BM gift idea...take a look please

sunflower331

HI everyone, I already got my BMs cute Vera Bradley clutches but wanted to get them something else...what do you think about the compact mirror below?  I thought I would get each of them one and engrave it.  Any thoughts, opinions, would be much appreciated...thanks

http://www.thingsremembered.com/product/Occasions/Birthday-for-Her/Compacts-Lipstick-Cases/Beaded-Compact/pc/101/c/2558/sc/2622/158016.uts?refineByCategoryId=2622

october010bride

While I think that is very pretty, I feel like they are one of those gifts that people might not really use. I also think 20 per person is kind of a lot.

I did vera bradley makeup bags filled with different types of lip glosses, lotions (all ones they liked) and jewelry for the day of. I tried to do the gifts as personalized as possible without driving myself insane.

Obviously you know your girls better than we do, just my opinion.

plato79

I'd think about if your BMs will use this type of gift. If not, I'd spend the $20 on something else. I am buying my girls a set of pearls, a packable tote, and a pashmina. I know that they will all use these things later. 

The compact is very pretty, but I'd evaluate if your girls would use it.  

sunflower331

I'm not 100% sure they will all use the compact mirror, but I know I keep one in my purse all the time, and thought about having their initials engraved on them.  I did think of jewelry ideas too and noted the following.....what do you think of these:

http://www.whiteaisle.com/spiral_necklace.html

http://www.thingsremembered.com/product/Wedding/Wedding-Day-Essentials/Sterling-Pearl-Drop-Necklace-and-Earrings-Set/pc/2114/c/0/sc/2739/159178.uts?sortByColumnName=default

http://www.thingsremembered.com/product/Wedding/Wedding-Day-Essentials/Vine-Necklace-and-Earrings/pc/2114/c/0/sc/2739/159133.uts?sortByColumnName=default

http://www.thingsremembered.com/product/Wedding/Wedding-Day-Essentials/Vine-Bracelet/pc/2114/c/0/sc/2739/159132.uts?sortByColumnName=default

jr BM ideas:
http://www.thingsremembered.com/product/Wedding/Bridal-Jewelry/Sterling-Junior-Bridesmaid-Necklace-and-Earrings-Set/pc/2114/c/0/sc/2607/159177.uts?sortByColumnName=default

http://www.thingsremembered.com/product/Wedding/Bridesmaid/Keepsake-Boxes/Filigree-Box/pc/2114/c/2560/sc/2781/157917.uts?refineByCategoryId=2781

http://www.thingsremembered.com/product/Wedding/Bridesmaid/Keepsake-Boxes/Ribbon-Heart-Keepsake-Box/pc/2114/c/2560/sc/2781/156697.uts?refineByCategoryId=2781

october010bride

I think those are all nice choices but are not necessarily my style and they all seem very bridal to me. Obviously the the idea is that the girls will wear the necklaces for your wedding but it'd be nice if they could wear them again in a different type of setting.

Here are some similar, but in my opinion, not as bridal:
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=513880&CategoryID=43866&LinkType=

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62344796/free-shipping-18-inches-55-65mm-white

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62819150/free-shipping-17-20-inches-3row-7-8mm

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62540709/free-shipping-16-inches-14-15mm-white

Etsy has some great sellers that make bridal/bm necklaces in all types of stones and styles. The one above does pearl pieces primarily but there are SO many other sellers to choose from.

sunflower331

Thanks for all your suggestions and thoughts October....of all your suggestions, I like the one at Macy's best

sunflower331

Thanks everyone, I'm sure whatever I end up getting my BMs, they will all love....1 last question...I came across this necklace on Macys.com, do you think this will go w/the truffle color BM dress my girls will be wearing from David's Bridal? the dress is a dark chocolate brown

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=427377&CategoryID=43866&LinkType=#fn=sp%3D11%26spc%3D510

tecah123

Whatever you get your girls I'm sure they'll appreciate it. I've been a bridemades way to many times. The best gifts I got was a tote bag filled with items that I can use,make-up bag filled with lip gloss and and give certificate to sephora,(my favorite),another one I got was really cute a tote bag and on the outside pictures of me and my friend throughout the years we've known eachother with jewlery that I never wore again.  But like I said you know your girls and do what is in your price range. Oh I forgot this one. My friend hired Lil studio (newbury street) to come to her house and each girl picked out their own material and picked out a bag and we designed our own bags. Very cute idea and fun at the same time. She said it varied in price depending on which bag you picked. Good luck in your search.

october010bride

Anytime! Def keep looking until you find exactly what you want/hink they'll like best.

I think Tecah is right....

Throughout my search for bm gifts I stressed so much over what to get them, worrying that they'd hate their gifts. In the end, they loved them (or at least told me to their face that they loved them ) and were very happy. Your bms will appreciate anything you get them because you are putting so much thought into it. That's whats most important.

Good luck and let us know what you pick!

jkepros

I don't love the compact.  The jewelry might be okay.  We didn't have a bridal party, so I didn't have to go through this, but from reading lots of posts about bridal party gifts on TK & other places online, I think the best gifts are experiences rather than things, and I think the gift should be personal to each girl. 

Some of my favorites:

-non-weddingy photo shoot with the girls.  How often do you all get dressed up & have fabulous photos taken?  Think engagement pics with your girlfriends: go to a park, hang out at your fav coffee shop, or go out on the town, and take lots of pics of you all laughing, smiling & hanging out together.  Those memories will last longer & be more special than an object.  If you hire a friend or student photographer (you can place an ad for a photographer on the New England School of Photography website), you can probably have an hour long shoot for a fairly inexpensive price.  You can give each girl a CD of the photos, and even print out one of the two of you together & give it to her in a frame.

-special time spent together: if one girl is a girly girl--take her to get mani-pedis.  If another girl is adventurous, do a trapeze class together.  If another girl likes to cook, take a cooking class together.  If another girl is a tomboy, go to a beer tasting together.  Cater to her interests.  Also, remember, these events don't have to all be done at the same time--you can schedule something for AFTER the wedding, when life is less hectic.

-Personalized scrap book.  It doesn't have to be a 200-page volume with thousands of pics, but even just a mini storybook about your friendship, recounting special memories, inserting some photos, etc, is so special!  It can be just a few pages for each girl, but trust me, she will cherish it!

-personalized wedding weekend survival kit.  These can be bags of goodies that are individual for each girl.  Include things that reference inside jokes & will make each girl laugh, smile & tear up.  Is one girl the party animal of your group?  Include "hangover rememedies."  Is one girl the dancing queen?  Include Dr. Scholl's gel inserts.  Is one girl a pre-partier?  Include a 6-pack of beer.  You know your BMs well, and will know what will crack them up, and make them feel special.

noodle_oo

yeah, I personally think the best BM gifts are ones that are personal and unique to each girl rather than a blanket identical rpesent for each one.  I bought each of my friends a personal present (one I got an ornament she collects, the other books on crafting that she wanted, the third I took out for a girls night out).  They raelly loved their presents and it made me really happy to find something unique for each one.  I will say I enlisted their spouses to help me figure out what they were eyeing, but I got a nice surprise for each one and they loved them.

If you really want to get them the same present, I suggest either jewelry (that isn't too "weddingy") or gift cards are also really fun.  That way they can get what they want.  I know my girls would have loved GC to Sephora as well!