It's not every day that your friends get married. The wedding may be the headline event, but it's the pre-wedding parties that will rev up excitement towards the big day.
Hen parties have always been a fixture for those planning a wedding and recent years have seen them grow ever lavish with week-long bashes in foreign climes or weekends full of laughs and debauchery.
In contrast, a bridal shower is a much more sombre, wholesome one-afternoon affair that involves something genteel enough - afternoon tea, say - for the bride to include mums, aunts, grandmas and MIL-to-be as invitees.
While hen parties may come with NSFF (that’s Not Safe For Family) momentos, a bridal shower offers the perfect chance to treat the bride-to-be with something for their nuptials. Think pampering beauty set, luxury lingerie for the honeymoon or a thoughtful trinket to wear at the reception. It's a gift for her, and her alone, to enjoy without having to share with her S.O.
Chances are, if you've been invited to the shower, you already know the bride fairly well. Yet it can often be the people we know well that are especially tricky to buy for.
So, we've created an edit of the best bridal shower gifts to take to the event.
Perfectly safe to open in front of family, we've taken care to choose sweet, stylish and sentimental pieces that will be cherished long after the 'I do's'. We've included a wealth of options, from the modestly-priced to the lavish - but remember, it's the thought, not the price tag, that counts here.
Shop the best bridal shower gifts below
Six Stories Wifey Socks - Gold
For a non-naff novelty gift they will definitely use in the years to come, these cute socks are a fun treat that won't break the bank. Also available in black.
Buy now £10.00, Very
Slip Pure Silk Sleep Mask
Shuteye is never more important than when you've got some very important lines to remember. Give the bride-to-be her best chance of catching 40 winks with Slip's luxe sleep mask. Made from mulberry silk, it ensures less friction against the skin, especially the delicate eye area. It comes in a nice presentation box too, making it easier to gift wrap.
Buy now £55.00, Space NK
Charlotte Tilbury Wedding Day Magic Makeup Touch-Up Kit
Whether they've got a professional makeup artist or they're doing their own on the big day, a few essentials to keep in her purse will no doubt be a welcome thing on such a long way. Charlotte Tilbury has miniaturised a few wedding bestsellers including a setting spray and mini powder compact to help keep her look fresh.
Buy now £60.00, Charlotte Tilbury
Sleeper Feather-trimmed twill pajama set
Nailing the ‘something blue’, Sleeper’s fancy white PJs are perfect for the night before the big day. Blue plume feathers edge the hem and cuffs of this lightweight twill set - and they’re detachable too, so you effectively get two high-glamour party pyjamas for the price of one. Comes in sizes XS to XL.
Buy now £325.00, Net-A-Porter
Katie Loxton ‘Bride’ Perfect Pouch, Pearlised White
If you haven’t got the deep pockets for designer goods, you can still find pretty bridal pieces on the high street. Accessories designer Katie Loxton is known for its pouches, and handy little pockets to stash the essentials. This one is made for weddings with ‘bride’ in script on one side. Use it to stash another present - say spa or travel vouchers, or perhaps a silly card - for a cute gift she will cherish. When the day is done, she can keep it as a memento to hold her invites or casual wedding snaps.
Buy now £17.00, John Lewis
Watchify Custom Pearl Denim Jacket
A denim jacket is part of everyone’s wardrobe, but why not have one made up for the afterparty to ward off any chills? It’ll also make a non-naff gift for the hen party too.
Available at Amazon, this jacket comes in sizes 6 - 20 and is finished with a speckle of pearls and her new name in elegant script across the back. Cool doesn’t cut it.
Buy now £32.99, Amazon
Antler Clifton luggage set in taupe
Send them off to honeymoon in style with some of the smartest-looking luggage around. Antler’s Clifton luggage comes as a three-piece set (cabin, medium and large), with hard-case options that are perfect for the long as well as short haul. It’s available in a selection of colours, but we think a neutral taupe is perfect for newlyweds.
Looking for something less spendy? A Clifton vanity case will keep the essentials safe and is just £80.
Buy now £527.00, Antler
Clouds and Currents Personalised Engraved Wedding Hanger
If you're struggling to understand how a wedding hanger can be romantic, look to Cloud and Currents. The small business makes bespoke hangers for wedding and reception dresses, complete with special engraving. It may not seem like much but it will take wedding snaps to the next level.
Buy now £15.00, NOTHS
Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé
Created in the cellars of Château d’Escalans – a revered estate in the hills of Provence that set out to create the greatest rosé on the planet – Whispering Angel has become a byword for the pale pinks so beloved of this region.
It’s succeeded, as its dusky colour and dry flavour have become famous, while its evocative name and beautiful bottle add to its cool credentials. While the producer has since brought out other bottles – Rock Angel and The Palm, amongst others – the original remains the best: made from Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle, it’s a shining example of its kind and still leads the charge in the rosé renaissance.
Buy now £20.99, Waitrose
Laurent-Perrier Brut Cuveé Rosé Champagne, 75cl
As failsafe gifts go, a well-chosen bottle of bubbly is up there. Laurent-Perrier is one of the finest Champagne house’s around and its Rosé version is perfect for celebrating big occasions. Expect fruity berry notes with a gentle brioche finish on the tongue.
Buy now £80.00, John Lewis
Monica Vinader Heart Locket
Hold your loved ones close with a beautiful heart locket by Monica Vinader. Featuring a contemporary design that departs from traditional, antique-style lockets, the silver piece is to be worn as an everyday heirloom to pass down for generations to come. Add complimentary engraving for an extra special touch.
Buy now £115.00, Monica Vinader
Elemis Pro-Collagen Gift of Rose
When you gift Elemis, not only are you treating your loved one to a luxury experience but you can be sure that it’s a present that they will use and treasure. The British brand considered every price point when it came to their gift set selection and there are beautifully adorned sets as low as £30 that still are substantial and sure to go down a treat. At the top end is the Ultimate Pro-Collagen Gift at £235, containing the full bestselling anti-ageing Pro-Collagen collection.
To elevate their skincare practices, whether they’re a 12 or two-step kind of person, the Pro-Collagen Gift of Rose has caught our attention and not just for the geometric pink and red box. The duo of the Cleansing Balm and Marine Cream in the rose fragrance has long been a staple part of our routine and turns the everyday practice of cleansing and moisturising into one to relish. Worth £91.
Buy now £60.00, Elemis
Smythson The Boss Wafer Notebook
Who wears the trousers? The answer is her - always her. Smythson’s leather-backed notebook is a small yet significant gift to show her that she’s always right.
Buy now £45.00, Smythson
Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lighting Palettes Unlocked
Hourglass is one of those brands that die-hard beauty fans know but might be unfamiliar to most folks. The beloved compacts - that are used by pro makeup artists like Daniel Martin - include finishing powder, bronzer and highlighter nestled in amongst the blush, allowing you to create a stunning base all in one stunning palette. Streamline your makeup bag and forgo all other products with this multitasker.
Buy now £86.00, Cult Beauty
Jo Loves Pomelo a Fragrance Paintbrush Gel
Jo Malone’s label Jo Loves has redesigned its cult Paintbrush gel perfume to elevate its sustainability credentials. House in the reusable and sleek silver packaging, you will find a refillable cartridge with the Pomelo aroma. It combines notes of pomelo zest, the namesake citrus fruit, patchouli and vetiver. This gel texture makes it ideal for travelling and is fast-drying.
Buy now £40.00, Cult Beauty
Instax Pal
The cutest addition to Instax’s camera family is the Pal, a teeny gizmo that will earn a big place in their heart.
The palm-sized cam is shoot-only, using Bluetooth to send prized shots to Instax Link smartphone printers for printing out on mini, square and wide formats. As well as remote shooting, it can do interval bursts and even make animations!
Available in a range of sweet pastel colours, this is a crowd-pleasing gift that all shutterbugs will love.
Buy now £89.99, John Lewis
