Bridal Shower Gift Etiquette

You do not need to send a shower gift. Simply RSVP that you are unable to attend. :-)

Thanks! I made sure to RSVP the day I got the invitation. Didn't want to forget about it, haha.

I have family out of state and we all always send invites for baby showers and bridal showers to everyone.. I got gifts from all of my out of town cousins and aunts and am in the same situation you are.. my cousin is getting married after us, and I got an invitation to his fiance's shower.. my mom and sisters and I are going in on a gift together and just having it shipped to them from their registry.. I personally feel that if you are invited, you need to send a gift.. even if it's something small

No if you can't show you do not have to send a gift. In my family you just seem to send invites as a notification and so someone can't complain they were not invited.

I don't think it's necessary to send a gift to a shower you're not attending. The fact that you don't know her is another reason you shouldn't feel obligated to send one, in my opinion.

I had an OOT guest that I invited to my shower... it is FH's aunt that I have never met and he hasn't seen in years. But we invited her at the request of his mom, which is fine, but i wouldn't expect her to send a gift if she was unable to attend.

In my family it is customary to send a gift even if you can't attend. I live out of state from my family and friends but still get shower invites (bridal and baby) and always still send a gift if I can't attend.

With that said, I don't believe it is necessary to do. If you want to send a gift, you can buy something off her registry online and have it shipped or mail her a card and a gift card or whatever. If you don't have the extra cash for a gift, don't worry about it. There is no right or wrong in this situation.

I'm sending invites to my OOT family, but just so they don't get butt hurt about not being invited. I don't expect them to come. I wouldn't be offended if I didn't receive a gift from them for both the bridal shower and wedding. I'd personally rather get one nice gift than two small gifts. That's just me

I was in your exact situation...except I had met the cousin's fiance once time. I choose to send a gift to be nice...that was in June....still haven't gotten a thank you note (10 months later)...also helped pay for a limo for the bachelorette, got her lingerie, and got them a wedding gift...yep, no thank you note for any of it...so now, I'm not really sure what to advise you. I would have felt great about sending the gift if it had ever been acknowledged, but since it wasn't, and since she didn't send me a shower gift to my December shower, I wish I had skipped it...

I was recently invited to three showers (two baby, one wedding) that I didn't attend. I sent gifts with my FMIL to give. I don't think it's a must. I think it's ok either way. I think it's up to you and what you think, and how close you are.

We invite everyone who would normally attend the wedding for shower invites no matter the distance. It's easier to have it declined than deal with hurt feelings from someone who didn't feel welcome or included.

In this situation since you don't know her I think its ok not to send a gift. If it were someone you knew I think etiquette dictates you do. But in this instance I think you don't need to. That's just my opinion though its always hard to tell with these etiquette rules. I doubt she would be offended if you didn't senf one.