Bridesmaids Gifts

vmorgs

I'm having a dilemma with my bridesmaids gift. My bridal party ranges in age from 42-6. I wanted to stick with similar gifts for everyone, from the Matrons of Honor down to the Flower Girl. I was thinking about getting each of them a silver, "Tiffany Style" necklace. They would  all be similar in that it would be a small, silver pendant on the chain but each pendant would be different and have special meaning for the wearer. For example, this necklace: http://bit.ly/6UVSyS is called "Dogs Tags" and my one sister (who's also a Matron of Honor) has two dogs that she absolutely adores. I thought I would put each necklace in a bag like this: http://bit.ly/8PrTku w/ a different style/color bag for each.

Is this a good or bad idea? I think it's great because each bridesmaid is getting a necklace to wear for the wedding, and it will be one they can wear again and again and again because it's nice and elegant. I also like the idea that each bag & necklace will be picked out especially for the bridesmaid I'm giving to, making them uber personalized. The downside is, I'm pretty sure this is knock-off jewlery. There's no way I can afford to give them real Tiffany's jewlery, and that's not even what I'm attempting to do. I just like their selection of unique, yet elganant pendants. I'm not trying to pass this off as real at all. If they think it is, great. But not my intent. So is it bad to give them knock-off jewlery? Tacky even? And, should I disclose that it's a knock-off? Help!!

KappaK

Personally, I wouldn't do jewelry because everyone has different taste as to what they like to wear, and really anything having to do with your wedding isn't so much a gift.  Get the ladies something you might get them for their birthday.  As for the bags, I would never use them at all.  It is probably something that I would stuff in a drawer and then eventually toss in the trash.

aerinpegadrak

Well, anything that is specifically for your wedding, be it jewelry, clothing, or other accessories, is really for you, so it's not the greatest gift.

Do all of your girls wear jewelry?  I know I personally have a bathroom drawer full of lovely necklaces that I very, very rarely wear.  So if it were me, I wouldn't care whether the necklace were real Tiffany's or a knock-off, it's still just going to sit in the drawer.

If you really want to get them something that they'll cherish and get a lot of use out of, I'd let go of the idea of doing something similar, unless they all really do have similar interests.  (For instance, my girls all love to read, so I'm getting them all a really nice book.)

banana468

While pretty, if you're going to give jewelry, it should be about the recipient and not about the occasion. Stop trying to think that they need to be similar and think about something that each BM would love.

vmorgs

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_bridesmaids-gifts-5?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:ddda7a02-e3c6-47b4-95b3-e77bb182cc82Post:cb314345-1923-4ae7-a4db-b72cd1c5d197">Re: Bridesmaids Gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]While pretty, if you're going to give jewelry, it should be about the recipient and not about the occasion. Stop trying to think that they need to be similar and think about something that each BM would love.
Posted by banana468[/QUOTE]

They all wear jewlery, and I thought this would be a neat idea to each get them a silver necklace w/ a pendant that is unique to them based on their interest or personalities or whatever. And, what about the whole issue that I am sure they are knock-offs?

emilyinchile

I personally don't like the bags you linked to and would just use a small gift box, but if you wrap them that way I don't think anyone's going to automatically assume they're real. I see that they come with fakes of the Tiffany boxes and bags, and I'd trash those to avoid confusion and looking like you're trying to pass them off as something they aren't.

I think it's a cute idea if there's something they'd each like (and assuming this isn't for them to wear in the wedding, which it doesn't sound like). Stay away from all the stuff that says Tiffany as well as the known designs like Paloma Picasso and Elsa Peretti. That limits your options, so if you can't do it without relying on one of those designs I'd avoid it because again, I think it looks like you're trying to fool them.

kjane12

Your intention is good, but the gifts are not great.  You are right, it is a bit tacky to give a knock-off.  Most people would rather not wear it.  Avoid the name all-together if you can't afford the real pieces.  Also the bag is not exactly a style that's current or would be used again for whatever reason.  If you can give them anything else, it would be better. 

banana468

Instead of the knock-off, why not search your local jewelry stores to see what they have?  If that's the style of jewelry that they wear then it's great.