We’re frequently asked etiquette questions about the types of gifts to give at the bridal shower versus the wedding, whether cash is appropriate, etc. Here are some of our most frequently asked questions, which may help you as you get ready for purchasing a gift for the next bridal shower you attend.

How can you let guests know where the bride is registered?
This depends on traditions in the area where you live, and it is best to ask family and friends what the practice is in their experience.

In some social circles, it is perfectly acceptable to note in the invitation where the bride is registered. In fact, many locations offering bridal registries print up special cards for the bride to insert into shower and wedding invitations. If you are the bride, remember to select a range of gifts in several price points so guests have a broad selection to choose from.

In other social circles, it is more appropriate for this information to be relayed via an inquiry to the hostess, and is often then passed around by word of mouth.

Can money be requested as a bridal shower gift?
It is generally unacceptable to note in the bridal shower invitation that cash is the preferred gift. This is even though in a recent survey, 78% of consumers said that they would prefer to give cash as a wedding and shower gift. This is especially true as the average age of couples marrying for the first time continues to rise, and many newlyweds already have most appliances and houseware items.

In some areas, a money tree or wishing well is quite common, and if that is the case in your area, a note at the bottom of the invitation about a money tree or wishing well being an available alternative at the shower would be appropriate. Check out the creative wedding wishing well poems and ideas in our related posts noted below.

If cash is really preferred, spread the word using friends and family. Let them know that when guests ask, they can tell them that the bride would prefer cash as a gift. There’s no harm in having them mention this to guests who inquire as to what the bride would most like for gifts at her shower.

If the bride or wedding couple has something they are planning on using the cash gifts for, it is helpful to know so that this can be communicated at the same time as the inquiry, like “Janie and Rob are hoping for some cash gifts, which they plan to use towards the down payment on a new house”. The bride can also mention this in her thank you notes.

As a guest, if you wish to provide cash or a check to the couple within your card, that is an acceptable gift choice. Gift cards are also an excellent alternative, which will also allow the bride go select a gift according to what would best suit their needs.

Another creative way to handle requests for cash gifts is to inform guests using the couple’s wedding website. For example, at ewedding.com, couples can create a free wedding website that features information about the wedding. Most of them include gift registry area, where the couple notes the stores they have registered at. They could also add a note, such as:

If you were thinking of giving a gift, to help us on our way.
A gift of cash towards our house, would really make our day.
However, if you prefer to purchase a gift, feel free to surprise us in your own way.

Whatever you would like to give us is wonderful
The choice is up to you
We are registered at xxxx,
But money is at the top of our list too!
It will help us pay for xxxx

Should the hostess give a gift to the bride at the bridal shower?
The bridal shower is considered to be a gift to the bride-to-be from the hostess, and it is up to you if you choose to give an additional gift to the bride. If you do choose to buy another gift, a token gift is definitely acceptable, given the costs and effort expended towards hosting the shower event.

Related Posts:
Wishing Well Basket And Poem
Top 15 Favorite Bridal Shower Poems

Invitations

There are several ways you can send invitations, depending on the formality of the event and the budget. Custom printed invitations from a specialty store, like InvitationBox.com, are printed with designs that complement the “Stock The Bar” theme. You can see their full collection here, and some of our favorite designs below. You can order these invitations with the words custom printed, or blank for about ½ price of custom printed invitations, so you can print them yourself.

Another option is using an online invitation company, like Evite, to create a free or low cost online invitation. Not only is this option instant, with no need to address envelopes, use stamps or drop them off at the post office, but you can also easily manage the attendee list as RSVPs begin coming in. It’s easy to attach driving directions using MapQuest or Google Maps, and for this shower theme, even the couple’s favorite list of drinks or preferred liquor.

You can also make your own invitations, for a fraction of the cost of printed invitations. Some great invitation wordings for the Stock The Bar bridal shower:

A spirited chorus line
We will make
For our (soon to be married) dear friends
Susan and Jake
Bring your favorite brew, glasses or useful device
So their bar will be stocked really quite nice

The wedding date is not to far
So let’s “toast” the couple and stock the bar

Before they share the same last name
Let’s stock them up to entertain

Before Danielle and Jim
Tie the knot
Let’s make sure their bar is stocked

Soon Cherie & David
Will no longer be single
So let’s get together
To mix & mingle
Join us for a Stock the Bar Shower

You’ll want to ask the guests to bring their favorite bar accessories, alcoholic beverages, mixers and drink recipes to help the couple stock their bar. This includes stemware, decanters, ice buckets, cocktail napkins, martini shakers, stirrers, mixers and of course, the alcohol.

Setting The Mood

After you’ve decided on your invitations, think about how you will decorate and set the mood for the party. For the Stock The Bar shower, we suggest making a really great playlist, filled with fun, party music on your iPod and playing it during the event. Select music that’s not too overpowering but the music will be an essential element. You might want to consider this amazing playlist on iTunes in the iMix section, titled Stock The Bar Shower Mix.

Provide floor pillows and other comfortable seating options. Food and drinks should be placed in several locations around the house. Dim the lights, light some candles and create the perfect lounge in your house! Encourage guests to mingle and have fun.

If having a houseful of people and liquor isn’t your cup of tea, take the show on the road! Consider renting out a private room within a bar or, if you have many guests, the entire bar. There’s no need to decorate when hosting your party at a club or bar. And, you can still ask the bartender to play that awesome playlist!

Refreshments

Whether at home or at a bar, you’ll want to make sure guests have multiple food items to graze on during the course of the evening. Be sure to have both hot and cold selections, and try arranging areas with serving platters in several locations. This will help naturally move people around the event throughout the evening.

Consider serving one or two “signature” drinks, perhaps the couple’s favorite drinks if they have one, along with a selection of beer. Don’t feel like you have to have a fully stocked bar at the Stock The Bar shower! Often, a few well-executed and thought out drinks make a better impression than lots of random liquor bottles, mixers and fruit slices!

Here are a few cocktails that would make great signature drinks for this event, the French Martini and the Tequila Sunrise.

French Martini

What You Need
1 oz. citrus vodka
1 oz. pineapple juice
1/2 oz. Chambord
Lime wedge, for garnish

How To Make It
* Shake vodka, pineapple juice, and Chambord well with ice in a shaker
* Strain into a chilled martini glass
* Garnish with lime wedge

Tequila Sunrise

What You Need
1 1/2 oz. tequila
1 oz. orange juice
Splash of grenadine
Cherry or lime, for garnish

How To Make It
* Add tequila and orange juice to ice
* Top with grenadine and garnish with cherry or lime
* Serve on the rocks

Party Favors

Finally, you’ll want to send your guests home with a unique, fun party favor. One idea guests will love, is a creative display featuring miniature bottles of alcohol, personalized with the couple’s favorite drink recipes and their wedding date. You can use the little mini bottles of liquor, like the kind used on airplanes, or tiny bottles of wine or champagne. All of these selections are commonly found in grocery markets or specialty liquor stores. Tie each bottle with a ribbon and an appropriate drink recipe, and let guests take a handful on their way out.

This party will help your friends get a great start on stocking their bar. Have fun with this shower theme, it’s sure to be one of the couple’s favorite showers!

It’s nice to then have the bridesmaids toast the bride-to-be as she takes one step further towards her new life. Have a bottle of champagne ready for the maid of honor to pop, or pour for the bride and wedding party. Have flutes of champagne passed so guests are ready to partake in the toast.

There are poems that are attached to each bottle, that the bridesmaids read as they present the gift to the bride.

Wedding Night

The night you have dreamed of is finally here
The future surrounds you with hope and yet fear
You’ve wanted so long to find your perfect mate
Sip this wine and toast this perfect date
The night is meant for you to share
Enjoy each other – a perfect pair!!

First Fight

When fights occur and tempers get hot
Pour a glass and be thankful for what you’ve got
If you always agreed it would certainly be a bore
And by asking for Krissy’s hand Bernie is surely
in for more!

First Anniversary

Been married a year, where did the time go?
No longer newlyweds, now you are pros
Hope the days found you in good health and
good spirit
Keep saying I love you –
one always needs to hear it!
Now toast this first date, it’s certainly not the last
And as you build your future don’t ever forget
the past!

First Dinner Party

Open your home to entertain and eat
Catch up with old friends and new ones to meet
When the night is over share this bottle of wine
But don’t sit down yet – it’s clean up time!!

Christmas Eve

A wise man said wine is better than beer
And now is the season for lots of holiday cheer
So pop the cork and relax a bit,
And when the night is through,
Kiss goodnight, close your eyes
And Santa will be good to you!

First Baby

The news that a baby will soon share your life
will make you a mother, not only a wife
You’ll see it through good times and sometimes
through bad
______ the loving mother
and _____ the dearest dad
Sadly _____ (groom) must drink this one alone, and _____(bride) with an empty glass
Sit back and relax – nine months will quickly pass!

Wishing Well Bridal Shower Poem

Spices, detergents, and gadgets galore,
There are never enough, you can always use more.
If you bring a little item for our bride, would you please
Wrap it in tissue paper, and your name do not tell
It’s just a little something to wish her well.

Or this slightly different version of the same wishing well poem:

Spices, detergents and gadgets galore,
You have several dozen
But could always use just one more!

If you could bring
Just one of these,
Our bride-to-be
You would surely please.

Wrap it in tissue paper
But your name do not tell!
And she’ll love your little something
Given to wish her well!

Another Wishing Well Bridal Shower Poem

This is a cute Wishing Well poem to include as an attachment with the shower invitation.

____’s getting married so it only seems fitting
To have an “ABC Wishing Well” for her shower, we aren’t kidding!
A letter has been circled so you can tell
How we will fill her wishing well.
Please buy a gift that starts with your letter.
Something silly, something sweet or something much better.

“T” could be tongs, toothpicks or tacks
“S” could be spoons, spices or sacks.
Your imagination is your only limit,
Be clever, be crazy, just get into it.

Then come to the shower, to join in the fun
To honor our sweet bride. Cheers everyone!

Bag Full Of Gifts Poem For Bridal Shower

This concept is very similar to the Wishing Well that’s been part of bridal showers for years. We really love this poem!

A Bridal Shower is being held
For a very special Bride
So please use this handy bag
To tuck an extra gift inside.

It can be a dishcloth for the kitchen,
Cleanser for the sink,
Perhaps soap for the dishes,
Whatever you may think.

They will need items for the bath,
Perhaps some light bulbs too,
Combs, Kleenex, soap
The choice is up to you.

We would also like to ask you
For your favorite recipe,
It’s something ___ will treasure
For a lifetime of cooking you’ll see.

The gifts will come in handy
For both the Bride and Groom
And their cupboards will be stocked
In each and every room.

The information follows
It’s a very special date.
We hope that you can join us
It’s time to celebrate!

Invitation Poem For Bridal Shower

_____ met _____ somewhere along the way,
They fell in love and have now set their wedding day!
Come and join us for frivolity, fabulous food and fun
As we shower her and celebrate their decision to become one!

On (day), (date), at the (location of the shower)

Invitation Poem For Lingerie Bridal Shower

___ and ___ are tying the knot -
And this bridal shower is gonna be hot!
Gifts sure to make it one hell of a night,
and certain to make ___ squeal with delight!

The rest of the invite has the pertinent when and where information on it.

Another Poem For A Lingerie Bridal Shower Theme

___’s getting married and I’d like to say
Come to her shower and bring lingerie.

Fun we will have and laughter we’ll make,
For ___’s getting married, for goodness sake.

Please enjoy an evening with our friend,
Come around six and stay ’till the end.

She’s excited and nervous and you ask why?
____’s in Love and you can’t deny!

Bridal Shower Poems For Picture Frame Favors

Pretty little frames are thoughtful favors for your guests. In lieu of including a photo of the happ

A Poem to Place in a Picture Frame - Version 1

True Hearts that share
One Life
One Love
Will always know true joy

A Poem to Place in a Picture Frame - Version 2

Love does not exist
By gazing at softly each other
But grows strong whilst looking united
In the same direction together

Bridal Shower Invitation Poem For Dressing Up Theme

As little girls we all dressed up,
And walked around in Mommy’s stuff.

Lipstick was the brightest red,
With fancy hats upon our heads
Now that we’ve grown,
We proudly wear our own.

In all the softest colors that we know.
But underneath, we wear much more
And that is what this party’s for.

So for the little girls who’ve grown
And want those pretty things for their own
Come join us as we try them on,
And remember that it’s all for fun.

Bridal Shower Poem For Travel Or Bon Voyage Theme

This poem is perfect for a sassy, fun filled travel theme, and designed to help young couples with their Honeymoon costs.

____ and ____ will soon be sailing away
Honeymoons are expensive, let’s help them pay!
Join us to celebrate at _____’s Bon Voyage bash
In lieu of gifts, please consider giving cash!

Around The Clock Invitation Poem For Couples Shower

Don’t be late!
For this important date!
Join us for a shower
That will be on the hour.
Listen to your watch tick tock
For the theme is Around the Clock.
To honor the bride and the groom
with gifts to fill up every room.

You are invited to a
couple’s bridal shower
honoring ___ and ____.
Bring a gift that they can
use at this time ___ .

Invitation Poem For Recipe Theme Bridal Shower

Enclosed for you is a recipe card.
To fill it in, shouldn’t be hard!
______ (bride’s name) might like to try your favorite cake,
or that special dish you’re always asked to make.
Fill it in now, don’t hesitate!
And bring this card on the special date.
At the shower will be a recipe box to fill
With delicious recipes guaranteed to thrill!

Invitation Poem For Alphabet Theme Bridal Shower

This version of the poem is for a couples shower, but can easily be revised for a bridal shower.

Their wedding day is on the way
Let’s get them prepared for the BIG day
An Alphabet Shower is what we’ll do
_______ and ________
Would love to see you
(Date and time)
We’ll have a party in honor of them
(Location) is where it will be
If it’s not too much trouble please RSVP
The ribbon and letter attached you must lift
And tie it neatly to your special gift
The gift must begin with the letter enclosed
They don’t like surprises so leave it exposed

Poem For “Wish For The Bride” Insert

This poem is designed to accompany a card that will collect special wishes from your shower guests that will be gathered and given to the bride, along with a request for a money gift.

Spices, detergents, and gadgets galore,
Perhaps predictable and slightly a bore
Instead, let’s give ____ a wish for the future!
One that’s exciting, and not quite verbatim.
Just write down your wish on the card we’ve enclosed
And bring a little something to help get it started

She is sure to appreciate your most thoughtful wish
As well as your helping to make them come true

Couple’s Shower Invitation Poem

This invitation poem is perfect for incorporating the bride and groom’s name, along with friends and family. Very fun!

There’s a girl named ____ and her favorite beau,
____
Who have decided to enter into marital bliss.
Let’s throw a big party,
said _____ to _____(friend’s names).
Then, ___ called up ____ (friend’s name) and they all chipped in.
We’d love to see you there,
__________ is the date.
It’s at ________(time) sharp, so please don’t be late!
We’ll be showering gifts on the future bride and groom,
The place to be you ask?
___________(location).
The more the merrier is what we say,
So, please don’t miss the fun on their special day!

And there’s this slightly different version:

Put the proper names at ____ and complete poem for the bridal shower.

A girl named ____ decided on this
The time was right for wedded bliss.
____ her choice, a lucky guy
said, “Oh, I’m glad she chose I.”
Her friends, so many, wanted to be
a part of the joy there was to see.
“Let’s have a party!” said ____ to ____
and all of their friends agreed to that.
____ will be the date,
at ____ sharp, so don’t be late!
We’ll shower some gifts on the bride & groom
at the ____ church if there’s room
The more the merrier is what they say,
so don’t miss out on ____ special day!!

Invitation Poem For Outdoor Entertaining Theme Bridal Shower

Try and try with all your might,
Think of a gift for the Garden of Delight.
They’ve purchased a home but the yard needs a lift,
Keep this in mind when selecting your gift!
Below are some ideas, just for a start
Be creative, have fun…choose a gift from your heart!

Gift ideas: Indoor/outdoor plants, seeds, garden tools, gloves, watering can, stepping stones, lanterns,
lawn/patio furniture, patio lights, garden centre gift certificate.

We shower the Bride with gifts, it’s true
But this shower gift is just for you!

Recipe For A Happy Marriage Poem

4 cups of Love
2 cups of Loyalty
Dash of Faith
3 cups of Kindness
4 cups of Understanding
1 cup of Friendship
5 spoonfuls of Hope
1 barrel of Laughter
Pinch of Forgiveness (no substitutions)
Dash of Thoughtfulness (not optional)

Take love and loyalty and mix thoroughly with faith.
Blend in kindness and understanding, add friendship and hope.
Sprinkle abundantly with laughter. Garnish with forgiveness and thoughtfulness.
Bake with sunshine.
Serve daily with generous helpings.

Include a note with the invitations describing that there will be a wishing well gift basket at the bridal shower and to bring an inexpensive gift to contribute to the basket. The gifts and basket can match the theme of the bridal shower, just be sure to let all of the guests know if they should be contributing all kitchen gadgets, housecleaning supplies or lingerie!

Here’s a little note to include with the invitations to let guests know there will be a wishing well:

Spices, gadgets and supplies galore,
There’s never enough - we always need more!
Please bring one special item for our favorite bride-to-be
Wrap it in tissue, remember no names please, we won’t tell
It’s just a sweet little surprise for her Wishing Well!

Click here to see more great bridal shower poems to use in your shower invitations, on favors and during the event.

Each time a bride is showered
God smiles from above
Knowing he’ll have a new family
To shelter and to love.

Sarah and James
will soon have a wedding
Down the aisle
Is where they’re heading
Before they become
Husband and wife
Let’s shower them with things
For their new life

Click here to see more great bridal shower poems to use in your shower invitations, on favors and during the event.

We’re gathering to celebrate
Jane and Charles’ wedding!
Keep this in mind when choosing your gift:
Let’s give their backyard a facelift!
Flowers, plants or rakes, chimes or a grill,
And bring a little something to put in her wishing well!

Click here to see more great bridal shower poems to use in your shower invitations, on favors and during the event.