Kitchen Tea

I've been invited to a kitchen tea. Do I need to get the bride a gift? I know back in the olden days that was the whole point, to bring something to help the bride to be set up her home. The bride and groom (my DH's brother and sister in law to be) haven't lived together and don't really have much stuff. I'm being charged $50 to attend. What do you think is an appropriate gift?

Nothing. You pay to attend, you don't take a gift. I'm flabbergasted anyone would charge you to attend their party, tbh!

If the money is for your travel rather than an attendance fee, then it should be a little something you find useful for household chores, traditionally. To make a young wife's life easier. The wedding is for gifts the couple need for the house.

Are you going somewhere, like a high tea for it, is that what the $50 is for? In that case I don't consider that 'being charged' as I would expect to pay for my attendance and I'd also take a gift. The gift for a kitchen tea doesn't have to be big - kitchen things, nice tea towels, a baking tray, some cooking utensils kind of thing.
Unless the invite says no gifts, take a gift.

Kitchen tea = small, inexpensive but handy gifts. Usually this means tea towels & jar openers. It's cute but a bit sexist, really. But maybe expectations are different now?
Also, is this instead of having a hens do, or as well as?

To be on the safe side, you could ask her, or whoever is helping her organise this thing.

I would ask whoever is organising it. If gifts are involved, the bride usually has a list of what she needs so that she doesn't end up with a million veggie peelers.

It's a hens high tea. Celebrations will continue on into the city afterwards.
Personally, I like to pay for my own celebrations myself. My own hens night was at my sister's house and I gave her money for the nibbles, decorations and materials for games etc. My sister wanted to charge people and I was mortified at the suggestion, I later found out it was to help her out with the cost for the stripper I didn't know she'd hired, so I gave her some money for that too. My 30th birthday high tea was $30 a head which I paid for myself and only invited the closest of friends. I think you can still have a nice fun time on a budget. Anyhoo, different strokes for different folks.
If buying the bride a gift for her kitchen tea is still the done thing then that's what I'll do.
(If my morning sickness keeps up the way it is I probably won't be able to attend anyway and will send my card and gift along with MIL. But I'll pay the $50 anyway just in case)
Thanks for your responses.

While I also am a fan of the tradition that the person throwing the party picks up the tab (for wedding things at least - I hate the thought of guests being charged for the bridal shower and/or a kitchen tea and/or a hen's night, and/or the wedding itself ...! not to mention any expectation on the wedding party to pay for new clothes, hair, make up, shoes, jewellery, and then a gift!) I would still bring a traditional gift and a recipe unless there was some indication that it was not expected / required.

JMO

I spoke to one of the bridesmaids and they don't know what she needs and suggested getting something personal just for her. I think I'll get her some nice soaps and throw in some cheap tea towels as well. You can never have enough tea towels imo.

You could always give her one of your favorite recipes and maybe a bowl and some measuring cups. For my kitchen tea we had a tupperware party and everyone put some money in an envelope and then I could spend the money on tupperware. Everyone also bought their favorite recipe which my bridesmaids put in a folder for me. Wad lovely