Her gifts would placed her in a position of security if she had more. If she had very few she would be often criticized and may be even abused.
Most would get more than three gifts.
Today I would describe the first gift. The Gift of a Wardrobe . It was for her to keep her valueables, especially when the wardrobe had a drawer with a lock.
On the night of the wedding day, the relatives would come to see what she had. She would have to open the wardrobe and on the shelves would be materials (textiles) which were small gifts from her cousins, siblings, in laws) and may be a few sarongs. Every one would come and have a good look at her belongings. And for days the village would talk about the bride's gifts, and especially her new clothes and materials. Textiles , after the war, were rare and highly valued.
There would also be a few new frocks, pajamas, underwear and pillow cases.
An aunt told me that during the Japanese Occupation she was married off quickly and all she got was a piece of material which was not long enough to make a pair of long pants, or enough to make a dress or samfoo. So she sewed herself a simple blouse and a pair of short pants for herself to wear throughout the first year of her marriage. This was her "new clothes after the wedding". She also wore that during her first pregnancy.
Her bitterness about her quick marriage marred her outlook for the rest of her life.
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