride, groom, family, or a friend, lots of expenses add up when it comes to preparing for a wedding. If asked to be the bride's right-hand woman, you may wonder, how much does it cost to be a maid of honor? And if you have been tasked with putting on one of the most significant celebratory events outside of the actual wedding, you may be looking for guidance on how much it costs to throw a bridal shower.
With all the decisions, prep, and money spent before the big day, it's okay to take a step back and not go above and beyond at the wedding or bridal shower. The one rule of wedding season still applies; do what the couple would appreciate the most — it is all about them, after all. If you're low on time, cash is an okay gift for a bridal shower. However, there are some best practices to follow to make sure your present is still meaningful.
Consider getting the couple a gift card that they'll actually use
The more you know about a couple, the easier it will be to find them the perfect bridal shower gift. Nonetheless, cash is always an acceptable option for a wedding shower gift. That could very well be cash, but most of us are hesitant to seal dollars into an envelope and hand it to a close friend or family member when more sentimental gifts could be chosen. Gift cards are a great way to let the couple decide what they want without too much time or effort on your end. But that does mean you need to have some base knowledge about the personalities, interests, and hobbies of the future spouses.
Some quick research could reveal what the ideal gift card would be for the couple in question, according to The Knot. One way to research could be by checking their wedding registry, per the example The Knot offers. Another option is looking through social media. If you see that the couple is always reviewing the latest released movies and heading out to the movie theater for date night, a gift card to their favorite movie theater would be meaningful and convenient.
While cash is certainly fine, the wedding registry reigns supreme
Cash is a totally acceptable gift for just about any occasion. But few milestones include organized, online registries like weddings. For a bridal shower, the safest options for gifts are the ones listed on the registry. The couple has put time and thought into what they will need to start their lives together, so don't feel bad that they have done the heavy lifting for you in terms of researching a perfect present. They have it on the registry for a reason!
Many couples nowadays will use online platforms for their wedding registries, perhaps even using their own website for anything and everything relating to their wedding. If you're the one making the registry, consider using this method to make gift-giving easier for your bridal shower guests. "Integrate your wedding registry into your wedding website, and share the link to your wedding website on all formal communication about your wedding, such as save-the-dates and wedding invitation [suites]," said Emily Forrest Skurnik, communications director at Zola, per Brides.
And if cash is on the registry, that's a win-win for the couple and the busy guest. Skurnik explained that "[it] is completely acceptable to register for cash" on a wedding registry to fund the honeymoon or other expenses. If there is a registry, check — cash may be just what the happy couple wants!