One of my brothers is getting married in August. The bridal shower for his fiancee is coming up, and I need to find a gift. I really wish I could think of something off-registry that would be perfect for them, but nothing is coming to mind.
They registered at Bed Bath & Beyond, which is a store I pretty much despise. Everything there is so massively over-priced. That's the ONLY reason they give out those 20% off coupons all the time. I honestly think everything is marked UP by about 20%. So if you buy more than one item at a time, you're always getting ripped off, but you feel like you saved money since you used a coupon. Great business scheme.
Also, everything they picked for their future home is black and gray. Ugh. Whatever - if that's their taste, that's their taste. But I hate spending money on stuff that I think is ugly. haha.
Any unique ideas for a bridal shower gift?
Can you pick one thing from their registry and then add to the present with things not on the registry?
ReplyDeleteI've purchased baking pans or cupcake carriers (registry item), and then fleshed each present out with baking supplies, and cupcake papers, and cake and frosting recipes, and decorating supplies. That way, you can get them something they asked for, and also put your own twist on things.
Obviously, you can do this with any sort of item from the registry, baking was just a really easy and fun one for me so I've done it a few times :D
My husband's cousin has a home business called "Art in Letters". www.naomimariettaphoto.com Check it out. You can get a word spelled out, like their last name, or HOME, or JOY or LOVE. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can get just the prints and buy a frame or you can get it framed from Naomi. You can get black and white or sepia tones, it would look good with their color scheme. I gave teacher gifts this year that spelled out TEACH and the teachers loved it! If you mention my name, she might give you a discount.
ReplyDeleteSunday Thompson
Tupperware with lingerie inside. I know it's not unique and that it's your brother's fiancee but it's just an idea.
ReplyDeleteOr is there a special recipe he likes a lot? You could write up the recipe for her and gift her all the supplies. One of my favorite shower gifts was gin, tonic and pretty glasses to serve them in. This person really knew me well.
My motto is 'you can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many towels,' and I usually buy towels for the shower.
ReplyDeleteYou can usually get the same quality towels at Target for less.
FYI, I was given towels as a gift (from the long departed Montgomery Wards) in 1991-I still have them and they're in great condition.
I would check out the registry and see if anything on it can be found on Amazon.com at a cheaper price. My cousin and his wife got married in October and they also registered for a bunch of ugly grey and black dishes and glasses. I couldn't bring myself to buy any of it so I got her some Corningware that was on the registry. It was a set that I have and love so I didn't feel bad about buying them a set. My mom opted to buy them cookie sheets and other bakeware.
ReplyDeletedigital picture frame. relatively cheap on amazon.com
ReplyDeleteGirl you can use 5 coupons at BBB at 1 time (on five items of course lol!). Not that it makes it any better hehe!
ReplyDeleteI'd get something on the registry. The things that I got when I got married that weren't on our registry are things that aren't our taste and that we don't use.
ReplyDeleteIs there anything that you didn't think you would need when you got married but then ended up really needing once you did? Although I am not married, my best friend got married last year. Her first and only flight was when she was a junior in high school and it was with a large group for marching band. Hr now husband had never been on a plane. There honeymoon was international. So, they never asked for anything travel related for their registry, mainly because they didn't know what they needed. I hate registries and I love traveling, so I bought them items they could use when traveling internationally and domestically. They loved it, I loved buying it despite the hefty price tag and it made their trip easier
ReplyDeleteYou could do something personalized. Like a cute themed picnic basket...with wine glasses with their names monogrammed on them or some type of "date night" basket...I did a few of those for bridal showers for friends. It all depends on where you live and stuff...like for one of my friends I did a honeymoon basket and it had beach stuff etc.
ReplyDeletehow about your favorite cookbooks?
ReplyDeleteAt my Bed Bath & Beyond, they will take multiple coupons. The cashier once pointed out my stack of coupons and said she could take them all! Might depend on the store or the cashier, but you could always try. Can't hurt!
ReplyDeleteI have had some terrible experiences with registries. People who put stuff like garbage bags and batteries on their registry - not something to 'ooh and ahh over' at a bridal shower! And expensive registries where all I could afford was a $95 serving fork!
I think something like sheets are a good gift. Ours wear out (get pilled, rip, wear thin, etc) and I can't imagine you could go too wrong with sheets.