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personal individualized note is a wonderful idea...personally, i love getting stationery...
This will most probably not help, but I wouldn't expect anything. If I am in a wedding (I've been in two), it's because I know that person very well and I am honored to do it and don't expect anything in return. I didn't get anything for neither of the weddings lol
@soon2bhis: i only have bracelets too also due to the fact i have 7 bridesmaids lol i am looking for something else to go with it tho.. if not then i guess that will be it i will put in my hardest to wrap them beautifully lol
something that fits me and my personality...It can even be small...Im doing wine glasses with a picture of each girl on it 
@boop_a_doop2: Yeh, I'd say nothing. A lot of the gifts that I've seen given in person (not on the 'Bee because you ladies usually give super nice gifts to your bridesmaids) have been things that I would be grateful for the thought, but probably never use again. So I don't think they should be expecting anything outrageously nice, and if they do end up loving the gifts, then its a bonus. A bracelet for the wedding is a good gift.
I wouldn't expect anything specific. My only gripe is when the gift is something to wear for the wedding. That's not really a gift in my opinon. that's just telling me what to wear and paying for it.
i am giving each bridesmaid a silver pandora bracelet. I have bought their other jewelry that really only goes with the wedding colors but thought the pandora bracelet is something they each could continue to use and add to...
Maybe that's inconsiderate but that's what i'm doing :-)
i would also say that you don't HAVE to give anything, although it's obviously nice if you do. if you're short on money, i think you could do the bracelet and then maybe frame a picture of you with that bridesmaid and a heartfelt note? i think when it comes to bridesmaids gifts, it's more about showing your appreciation for them rather than loading them up with swag.
I have a friend who just got married and shared this idea with me for a bridesmaid gift.... buy a case of wine (e.g. Trader Joes - very inexpensive AND very yummy) and add your own wine label to it. She suggested making a personal label like a picture of you and that bridesmaid. Perhaps that's an inexpensive, personalized gift that could work with your budget.
I think I'm also going to get the girls purse holders for restaurants. I have a couple and really like them. I saw some that you could put a monogram on for only a few dollars total.
Hope this helps!
I would definitely just include a really nice thank you note.
What I would REALLY like is something that entails thought! It doesn't have to cost much (or any) money at all! Walmart has small photobooks you can make for very reasonable prices. Do you have a handful of pics of you and your bridesmaids? If so, how about putting one of those together for each of them?
If you have limited budget, I would suggest (in order of preference):
- Pay for their hair/makeup
- Pay for their dress
- Jewelry to accompany the dress
If you have a small budget you should be practical - give something that will help save money for the other bridesmaids too. I wouldn't want a tote bag or something i dont need, i rather have someone pay for my expense.
Half the time, I haven't gotten a present. Once, I got a jewelry box engraved with my name and the date of the wedding. Nice token, I suppose.
My girls are getting jewelry recommended for the day of (it's silver and clear, so there's a chance they may be able to re-wear it), and a gift basket from bath and body works.
I'm with @meggyo: on this (and not just because she is a fellow Jayhawk!) that the bracelet and a lovely framed picture and a personalized note would be plenty! I know it sounds like an unlikely place, but TJ Maxx has some seriously cute (and cheap!!) picture frames in their housewares section!
I wouldn't really expect anything. But if we got to pick, probably something I could use, or something sentimental to our friendship. I'm a sap like that :p
Honestly - I never want anything 'typical BM's gift'. If anything - if a bride wants us to wear matching jewelry, it's helpful to receive that as the gift.
Personally, I would love a framed picture of me and the bride along with a note.
I wouldnt expect anything!
But maybe you could get them a card and small gift card or a little something for their dress on the wedding day, or earrings/necklace/accessories! You could even make your own jewelry if you wanted to!
Maybe you could bake them some Wedding Day Snacks since you'll be spending the day getting ready, etc. Or a little DIY Survival Kit!
Get creative! =) Endless possibilities!
I've been a bridesmaid more times than I've had hot dinners! I did once get a pair of earrings but my friend is a jeweller so she made then her self. The rest of the time I just had a box of chocolates or maybe a bottle of wine - nothing extravagant but sweet and thoughtful you know!
Let's see you can always get them a really nice thank you card with a gift card to their fav coffee shop or place to eat or place where they shop.
A really nice note is always appreciated. I typically expect jewelery to wear with the dress, especially if it's never been specified what kind of jewelry we should wear/bring. I also got a really nice travely jewelry "roll" with my inital on it. Pretty sure she found it on Etsy and I love it.
From my personal experience - I was the MOH 3 times, and a BM once. I received a small Burberry handbag for one, a gold initial necklace for another. One sent a thank-you card with some pictures after the wedding. The final one didn't give us anything, not even a thank-you note.
Ultimately, it's not the value of the gift that matters, it's that you show appreciation for their help and support. A heartfelt card is more than enough in my opinion. My favorite "gift" was actually one of the bride's speech - she started crying when she spoke about our friendship and thanked me for being her MOH during the reception. I was touched beyond words.
@oracle: That's a great budget-friendly idea! A framed photo would be really sweet.
I've been a bridesmaid three times, and one of my favorite gifts was one of those purse hooks that you can set on the edge of the table, so your purse doesn't hit the ground. I didn't have one and I really love it!
I also like the idea of giving them something that doesn't necessarily relate to the wedding, but goes with their personal taste.. You could get each girl a gift card to a favorite restaurant, store, etc. Something else that could be cool is a magazine subscription (there are some fairly reasonable ones out there) if your BMs would be into that.
There is also a website that I'm using called Design Her Gals. I have a print-at-home membership (which, if you subscribe to their e-mails, you can often buy it for a year for $19.99). I have access to a decent printer. I'm making a set of stationery for each of my girls with a character that looks like them. Since I already purchased the at-home program, I have to pay for cards and envelopes--it works out to just a few dollars per girl. I also love the idea of photos and handwritten notes :-).
The big thing is, just think about what your girls would enjoy. Would it cause some discourse if they all got different (albeit equally priced) gifts? Would they be things they would use?
Have fun deciding!
I was in a wedding where we all got lingerie as part of our gift, it was fun and something a little different!
For my girls I'm paying for massages and wedding day pampering and giving them a few other little bits of pieces I've been picking up over the past year when I see things on sale!
My sister gave us personalized jewellery after the wedding as our gifts, because she didn't want to "buy us something and tell us all to wear it".
A friend gave us hand painted wine glasses, which was a nice thought, but she put her wedding date on them... that and I don't drink wine (often). The wine glass broke actually, less than a year of having it, wasn't dropped, bashed or anything, it was just set down on the counter one day and the stem broke. So I guess it was defective?
I don't ever expect anything. Sure it is nice when you get something (that you like/will use) but I don't ever expect gifts as a BM.
I think a handwritten note would be a really thoughtful touch.
I wouldn't expect anything.. I'm getting my girls pearl earrings (30$ for 6 pairs on Overstock.. they're real too!) and I'll give them each a sweet card with a little note, I think thats enough!
I agree, a very helpful thread indeed! It's nice to see so many ladies saying that just a simple note is all you really need! I agree that is a sweet, sentimental touch that makes your ladies appreciate them. I think I'm going to use some of these ideas- especially the purse holder- I just got one for a gift and LOVE IT! I'll do that as well as have my sister make them jewelry for wedding day, and I'll do a few more "practical gifts" like a nice letter opener and personalized stationary. Maybe even some wine & chocolate and day of survival kit! great ideas!! Thanks! :)
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I have a smaller budget wedding, so I'm trying to figure out what would be appropriate for a bridesmaid gift. I'm not a huge fan of the tote bags (I mean, they're cute, I like them...just not for me). I am buying the girl's bracelets for the day, but what else? Is a bracelet and something else (??) and a personal note okay? Not enough?