The Dos and Don’ts of Registry Gifting
The beautiful season of bridal luncheons and baby showers is here! For one reason or another, warm weather always seems to be the perfect timing for these happiest occasions. I’m sharing a few of my dos and don’ts for showering the future bride or mama with gifts and love, along with some of my off-registry go-to’s. Happy gifting!
The Dos:
Do group gift on larger items. Showers tend to happen at big changes in life. It can mean a couple is starting their home together and building up their fine china, or a baby is on the way and a nursery suddenly needs filled. Get together with a few girlfriends and gift the soon-to-be mom or bride one of the bigger items on their registry, like that UPPAbaby stroller or their KitchenAid mixer with an attachment or two. When everyone chips in what they’re able to, the result is a bigger item that may have taken the bride or mom-to-be a bit longer to purchase after the wedding or baby arrives. My girlfriends and I have done this on many occasions and it’s always met by a touched and appreciative recipient!
Do piecemeal gift. It’s one week out from the shower and there are nothing but random $12.99 items on the registry. Don’t stress. We’ve all been there. Life gets busy! The best thing to do – and I’ve done this by choice many times because it’s such a fun way to gift! – is to pick a theme and basket everything up. I adore this method of gifting. Decide on your budget, grab a big wicker basket, a great big bow, and pick out your items. If it’s a baby shower, pick up a bunch of the future mom’s feeding items and wrap them in a basket with a gingham bow. For a wedding, snag a bunch of kitchen utensils, measuring cups, etc. leftover on the future bride’s registry and basket them with a blue or white bow. Voila! You have a very thoughtful and well-wrapped gift – and everyone can use an extra basket around the house.
The Dont’s
When in doubt, stick to the registry. Unless you know the honoree super well, it’s best to play it safe and help them fulfill the items they’ve chosen, like their china or crystal. Remember that they’ve probably spent a good deal of time coordinating linens with chargers and everyday dinnerware and china.
If you’re determined to go off the registry, you can often find good quality items that complement tabletop items on their registry. Be careful that they do indeed complement their registry items – and take care to purchase sets in pairs, fours, sixes, eights, or twelves. If you’re going off the registry with complementary items for the table, it’s probably best to buy as full a set as you can (usually a set of twelve napkins, appetizer plates, etc.) in case the item gets discontinued. The last thing you’d want is for the bride to search high and low for those last four napkin rings only to find that they are no longer in production.
The same goes for baby showers. If you know the mom-to-be is decorating her nursery in elephants and has registered for Aden and Anais items, you might be safe picking up an a pack of swaddles that have jungle animals, including an elephant, by the same brand even if it isn’t on her registry. I also include board books or good books to read aloud to babies in every baby shower gift to help the new family build their library. These make fabulous add-ons to gifts and are a fun way to pass on some of your favorites from childhood.
A Few Favorite Off-Registry Gifts of Mine
A few of my favorite items that are good off-registry items if you’re feeling creative, or add-ons if you want to get the honoree a little something extra:
- A nice set of coasters, like these by Herend.
- Something old and lovely – antiques make fabulous gifts and future heirlooms. Seek out antique shops, and even the occasional thrift shop, for silver pieces, brass, Delft blue and white, chinoiserie, or porcelain depending on the recipient’s taste.
- For the bride and groom – an engraved champagne bucket, engraved silver trays, vintage barware, luxury candles, or sterling mint julep cups make fabulous gifts.
- For baby – silver is timeless. Opt for a silver baby rattle, spoons, cups, or frames. If you know the baby’s name, have it engraved. If you don’t, offer to have it engraved after his or her arrival or save it for a christening gift or a sip-and-see gift.
If this gifting guide was helpful, check out my recent guide on hosting and housewarming gifts and my guide to picking out your fine china and crystal. Cheers, and happy gifting!
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