If you’ve ever been invited to a baby shower or a child’s birthday, you would know the struggle of figuring out the perfect gift that would make both mama and baby happy, all while working within your budget. This is especially true when you don’t have a small child yourself and are not quite sure what gifts are appropriate for the age and stage the baby or child is in.
Fortunately, gift registries were created exactly to address this problem.
If a celebrant has shared their gift registry with you and it’s your first time using one, you might have many questions running through your mind. Fret not, we have the answers to your questions—so you can be certain you’re following gift registry etiquette.
1. Do I have to buy something off of their gift registry?
Getting the celebrant a gift is not required. At the end of the day, your presence is what’s most important. However, the gift registry contains suggestions for you in case you’re looking to give the perfect present for the occasion.
2. Do I still need to buy a gift if I cannot attend the event?
Just like the previous scenario, getting the celebrant a gift is not required when you cannot attend the event, although it would be a nice gesture to do so.
3. When do I buy a gift from their registry?
It’s best to purchase your gift off of a registry at least 1 week before the celebrant’s event date to give the platform enough time to prepare and deliver it.
4. How much is an appropriate amount to spend on someone’s gift registry?
Most people usually spend ₱1,000 to ₱2,500 on gifts, but our advice is to spend what you can comfortably give, no matter how big or small. Typically, celebrants will add items of different price points to their registries so you can easily find something within your budget.
Otherwise, you can consider group gifting, where you and some friends can pitch in for a single gift. edamama’s online Gift Registry offers free shipping and gift wrapping with gift notes, so you don’t have to worry about additional fees.
5. Can I give them a gift outside of their gift registry?
Gifting an item that's completely not in the celebrant’s registry can be tricky and should only be done if it’s already completely bought out or if you can’t afford anything on their gift list. In these scenarios, try to use their registry as a guide to get a sense of their interests, lifestyle, and needs.
If you wish to purchase an item on the celebrant’s gift registry from a different store outside of where they are registered, let them know so they can remove it from their gift list and avoid duplicate gifts.
Gifting is meant to be a fun experience for both you and the celebrant, so enjoy every step of the process of picking out the perfect gift. What truly matters is your love and support for the celebrants on their special day, and your gifts are just cherry on top.
