If you are anything like me, you are never prepared for bridal showers and weddings. I’m always looking for a cheap, fast and easy bridal shower or wedding gift idea that is personal, fun and unique. And they have to be something that I can throw together at the last minute with things that I either have on hand or that I can find easily in local stores. Here are a few gift ideas that are sure to please the new bride and groom.
Cheap, Fast and Easy Bridal Shower and Wedding Gift Ideas: Frame the Wedding Invitation
Find an expensive-looking picture frame and mat and nicely frame the couple’s wedding invitation. If you are especially crafty, you can personalize the frame or mat with hand painting or scrolling. The couple will have a lasting memento of their big day to keep forever.
Cheap, Fast and Easy Bridal Shower and Wedding Gift Ideas: Aprons and Kitchen-Themed Gift Sets
Find a pretty apron for her and a barbeque apron for him. If you sew, you can buy some pretty woven cotton prints and make your own apron in just a few hours using the Simplicity 2932 Misses Apron pattern. JoAnn Fabrics also carries some pretty apron kits with fabric panels and instructions included.
If you sew or have a serger, you can make the couple a set of nice linen napkins. If you plan to serge the napkins, simply cut a 16 or 17 inch square of linen (or a cotton woven fabric if you prefer) and used a rolled edge hem to finish the napkin. If you are using a traditional sewing machine, cut a 16 and a half inch square of your chosen fabric. Turn the edges of your napkin in by a quarter of an inch on each side and press with an iron. To encase all of the raw edges, turn in each side again by a quarter of an inch and press. Sew a top stitch along the two opposite sides first, then machine top stitch the remaining two opposite sides. Embellish with a decorative stitch or the couple’s monogram, or leave plain.
To complete the kitchen theme, buy a set of spatulas, baking pans, or wooden spoons for the couple’s wedding gift. Package them together in a canister set topped with a pretty bow.
Cheap, Fast and Easy Bridal Shower and Wedding Gift Ideas: Custom Embroidery
If you have an embroidery shop nearby, call for prices on monograms. Simple, custom embroidery can be relatively inexpensive, and you should be able to get pillowcases, towels, and accent pillows embroidered for a few dollars each. Find a set of nice sheets, perhaps at Steinmart, JC Penney or Ross, and have the pillow cases embroidered with the couple’s new monogram. Search a few clearance aisles to find a nice accent pillow with a removable cover, add the monogram, and voila – you’ve created a lovely custom living room accent. If you are feeling especially generous, you could find some coordinating bath towels or hand towels and have them embroidered as well.
Cheap, Fast and Easy Bridal Shower and Wedding Gift Ideas: Custom Wine Glasses or Champagne Flutes
Painting a set of wine glasses or champagne flutes creates another great custom gift for the couple. Find a set or two of inexpensive glasses and then decide what picture or motif you want to apply. You can use clip art taped to the inside of the glass as a template, or if you are really crafty you can freehand your own design using paint made especially for decorating glass. Follow the directions on the paint label and set the paint by heating the glassware in the oven.
Cheap, Fast and Easy Bridal Shower and Wedding Gift Ideas: Address Labels and Stationary
For the bride’s shower gift, print out a set of custom mini stationery with 50 envelopes with her return address and 50 sheets of paper with a monogrammed header. You could also print monogrammed note cards.
The new couple will need new address labels for all of those thank you cards they will be sending. For the wedding gift, purchase a set of Avery return address labels, create a monogram, and print return address labels for the new couple in their new married name.
Cheap, Fast and Easy Bridal Shower and Wedding Gift Ideas: Movie Night
If the couple enjoys staying in for a movie now and then, purchase a gift certificate to Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. Get a basket from a local craft store and decorate it with a ribbon and bow, then fill it with popcorn, candy, and sodas. If you want to spend a little more, add a nice afghan or throw for them to snuggle under while they watch the movie.
