Bridesmaids gifts

Jillian1104

Good evening!

I'm trying to decide what to bridesmaids gifts to get.  Some former brides have told me they got their BMs something for the wedding, while others have told me that this is imprersonal and I should get them something they can use. I'd thought about paying for them all to get their nails done for the wedding, but am torn over which advice to take?

What are other brides doing for their bridesmaids?

TheSlowskys

I am getting them doie robes. It's fine to get them something for the wedding or all the same thing as long as you truly think they would enjoy it after the wedding. Most presents I've gotten were for the wedding and ive always been fine with that and appreciative. That isn't the popular opinion on this board.

kmmssg

If it is for your wedding it isn't a gift.  It is part of the BM costume.

shop for each girl like it is her birthday or Christmas.  Skip the matchy matchy gifts the wedding industry tells you to buy.  Shop for each girl.

Summer2011Bride

If you want their nails done professionally, you should pay for it, but this wouldn't be a gift for them. I would shop for each girl individually and think about what her likes/interests are.

michellesean

I agree with PP.  I'm creating tote bags and filling them with little things (specific to each girl) I think they will love.  I'm also getting them each a simple necklace to wear with their BM dresses.  It doesn't have to be extravagent.  I have a pretty tight budget, but since all of my BM's are traveling from the other side of the coutry, I figured I should go all out on their gifts. 

jemmini6

If it's for YOUR wedding, it's not a gift for THEM, it's part of a uniform.  That'd be like telling them their bouquet is their gift...

Set a budget, then shop for each girl if it were Christmas or their birthday.  For example, I got my MOH a bottle of her favorite perfume that I knew she was low on, I got one of my BMs a photo coffee mug and some of her favorite coffee, and I got my other BM a movie kit (gift card to the theatre and redbox, popcorn, red vines, etc). 

I did also get them each a necklace to wear for my wedding, they were all different styles matched with their tastes, but had the same stone, but I didn't count that as their 'gift'.  My MOH wears hers daily though because I made sure that even though it was for my wedding, it suited their style and was something they'd wear more than once.

Jillian1104

Thanks for all of your opinions and thoughts!  Like I said, I was going off of what had been done by some previous brides that I'd spoken to, and wasn't sure what route to go. 

I've since decided to get them medium sized cosmetic bags in their favorite color and fill them with some stuff personal to them.  I've even enlisted their husbands/boyfriends/families for help so that I make sure that the gifts are the most practical, as well, because all my girls always want extremely practical gifts (with the exception of my lil sis).

Cuss10

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_bridesmaids-gifts-6?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:a29dd9f2-94aa-4184-80e8-134d153fadacPost:ce8eeacb-6cb3-4fe7-8278-a69586b695b1">Re: Bridesmaids gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for all of your opinions and thoughts!  Like I said, I was going off of what had been done by some previous brides that I'd spoken to, and wasn't sure what route to go.  I've since decided to get them medium sized cosmetic bags in their favorite color and fill them with some stuff personal to them.  I've even enlisted their husbands/boyfriends/families for help so that I make sure that the gifts are the most practical, as well, because all my girls always want extremely practical gifts (with the exception of my lil sis).
Posted by Jillian1104[/QUOTE]

I got larger tote bags and filled them all with water bottles, trial and travel size sun screen (the weddings outdoors), deodorant, Tide To Go, mints all told it's about $25 a girl. But I am also getting them each an etched glass (a DIY project costing me $30 for all 10 members of the WP) for their favorite drink that has the date, 'Bridesmaid' or 'Groomsman' on it and their initials.

Viczaesar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_bridesmaids-gifts-6?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:a29dd9f2-94aa-4184-80e8-134d153fadacPost:bc371beb-9daf-463f-a14a-7743a1774184">Re: Bridesmaids gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Bridesmaids gifts : I got larger tote bags and filled them all with water bottles, trial and travel size sun screen (the weddings outdoors), deodorant, Tide To Go, mints all told it's about $25 a girl. But I am also getting them each an etched glass (a DIY project costing me $30 for all 10 members of the WP) for their favorite drink that has the date, 'Bridesmaid' or 'Groomsman' on it and their initials.
Posted by Cuss10[/QUOTE]
Really?  All of that is themed to your wedding.  Who the hell wants a "bridesmaid" glass and a bag with deodorant and sunscreen?

anglssftwhisper

I got each of my girls a tote bag with their names on it and my fi and my names with our wedding date on it from Vistaprint (got a SUPER deal with the Groupon), make up cases with their initials- which I'm filling with "day of" needs, tumblers with their names, a 'flip flop' pedicure set, a purse manicure set, flip flops with their names and flip flop bags. I'm going to put all this stuff in a decorative basket. I'm probably going to go to Things Remembered and get a little trinket box or something with 'Thank You' engraved on it as well. And maybe some little sample wine bottles or something like that. With everything but the tote, they can reuse everything. I've been enjoying myself buying the stuff! lol! It's like filling Christmas stockings for my besties!

When it comes down to it, I really think you should get something useful for them, otherwise it's money wasted anyways. Plus you want them to feel appreciated. And if you've got sentimental girls, something personal will make them really feel like you care.

Good Luck!!