Do guests bring gifts to Bridal Shower and Wedding?

Yes, you typically get gifts for both! Physical gifts are usually the norm for showers. For weddings, a lot of people prefer to give cash; but some people may bring physical gifts to the wedding as well.

Generally gifts are brought to both events as they are separate and not everyone invited to the wedding will be invited to the bridal shower (if one is held).

Where I come from, it is not uncommon for brides to have registries for the bridal shower and a wishing well for the wedding, though how guests choose to gift will nonetheless be at their discretion.

It depends on your family and social circle’s traditions. A shower is for physical gifts only according to etiquette which is not archaic. In some families and social circles, cash only is given at the wedding and you are expected to estimate how much the couple possibly spent per person which no guest has any way of doing so, and physical gifts are considered taboo. In other social circles, the opposite is true and cash is never gifted for any occasion. Never assume that all guests everywhere will automatically give cash because if you don’t register for physical gifts, you will get many personalized cutting boards and other gifts you don’t want and can’t return.


When in doubt, ask your parents and friends what is customary in your group. Also for etiquette questions, consult Miss Manners’ Guide to Weddings.

Gifts to bridal shower, money to weddings

Yes, gifts to both. Usually for a bridal shower, people choose off the registry. For the wedding it's mostly cash +/- stuff off the registry.

You do get gifts for both. I got a lot of gifts for my bridal shower and for the wedding most typically give money

Yes, as everyone has said, in cultures where bridal showers are common, gifts are brought/given for each occasion (and the checks/cash that many bring to weddings is a gift!).

But I wouldn't attempt to "educate" the younger people on what is expected. That will only come across as gift grabby behavior on your part. Invite whomever you want to each event (though only wedding guests can also be invited to the shower) and then just allow yourself to stop worrying about gifts. You will get plenty, don't worry!

Separate gifts for wedding and shower, at least in the Northeast. We had guests from other parts of the country for whom that wasn't the norm.


As for whether your friends in their 20s will know that...that's a different story 😂