Are You Supposed to Bring a Gift to a Bachelorette Party?
Honestly, it depends – follow these steps to see if you need to bring a bachelorette party gift.
Bachelorette party gifts continue to add to the rising expense of being a part of a wedding party. The average amount of money spent at pre-wedding parties by attendees is only rising – coming in at $1,500 in 2022.
This is NUTS – and good news, this heated Reddit thread shows that the general public agrees.
When I was a part of my first wedding party, I didn’t know what to expect. I felt like we were all baby adults (if you get it, you get it) and were supposed to know how to throw a bridal shower, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and then on top of that pull off the perfect wedding.
Luckily for my group of friends, we were close – which meant communication was a breeze. The bride we were celebrating was very open and upfront about expected costs. For example, we all got her a gift for the bridal shower since there was a gift opening portion, but not at the bachelorette party. At the bachelorette weekend, we all bought rounds of drinks and split the cost of the accommodations for the evening. Everyone knew what to expect, and no one showed up awkwardly empty-handed when everyone else had purchased a gift.
Considering that you’re googling if you should or shouldn’t be getting a gift for the bachelorette party, we assume you don’t have a straightforward answer. We’re here to help.
In this post, we break down how you can manage these awkward social etiquette situations on your own.
If you don’t have a wedding party that is upfront about financial communication, these tips and tricks will help you navigate bachelorette party etiquette and allow you to instead focus on celebrating the bride-to-be.
Do You Get Gifts for the Bride at a Bachelorette Party?
This depends on a few factors specific to the bachelorette party you’re attending.
Start with investigating how much information you have from the bride and host. Try to answer these questions:
- Where does the party start?
- Do you know the other attendees?
- What information is on the bachelorette party invitation?
- Has anyone discussed the clothing sizes of the bride?
- What other pre-wedding parties, like a bridal shower, did you receive an invitation to?
Take a look at where the evening is starting. If the party starts at the host’s house, there’s a good sign that some gift opening will take place. On the other hand, if the starting place is a restaurant or bar, you can doubt there will be a gift exchange and then those items lugged around the whole night.
Taking a critical read of the invitation can be another telling step. See if the invitation includes the bride’s clothing sizes, clue that this may be a lingerie shower. Additionally, read through any group-wide texts or emails to see if the topic of gifts came up.
If you can, ask the other attendees their impression of the gift situation. Better yet, ask the host directly!
While a bachelorette party gift is not always typical, make sure you bring a small gift for the host. This is especially true if the festivities start at their house!
Be Sure to Bring a Hostess Gift
Simple gifts include a bottle of champagne or wine, a household item, or covering a portion of the party’s expenses.
The hostess of the bachelorette party, who is traditionally the Maid of Honor, commonly receives a small hostess gift from the attendees.
Depending on the level of coordination among the wedding party, this could be a joint gift. If you don’t expect to coordinate a joint gift, bring a hostess gift to show appreciation. Here are tried-and-true favorites:
- Graza “Sizzle” Olive Oil
- Eclectic Trinket Tray
- Popular Board Game, Like Azul
- Aesthetic Coaster Set
- Classy Carafe and Glass Set
Traditional Bachelorette Party Gifts and Contributions
Be ready to buy a few rounds of drinks, take lots of candid photos, and split the cost of accommodations.
There seems to be one universal rule for bachelorette parties – and that is that the bride pays for absolutely nothing. Expect the guest list to pay for drinks, make sure you’re taking tons of photos to make a photo album, keep some hair ties on you, and prepare to even split the cost of accommodations for the evening.
Try to communicate with other attendees throughout the night to allow the bride to sit back and relax. While traditionally the hostess calls the shots, don’t be afraid to take the lead and offer to cover the next round of drinks. Others will see this and follow suit.
If you’re a bride planning a wedding and bachelorette party, I can’t emphasize enough how critical it is that you try to communicate expenses to your attendees.
Additionally, don’t rule out suggesting a more budget-friendly party, either. Try having a one-night party in your town or one that’s inexpensive to travel to.
If gifts will be distributed at the event, here’s a list of the most loved ideas by brides-to-be.
Bachelorette Party Gift Ideas
The most popular choices include a gag gift, lingerie, honeymoon goodies, self-care items, or anything that’s not on the wedding registry.
Getting the right bachelorette party gift is important. The gift of your choice should showcase how well you know the bride and be something that is apart from her wedding gifts – surprises are always more exciting! Better yet, pick a practical gift – perfect for the busy bride-to-be.
Lingerie (Classic!)
If you’re planning on getting lingerie for the bride-to-be, feel out the atmosphere of the bachelorette party. This can sometimes teeter on an inappropriate gift, so make sure you know the vibe of the night and whether or not this will fit in.
Many bachelorette parties tend to be lingerie parties, perfect for making a bride-to-be feel special leading up to her wedding night and honeymoon. Here are some highly-rated favorites that are in a great price range.
Gifts for Self-Care
As a part of the bridal party, you see firsthand how stressful the entire planning process is. Get the bride something to take care of herself and show that you’re looking out for her wellness leading up to her wedding day.
Honeymoon Items
One of the big wedding registry rules is to keep honeymoon items off of it, aside from cash contributions. Knowing this, get the bride something she can’t put on her wedding registry but you know she’ll love using on her honeymoon.
Home Goods in Her Style
Showcase the bride your personal touch by purchasing her some home goods in her style. Again, take a look at the wedding registry and get something that is not on it but just adjacent to what is on the registry.
Determining whether or not to get a bachelorette party gift can also depend on the other pre-wedding parties or wedding showers you’re attending.
Bridal Showers, Bachelorette Parties, Engagement Parties, and Expected Gifts
People close to the bride will likely be invited to all of the pre-wedding festivities. These costs add up quickly, and need to be a factor in choosing what you can afford to attend, let alone give a gift at.
We put together some tips and tricks to help you navigate these situations.
The only way to find out if you need to bring a gift or attend every pre-wedding party is to ask the Maid of Honor or Bride themselves. You won’t truly know what gift etiquette to expect without finding out what the other guests are planning.
Across the board, it’s clear that gift-giving and attendance etiquette for so many pre-wedding festivities is hard to navigate – appropriately ranted about in this wedding planning Reddit thread.
If you’re the one planning a wedding, make a point to communicate etiquette early and often. Guests need to know what attire to wear, related costs, if gifts are needed, and any other helpful information. Put yourself in your guests’ shoes and give them as many answers as possible. Additionally, be prepared to be flexible. While it is your wedding, you want your loved ones to have fun and easily celebrate with you.
Bringing a Gift to a Bachelorette Party
At the end of the day, there’s no one way to know whether or not to bring a gift to a bachelorette party.
read through the invitation and planning materials carefully for hints at gifts. Additionally, collaborate with other attendees to see what their impressions are. Finally, ask the hostess directly what’s expected.
If you do need to bring a bachelorette party gift, we curated a list of tried and true favorites from varying price points to accommodate every bride and budget. Remember to stay off of the wedding registry and get her something more personal – showing how much you know her.
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