How Much to Give for a Kitchen Tea in Australia
A kitchen tea is the Australian version of a bridal shower, a relaxed pre-wedding celebration for the couple or the person getting married, traditionally with kitchen or home themed gifts. The key thing to know: it's a modest, fun gift, and it's separate from (and smaller than) your wedding gift.
The A$ ranges below reflect what Australian guests typically spend on a kitchen tea gift. Because you'll give the main gift at the wedding, there's no need to go big here.
How much to spend on a kitchen tea gift
Kitchen tea gifts are usually modest and themed. In Australian dollars, most guests spend around:
| Your relationship | Typical gift (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Immediate family | A$50–A$100 |
| Extended family | A$30–A$80 |
| Close friend | A$40–A$80 |
| Friend | A$30–A$60 |
| Colleague or acquaintance | A$20–A$40 |
These are typical AUD ranges, not a required amount, and this is on top of your wedding gift, so keeping it small is entirely expected.
What changes how much you spend
- A kitchen tea gift is traditionally kitchen or home themed, and usually modest, think a nice utensil, a cookbook, or something for the home.
- It's in addition to the wedding gift, so keep it small, you'll give the main gift at the wedding.
- Whether there's a theme or a registry, hosts often set one (a colour, a recipe card, a spice).
- Whether you're combining with others on a larger appliance.
- How close you are to the person getting married, and whether you're also a wedding guest.
Worked examples
A close friend, and you're a wedding guest too
Around A$40–80 on something for the kitchen or home, a nice utensil set, a good chopping board, or a piece for their theme. Save the bigger gift for the wedding.
The bridal party pooling for one bigger item
Whatever the group agrees, often A$30–60 each, towards a stand mixer, a quality pan set, or an appliance the couple will use for years.
A friendly colleague or extended family
Around A$20–40, a cookbook, a set of nice tea towels, or something that fits the host's theme.
Not sure what to buy?
Good kitchen tea gifts at a range of prices: a quality pantry or utensil set (A$30–60), a specialty cookbook (A$40–70), a mandoline or a Japanese kitchen knife (A$40–80), nice linen tea towels (A$25–40), or your share of a group pan set (A$30–60 each).
Kitchen tea gift etiquette: do's & don'ts
Do
- Follow the theme if the host set one, kitchen teas often have a colour, a recipe-card idea, or a spice or herb theme.
- Keep it home or kitchen focused, that's the tradition behind the name.
- Keep it modest, this is in addition to your wedding gift.
- Consider combining with others on a nicer appliance for a bigger impact.
Don't
- Don't treat it like the wedding gift, a kitchen tea gift is meant to be small and fun.
- Don't ignore the theme, hosts set one to make it easy and cohesive.
- Don't feel you must spend a lot, a thoughtful A$30 kitchen gadget hits the mark.
- Don't forget a card with a favourite recipe if the host asked for one.
Kitchen tea gift FAQ
A kitchen tea is the Australian name for a bridal shower, a relaxed, usually daytime pre-wedding celebration for the couple or the person getting married, typically held three to six weeks before the wedding. The name comes from the tradition of giving kitchen and home gifts to help the new household get started.
Most guests spend around A$20–80, with close friends and family at the higher end. Because it's on top of your wedding gift, a modest, themed kitchen or home item is exactly right, there's no need to spend big.
Follow it, hosts set kitchen tea themes (a colour, a recipe card, a spice, a time of day) to make gift-giving easy and the collection cohesive. A gift that fits the theme is always a hit.
Yes. The kitchen tea gift is separate and smaller, the main gift comes at the wedding. Keep the kitchen tea gift modest so the two together stay proportionate.
Planning the wedding too?
Set up a wedding registry or a wishing well, add items from any store, and share one link with your guests. It's free to create.