It's is a wonderful gesture on the brides part to give her mother in law a wedding gift. However it is required if she contributed in any way to the wedding such as money or time.
Popular gifts include jewelry, engraved picture frames, photos, and items of personal enjoyment.
The father of the bride and groom can give the wedding gift to them the day of the wedding at home or, they can leave the gift on the gift table at the wedding reception. However, if it is of cash value it is better to give the bride and groom the money before the wedding.
It is not written in stone that a mother has to give her daughter a personal gift, but some mothers may have a lovely piece of jewelry that they have had or the piece was given to the mother by her mother and she may want to pass it onto her daughter. The mother and father of bride do give a wedding gift either the day of the wedding at home or, leave the wedding gift at the reception.
It is considered polite to address a wedding card to both people who were married.
When you go to a Bridal Shower then you give a gift and it's not considered a wedding gift. The Bridal Shower is a celebration for the Bride-to-be. Yes, you would place money in the wedding card box at the reception. Only put the money in that you can afford because the bride and groom should appreciate any amount.
Most brides do not open their gifts at the wedding reception and some brides may have a 'gift opening' at the bride's parent's home. The gifts are piled near her and her maid of honor hands her the gifts; once the gift is opened it is up to the maid of honor to write in each card what that guest gave the bride and groom for a gift.
* Unless the bride so chooses to do so then no, the groom's mother does not get a gift. Both mothers should have corsages at the wedding.
No, there is no order in handing out weddinggifts. Some people may drop off or mail a wedding gift to the home of the bride; other people will bring the wedding gifts to the wedding reception and usually the gifts are not opened at wedding reception (parents will take the wedding gifts home with them while the bride and groom go off on their wedding night) and some married couples will wait a day or two and have a 'gift opening party' either at their home or at their parents home.
It is quite common and acceptable to attend a wedding without bringing a gift with you. Many people give the wedding gift before the wedding, and some give it after the wedding. So if you've already given the gift, or plan to give it later, it is perfectly find to attend the wedding without bringing a gift with you. And if you simply can't afford a wedding gift, then don't worry about it. A wedding is about the bride and groom wanting their family and friends to share in their happiness and the celebration of their marriage, and shouldn't be all about inviting guests just so they will get more gifts. If I ever felt someone invited me to a wedding simply to get a gift, I would not go to the wedding, nor would I get them a wedding gift.
A wishing well reception is a reception at which the bride and groom request cash in lieu of gifts. Couples do this in order to recoup wedding costs or when they have already cohabitated prior to the wedding and therefore have no need for the traditional househould item gifts. Guests are expected to bring a card with cash or gift cards inside to drop in the wishing well at the reception.
Since you are the boyfriend of the mother of the bride you should go out shopping with your mate and it's etiquette that the gift come from both of you or, she could help you out choosing something for her daughter.
If this is a get-acquainted tea for the women of both families, no. Unless the Matriarch of the groom's family wishes to give to the bride-to-be a token of welcome, which should be done in an aside or private moment.
* It doesn't matter if a person gets married two or eight times, it is etiquette to bring a wedding gift which is usually left at the reception on a special table for gifts. If there is just the wedding and no reception or it's a reception at someone's home then leave the gift there for the couple.