18 Shower Hostesses!

While I think it's really sweet for you to want to buy something for the hostesses, I've never seen it done. Usually a person throws a shower because they WANT to do it and they don't expect anything in return. If you feel so inclined to buy something, I'd recommend what you are thinking .

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Whaaa??? 18 hostesses? Wow you must have some great friends to all want to be involved in hosting your showers! That IS awesome! I think that the gifts you have picked out would be really cute, I like the idea "from my shower to yours!" Have fun at your parties and I hope you get everything you want and need!

-L.

P.S. After reading some other responses I wanted to add that I also gave my hostesses thank you gifts. Maybe its a southern thang! ;)

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Don't worry about getting a gift for the hostess. It is not necessary. Just send a thank-you card.

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IF you decide to give the hostess gifts...I think that your idea is very cute and creative and witty! I saw that you got a lot of feedback on whether or not to give the gifts, but not a lot on what to give if you do. :)

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I live in the South and I have given a Hostess gift for every shower I have ever received. I have given gifts from Bath & Body Works, Stationary/Thank You Cards with their Initial, Picture Frames, and Kitchen Towels. Some of the Kitchen Towels were embroidered and some were not. The main idea of the gift is to let your Hostess know that their efforts were greatly appreciated. They will enjoy what ever you choose and can afford. Congrats...

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Whenever I hostess, I consider *that* my gift I'm giving, and don't expect anything in return. I think your idea sounds fantastic. Option 2: chocolate covered strawberries. It's still in season for them, and all it takes is patience & time, and maybe $20 worth of materials to do baskets for all 18. 3 5lb boxes of strawberries at $5 each, plus about 1lb of good chocolate. You can fancify them up by drizzling white chocolate over, and beef up the "basket" by ringing it with brownie bites, which would bring the total to about $25. Buying them in the store premade would *easily* be $15-$35 per basket... so they're a good cheat if you've got the 2+ hours to make them all.

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Hmmm...Have never heard of giving a gift to the hostess. So, IMO if you want to give something, then something small and heartfelt is just fine.

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Ive never heard of buying a hostess gift. I say a nice heartfelt Thank you card is more than enough. Your idea is very cute however, but I dont feel it is necessary. I would never expect a friend to give me a gift after throwing her a party. Just my 2 cents.

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I've never heard of not giving a hostess gift. I think your idea sounds very cute and think whatever gift you give, no matter how small, will be appreciated.

It is tradition and protocol to give your hostess a gift. However, 18 hostesses puts a spin on things! You could very well end up spending as much on their gift, as they do on your gifts and party!

Bath and Body Works and other shops like them could easily run you about $100 or more...even for a travel sized item.

If time permits, consider making home made soaps and/or bath salts. It's very easy to do. You can buy bottles or jars in bulk for about $10, and soap supplies for up to 18 gifts for under $50 depending on what you decide to do. You could even just buy a box or two of small canning jars from a grocery or hardware store for 5-6 bucks, and it would look and work great.

I have included links on how to do this, and where to buy supplies. I like the card idea you suggested: "From my shower to yours." You could do this on labels you print yourself on the computer.

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/bath-salts.shtml

http://crafts.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Making_Glycerin_Soap

http://www.soapgoods.com/Stephenson-Clear-p-163.html?OVRA...

http://www.specialtybottle.com/

Wow! that is a lot!!! I think that is too cute, I am not sure you need to give them a gift though, just the wedding party. congrats!!!

i've never heard of giving a hostess gift.

I had never heard of giving gifts to the hostess either until recently. I always sent a really nice card with a hand written note of appreciation. BUT if you want to do a gift I think your idea is REALLY cute and very appropriate! If you want to go cheaper and still give a gift I would bake them something later and hand deliver it with a note if possible (that way the note can have specific things about the shower you liked, etc.). If you can't hand-deliver than you could still mail some cookies/brownies or something in a thin tin and puffy envelope to those you can't hand deliver. Just another idea but if your idea is in your budget then go for it!!

I think that would be a lovely gift. They aren't giving you showers to get a gift anyway. They are doing it out of love for you.

As a thrower of many showers, I never received a gift. What a nice idea. I think it sounds great.
S.

I'm from the South, but I've never heard of giving a hostess a gift! What I would suggest, both because of financial reasons as well as because it would be special, is to bake something. I've done this many times for my daughter's preschool teachers; she had several "main" teachers, as well as parapros, so for holidays I would bake a batch of several different treats (TONS of recipes on line!) and then take a platter in for everyone to share. Cooking a few different things for variety and then packaging them individually (lots of cute packaging ideas as well) would be a great gift!

Wow! That's a lot of hostesses! I see that you've already gone ahead with your idea - which I think was super cute - but I just wanted to chime in. Like you, it's my understanding that you give a thank you gift to anyone who hosts a shower for you. I've hosted a couple and received nothing, but usually I've received a little something - a candle, monogrammed stationery, bath products, etc. I've always given my own hostesses a gift card to a restaurant or store that I know they really like (Freebird's for one, Central Market for another, a purse store for one, etc.). However, I wish giving gifts *wasn't* the tradition around here - I could've saved a ton of money through the years! :-)

Maybe it's different in the South, but out here in California, you really don't see the guest of honor giving the hostess a gift. In theory, these people are throwing you a shower to share in your happy moment - they don't expect anything in return but maybe a nice thank-you note when all is said and done!

But if that is what's done in your area, then yes, I do like your idea! That's very cute and useful, too. Congrats on your pregnancy!

I think it's a very nice gesture. Your friends are not giving you a shower because of a gift they will get, they are doing it because of their love for you. It's not what you spend but the thoughtfulness of thanking them. I think whatever you come up with without going broke will be very nice. You've obviously put a lot of thought into it and that's what's important. Have a great time at your showers and congratulations.

I have never given hostess gifts, nor has my daughter in all the baby showers she has received with 5 children. It is not widely practiced or expected. I saw it done once in an upscale church wedding shower.
But, I did make my own scented bath salts, label on internet, gorgeous ribbon and directions attached with a shower net loufa and they all loved it. Good Luck!