Post # 1
Member
55 posts
Worker bee
I’m having a VERY low budget wedding (like under $1000 – venue is free and we’re doing a lot of DIY stuff, bartering for freebies, etc.), and a very unconventional one, at that. This is neither my or FI’s first marriage (but it IS my first wedding!), and we’re having a crazy, 80s-themed wedding. My bridesmaids are my sister and 3 best friends, all of whom are completely excited and on board with every bit of this weirdness. I guess they wouldn’t be my best friends if they weren’t like-minded people. 🙂 Anyway, we’re paying for every penny of this ourselves, save the aforementioned beg-borrow-barter-steal-DIY mentality for things like photography, chairs, cake, decor. We also have 2 kids. Soooo, I’m trying to come up with a pretty inexpensive but cool bridesmaid gift. I’m leaning towards necklaces for each girl, but each of them unique for their personalities. I may end up doing some DIY on this, too, because it’s cheaper for me to make the stuff I see on etsy that I like than it is to buy it. I may even do some kind of locket. Is this appropriate? I mean, appropriate probably isn’t even the word. I also found some neon clutches that match our wedding decor, but I’m not sure two of the four girls would use them. (It might be important to note that I’m in my early 30s, as are two of the bridesmaids. My sister and the other bridesmaid are 21. They’d use neon clutches – not so sure about the other girls, lol…they don’t even normally get out of their pajamas.) Any thoughts? I can’t spend a lot – probably about $100 total, and I really need that $100 to cover my daughter’s gift, too. Thoughts? I can promise none of these girls would be offended if I make them a card and said thanks. Nobody in my life is etiquette-obsessed or upitty.
Post # 3
Member
5517 posts
Bee Keeper
- Wedding: December 2019 - Paris, France
@drumkitt: I don’t see anything wrong with the necklaces. I would say that maybe you could just give them the card and a picture of you with each of them .. you could have a theme.. like your first picture together.. or your last picture as a single woman.. something like that would be cute
Post # 4
Member
4597 posts
Honey bee
@MrsNeutrino: I agree, a keepsake it needent be expensive. Maybe a DIY picture frame with a pictue of you and them in it.
Post # 5
Member
55 posts
Worker bee
I’m pretty sure I don’t have any pics with my best friend, actually. And frankly, these aren’t the kind of girls who are into framed photos, except maybe my sister. I paint and draw a lot, and I’m pretty sure they’d appreciate a card (I make my own funny ones) or a drawing of some kind more than a photo. I was thinking if I gave them a locket, I could put something in it – a note or something? We just aren’t into sentimental/cheesy stuff. I mean, the thing I most want to give my best friend is a zombie brain BFF necklace…and I know she’d love it. Go figure. 😉
Post # 6
Member
5473 posts
Bee Keeper
@drumkitt: If you’re super artisitc, could you buy each lady a bottle of their favorite wine, but draw/design/paint a creative, unique label for it? Or maybe make your own artistic cards as a thank you to them for being there for you along with the necklaces?
Post # 7
Member
3175 posts
Sugar bee
How about some 80s themed cookies in nice boxes with thank you notes? These are funny, and you could do some that are just squares that say “Thank you” on them in coordinating colors:
If you wanted to do more, you could add a $5 GC to a coffee shop or something.
Post # 8
Member
685 posts
Busy bee
I bout wine glasses at IKEA, and then bought these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120840162963?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1002wt_932
Monogram adhesives. And I’m going to get them a bottle of wine. There are a few other things I’m doing, too. But on a budget, I would totally be happy to get this!
Post # 9
Member
878 posts
Busy bee
The best advice I’ve heard is to shop for them like it’s christmas or their birthday. You may not necessarily want to get everyone the same thing, because everyone’s not the same. If you really want to give them something meaningful, think about how they are unique and what their tastes are and come up with something based on this. Maybe some girls would like those clutches, so get them clutches, maybe the other ones want pajamas 😉 so get them a cute $10 Target PJ set or a 2 for 50 VS sleep shirt.
As an example, what I’m doing is asking my Maid/Matron of Honor & sister to forego giving me a wedding present and to handmake 6 purses for each of my 6 other BMs. I am on a tight budget and this saves us both money. It is really cool though because we went to the fabric store and picked out fabric and different purse shapes based on each friend.
Post # 10
Member
699 posts
Busy bee
@les105: Those cookies are AWESOME!
Post # 11
Member
3092 posts
Sugar bee
@danicalifornia: I was thinking the same. If two like to spend time in pajamas…pajamas it is. Maybe neon? And neon clutches for the others??
🙂 I’m offbeat too. And i’d love a zombie brain necklace. My cousin got me a zombie brain jello mold which is pretty fun to use.
With that said, I’m getting my gals a customized spa robe. It has their first initial and name in different colors. Our wedding will be near a pool so I’m thinking let’s hang out by the pool 🙂
Post # 12
Member
176 posts
Blushing bee
I made my girls wineglasses! One of my BM’s husband saw them and absolutely loved the idea…
Post # 13
Member
3580 posts
Sugar bee
Ladies… I think she’s already married. Lol
Post # 14
Member
235 posts
Helper bee
@WillyNilly: LOL sorry…you made me laugh. I was about to write the same thing until I saw what you wrote 😀
Post # 15
Member
3139 posts
Sugar bee
What did you get them????