bridesmaid gifts...

kerritheann

I'm seriously thinking of giving my bridesmaids each a really cute clutch to carry instead of flowers, but the clutches are $60-$75. because I'm not spending the money on flowers for them it makes sense to spend a little extra on the gift right? I'm not at all wealthy, but at the same time I want to give them something special. Plus I'm trying to convince my fiance to buy the guys all a pair of converse to wear which won't exactly be cheap either...

mbcdefg

Would the clutches be the only gift? If something is intended to be used in your wedding, then it's really not something specifically for them (especially if the clutches all match), so get them something personal and individual in addition to the clutches.

If your question is just about using clutches in place of flowers, then that's fine.

Do you have a Burlington Coat Factory near you? I found clutches there for under $20 each.

stina93446

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_bridesmaid-gifts-7?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:a50c28fe-2afb-48ca-9d76-29caa2b98686Post:e89c91d6-3206-43bd-abcb-65f8920ab7c0">bridesmaid gifts...</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm seriously thinking of giving my bridesmaids each a really cute clutch to carry instead of flowers, but the clutches are $60-$75. because I'm not spending the money on flowers for them it makes sense to spend a little extra on the gift right? I'm not at all wealthy, but at the same time I want to give them something special. Plus I'm trying to convince my fiance to buy the guys all a pair of converse to wear which won't exactly be cheap either...
Posted by kerritheann[/QUOTE]

<div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;line-height:normal;" class="Apple-style-span"><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;-webkit-background-clip:initial;-webkit-background-origin:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;">Both the clutches and the converse shoes are not gifts. They are for your wedding and your wedding photos and therefore, not gifts for the wearers. Do any of your gms wear converse outside of your wedding? Do your girls like clutches?<div>
</div><div>It's better to get them something that they like and fits their own personalities.</div></div></span></div>

kerritheann

I see what you mean by them being used in the wedding. I stood up in a wedding that did something very simial though - the bride bought us all matching shamrock necklaces (she was born on st patty's day) to wear and the groom bought the guys matching pink and black checkerd vans to wear (pink was the wedding color and Vans his favorite shoe brand). That was the only gift, and I didn't really feel jilted. I'm not a fan of the personalized gifts that so many people do nowadays from places like Things Remembered even though I do use my personalized mirror every morning to put on my makeup because I'm blind without my glasses and it has a nice magnified side...

stina93446

Did you ever wear the shamrock necklace again? While you shouldn't necessarily feel jilted by a gift, a good gift that is well thought out will make them feel awesome and loved. If you get them all the same thing, it's fair, but it also says that you didn't spend very much time on each individual person. The gifts don't have to be personalized. In fact, many people prefer non personalized stuff. How many tote bags does one person need with their initials on them?!

Shop like it's their birthday. Oooh, Sally likes Matchbox 20, I'll get her a cd or concert tickets. Debbie likes to bake so I'm getting her new baking pans....etc.

trix1223

OP:  no one meant "personalized" gifts.  What you're being told is to make each gift personal to the friend who is standing up with you.  There's a huge difference here.

I don't like personalized "stuff" at all.  But I'd love to get a gift that says "Gee, kerri bought me this book because she knows it's by my favorite author!"  See the difference.

Also, move away from the idea that things have to be "wedding-y".  Your WP will remember being in your wedding without some wedding-type gift that the vast wedding industry tries to convince you would be a "GREAT" gift for your WP.