There are tons of gifts involved in weddings, both coming in to the engaged couple and flowing out from them. It is important not to overlook anything from either direction. These are all of the different types of wedding presents that surround the event.

First of all, there is the wedding gift. This is the main wedding present that most guests will purchase. Any kind of wedding present can be appropriate, but they are usually for the newlyweds’ house. There is not a specific price range that is acceptable for wedding presents; the choice is more personal than that. The old idea that you should give a wedding present that is worth about the same as the dinner is outdated, and besides, how does anyone know what the caterer is charging per head? The friends and family of the bride and groom should not spend more than is comfortable for them on the wedding present. There is a rule of thumb that the people who are closest to the bride and groom (like their parents) give more costly presents than their extended family would. The custom is that you have up to one year after the wedding to give a present, but there is really no reason to drag it out that long. Unlike wedding presents, thank you letters need to be sent out immediately.

Another type of wedding related gift is the bridal shower present. Only those who actually go to the bridal shower need to purchase a gift for the occasion. Bridal shower gifts tend to be less expensive than the main wedding gift, although they are not the little trinkets they used to be in years past. Presents for bridal showers are typically along the lines of bakeware, fancy platters, or monogrammed napkins. The main wedding present should really be for the couple, but the shower gift can be more girly. Lingerie is one of the traditional bridal shower presents, although not every bride-to-be is comfortable receiving this type of gift. Unless it is a personal or lingerie shower, it is safer to stick with things that can be used around the house. FYI, guests are not expected to bring presents to engagement parties.

The bride and groom will definitely get a lot of great stuff, but they will also have some gifts to give. Every bride and groom needs to buy gifts for their attendants. The bride will shop for bridesmaid jewelry gifts to thank her friends for being in her wedding. The gifts of bridesmaid jewelry are often intended to be worn for the wedding, but they can also be everyday jewelry. The ideal time to present the presents is at a bridesmaids’ luncheon the week of the wedding. The groom-to-be will want to get presents for his groomsmen to say thanks. Engraved silver keychains or pocketknives are classic groomsmen gifts.

The engaged couple should also plan to give some kind of thank you gift to their parents, if they are helping to host the wedding. The present depends on the finances of the bride and groom. It might be something small like a box of gourmet chocolates or something as big as sending them on a trip (to relax after your wedding!). The most important part of the present will be the kind words you write in the card. The wedding weekend is the usual time to give gifts to the parents of the bride and groom.

Brides and grooms frequently give each other gifts when they get married. This depends again on the finances of the couple. A young couple just starting out might decide that their wedding bands will be the only gift they exchange. Older couples with more money often get each other sentimental wedding gifts like jewelry or engraved items. Couples with no budget might even splurge on things like furs and diamonds. The couple can decide together if they want to give large wedding presents, small ones, or just their rings. The best wedding gifts are those which are carefully chosen, whether they are expensive or not.