Bridesmaid Gifts

jennhughes13

How much should be spent on Bridesmaid Gifts and Groomsmen gifts?  Also, a lot of the gifts I've seen in catelogs and online just look like junk that would be thrown away.  I need some ideas of stuff that won't look like cheap crap and be something my BMs will use again. Ideas???

Maggie0829

How much you spend on the gifts really depends on what you are comfortable with.  Everyone's budget is different so spend only what you are okay with.

As for what you should get them.  We typically say to shop for them like it is their birthday or Christmas.  Leave the wedding out of it completely.  What are their hobbies?  Likes?  Favorite things?

For example, if you have a wine lover you can buy them a very nice bottle of wine, a set of fancy wine glasses, etc.  If you have a book lover you could get them a Nook (or whatever reading device they have) gift card, a new cover for their e-reader, book ends, etc.  You have a friend who loves purses, then buy her a new handbag.

KGold80

I got my MOH a Coach wristlet and will buy something else to go with it - maybe a gift card or a couple of tubes of really nice lip gloss or something.

labro

Shop for each person individually. I'm spending slightly different amounts per person...like for my sisters I'll probably spend slightly more but my average budget is $75 right now. It's all about what is affordable for you. If it's $100 per person great! If it's $10 great! It's about giving them a gift from the heart and not about the money spent. We haven't figured out gifts for everyone in our bridal party yet but here's what I have so far:

MOH 1: My sister desperately wants a Tori Burch clutch...so I'm stalking ebay and I'm going to try to snag one for a good deal hopefully.
FI's sisters who are BM's: I've purchase each of them a different cross necklace from James Avery.
FG: A necklace with a pretty charm and a pendant with her monogram from James Avery. I wanted to get her something nice because she's FI's niece and really special to both of us.
I have some jewelry picked out on Etsy for two of my other BM's as part of their gift. I'll probably get them each a gift card to a store they like as well since the necklaces are fairly inexpensive.

My FI and I found some really cool wall mounted beer bottle openers on Etsy that are made locally so we plan on contacting the shop owner and ordering a couple for two of his GM's as a part of their gift since they are only about $20. We are talking about buying a nice bottle of scotch for the third GM and a nice bottle of sake for the 4th. We have zero idea what to give our RB (his nephew).

ElcaB

You should spend whatever you can afford & are comfortable with. It's different for everyone. 

The reason the stuff you see looks cheap is because it usually is. Don't buy it. You can purchase something that's not a cheap piece of crap in any budget. 

Things to avoid: monogrammed shit, candles, lotions, makeup bags, etc.

Things to consider: anything that fits the individual BMs taste, gift cards, edibles (that she'll enjoy), etc. 

Cookie Pusher

hmellema23 said:

Hi Bride to be's:

What better gift to give your bridesmaids than a fantastic piece of statement jewelry!  PLUS every month we donate a portion of the proceeds to a new charity.  This month is Prevent Child Abuse America.  Not only are you buying a beautiful timeless piece of jewelry, but you are supporting a great cause!  Shop my store here:
https://www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/FashionForward

Vendor

@KnotPorscha

buddysmom80

hmellema23 said:

Hi Bride to be's:

What better gift to give your bridesmaids than a fantastic piece of statement jewelry!  PLUS every month we donate a portion of the proceeds to a new charity.  This month is Prevent Child Abuse America.  Not only are you buying a beautiful timeless piece of jewelry, but you are supporting a great cause!  Shop my store here:
https://www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/FashionForward

OH FFS!

@knotporscha VENDOR ALERT.

doeydo

I think the budget should be relative to your overall wedding budget.  For example, if you are having a $15000 wedding and are spending $5 per wedding party gift, that is kind of off.

Blergbot

I'm trying to stay around $50 for my two BMs. I just got one of my BMs a purple (her favorite color) nail polish duo, some manicure stuff, and I'm going to get her some awesome camel nail decals I found on Etsy to go with it, because she loves camels. I haven't started shopping for my other BM. She loves to read, loves wine, loves to cook...so those are my starting points.

penelope4612

I got each of my bridesmaids a cute clutch, then I am getting them each a small item (bottle of wine, bunch of candy, bottle of skinny girl margarita) and then a gift card (sephora, starbucks, and movie tickets).  I figured the clutches could be something they'll (hopefully) use more than once, as a "memento" of our friendship, and the other things can only really be used once but they'll be things they enjoy.

Candles, potted plants, coffee/coffee mugs are also ideas but would be for a specific type of person.  I chose to stay away from jewelry because I'm not sure I could pick something to my girls' tastes but it's always an option if you know what they'd like.  If someone just moved into a new home or apartment, you could consider a nice decorative item (places like home goods and marshals often have nice items that aren't super expensive).  

andreamarie3615

If you go to etsy.com, tons of people sell embroidered, large, long sleeve shirts for the bridesmaids. They're really cute for pictures and would likely be used/lounged around in again by your bridesmaids. I plan on buying the shirts from an outlet and taking them to a local place to get monogramed for each girl, which will be cheaper than ordering them done online.

buddysmom80

Andreamauk said:

If you go to etsy.com, tons of people sell embroidered, large, long sleeve shirts for the bridesmaids. They're really cute for pictures and would likely be used/lounged around in again by your bridesmaids. I plan on buying the shirts from an outlet and taking them to a local place to get monogramed for each girl, which will be cheaper than ordering them done online.

Not a good idea. As a BM, I hated personalized stuff with wedding date and titles. Take that money and invest in a gift for your bridal party like you were shopping for their birthday.

erinlin25

ditto to stay away from personalized stuff unless you know the person will like it/enjoy it.  Not many people will wear a shirt that says "bridesmaid" a lot, so personally it is a waste of your money to me.  Shop like it is their birthday.  Gifts should be individual to their personal taste.  They can be similar and you should try to stay in the same budget for each. 

OnceUponAVine

+2 on staying away from anything monogrammed and shopping for your wedding party like it's their bday or Christmas.
One of my favorite BM gifts I've received was an Alex & Ani bangle (I have a collection of them).