Bridal Shower Gifts in Pakistan

The bridal shower has only recently become a fixture at Pakistani weddings, which is why nobody is quite sure what to bring. It sits somewhere between the dholki and a Western shower: close friends, cousins, sisters in law, usually daytime, usually at someone's house, and the gift is opened in front of everyone.

That last part is what decides the gift. Something that photographs well and can be held up beats something practical in a plain bag, however useful it is.

What Works and What Does Not

Works. A presented arrangement, chocolates and flowers together, a keepsake with her name on it, or a tray she can put out at home afterwards. Anything that has a moment when it is opened.

Does not work. Kitchen and household items. They are the standard shower gift elsewhere and they land badly here, because the bride's jahez is already being assembled and a saucepan reads as a comment on it.

Group gift. Showers are where a group of friends usually clubs together for one larger item. If that is your plan, tell us the total and we will build one piece to it rather than several small ones, which always looks better on the table.

What People Spend

Individually, Rs 9,000 to Rs 15,000 is the normal range for a friend. Cousins and sisters in law tend to sit at Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. A group gift from five or six friends usually lands between Rs 25,000 and Rs 40,000, which buys a display tray or a large arrangement rather than a box.

Timing

Showers are almost always daytime and almost always at a house, so the gift needs to arrive before the guests do. Order the day before for anything with fresh flowers or a custom cake. Ready gifts go out the same day if you order before 3 PM, but a gift arriving mid party is not the moment you wanted.