Do Bridesmaids Give Wedding Gifts?

So you've accepted a bridesmaid proposal and are starting the process of making a bridesmaid budget. You've done lots of research on what expenses bridesmaids are traditionally expected to pay for, but still haven't found a concrete answer to your question, "Do bridesmaids give wedding gifts?" You know you have to buy your bridesmaid dress and accessories, in addition to (potentially) paying for your hair and makeup for the wedding day, but the costs don't end there. Basically, you'll have to be a budgeting pro while also adhering to bridesmaid gift-to-bride etiquette along the way. If you're not sure if you need to spend another $100 on pillowcases or a set of cheese knives for the newlyweds' kitchen, read this first.

In this article:

• Do Bridesmaids Give Wedding Gifts?
• How Much Should a Bridesmaid Spend on a Wedding Gift?
• Do Bridesmaids Give a Bridal Shower Gift?
• Do Bridesmaids Have To Give Gifts at Prewedding Events?

Do Bridesmaids Give Wedding Gifts?

Even though you're already spending a lot of your money and time as a member of the wedding party, bridesmaid etiquette indicates that you should still give a wedding gift to the couple. Bridesmaids are supposed to get the bride a gift for some prewedding events as well. Below, we'll cover the events where gifts are necessary, so you can set a gift budget that works for you.

How Much Should a Bridesmaid Spend on a Wedding Gift?

Want to know exactly how much to spend on a wedding gift so you can set your budget? To show appreciation for your role and to say congratulations to the couple, we suggest bridesmaids spend between $100 and $120 (or more), depending on your budget and whether or not you're splitting the cost with a plus-one. Think about what you can afford, how much you want to spend on gifts for the prewedding events and nonmonetary ways you plan to contribute to help you decide.

Do Bridesmaids Give a Bridal Shower Gift?

Modern etiquette for who hosts and pays for the wedding shower determines if you have to give a gift at the party. Typically, one of the bridesmaids—most often, the maid or matron of honor—hosts the bridal shower and is expected to pay for the majority, if not all, of the costs. If you're not hosting and want to help pay for additional bridal shower costs, like food or decor, ask the host how you can chip in (they will definitely appreciate it).

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According to traditional wedding etiquette, bridesmaids should give a bridal shower gift since one of the purposes of the event is for the couple to receive items from their registry. Here's the catch: Exactly how much to spend on a shower gift depends on your role in the event. If you hosted or contributed a lot of money to the shower, you're not required to spend money on an extravagant gift. Instead, buy a wedding gift that fits your budget or consider putting in money for a group gift with the other bridesmaids.

Do Bridesmaids Have To Give Gifts at Prewedding Events?

Now that we've answered your question about whether or not bridesmaids give wedding gifts, you might still be wondering: Do bridesmaids give wedding gifts at other events? From the engagement party to the bachelorette trip, we're breaking down the etiquette for each.

The Engagement Party

One of the first questions you might have is whether you should bring a gift to an engagement party. This is the couple's first wedding-related event, so a gift is a great way to say congratulations. Around the time of the celebration, the couple will be in the beginning stages of their wedding planning process, so most likely, they haven't created a wedding registry yet. But don't stress. You can never go wrong with a nice bottle of champagne, but if it's a gift for your newly engaged best friend, consider a personalized coffee mug or engagement photo frame.

The Bach Party

This is one of the expenses bridesmaids are traditionally expected to pay for and plan. Some bridesmaids can afford to pay for their own trip costs, including travel, accommodations and meal expenses, on top of party decor and footing the bill for the bride. Other bridesmaids might only be able to afford their share, which is completely fine. Before making any final decisions about bachelorette destinations and activities, we recommend getting together with the other bridesmaids to chat about what works best for everyone financially.

All that said, you're probably still wondering: Do you need to bring a gift to a bachelorette party? Since you are helping to pay for and plan the event, you don't need to give the bride something else—the act of throwing the party is considered a gift. If you do want to surprise the bride, consider pitching in with the rest of the bridesmaids to get her a funny T-shirt or other bachelorette keepsake.

The Rehearsal Dinner

Simply put, no. You don't have to give the couple a gift at the rehearsal dinner. Hopefully, you will have already purchased a wedding gift for the couple by that time, but we know your schedule can get hectic as a wedding party member. We've created a list of some trusted last-minute wedding gift ideas, like donating to the couple's cash fund or buying them a cooking class, to help you out.