Ideas for bridesmaid gifts

ninamyspace

Hey guys,

I am looking for ideas, something creative, what I could get the bridesmaids. I don't want to spend over $50 for each, but will spend a little more if its creative.

I am having an outside wedding by the beach. It's a tropical wedding.

pokepoke27

Shop for them like it's their birthday. I personally hate matchey matchey gifts - like, everyone gets a personalized tote. Take your $50 spending limit and buy each of them a gift that they'll like. You can keep a theme if you want, but it's not necessary. I got for my WP:

MOH: Vintage belt, personalized pen, dinner at a nice restaurant

BM1: Elvis beanie baby, dinner

BM2: Mustache t-shirt, mustache pen, mustache notepad, dinner

BM3: Water bottle, personalized tote, gift card

BM4: wine charms, gift card

Best Man: dinner, gift card

GM 1: Fishing gear, dinner

GM 2: Cigar, handkerchiefs, dinner

achiduck

For the girls we shopped like it was their birthdays and for the guys we did the same gifts with a bit of personalization. 

MOH1: Matt & Nat purse and wallet (think Coach for Vegans)

MOH2: Bodum French press, burr grinder, 3 types of gourmet coffee beans, coffee syrup and I'll throw in some biscotti a few days before the wedding

BM1: Luxor bath robe, luxury bath products and a GC for a 30 minute massage

BM2: Coach swing pack and keychainn

Guys: Wooden box with their name burned on it, flask, beef stein, 3 cans of international beer, 1 small bottle of their favourite liquor, 2 cigars and a magazine or comic book tailored to their interests. 

misssunshine17

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ideas-for-bridesmaid-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:89299b94-4321-401e-8272-ef8a2b407281Post:998016fc-8f07-4381-9b5f-ba2c80224007">Re: Ideas for bridesmaid gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Shop for them like it's their birthday. I personally hate matchey matchey gifts - like, everyone gets a personalized tote. Take your $50 spending limit and buy each of them a gift that they'll like. You can keep a theme if you want, but it's not necessar</strong>y. I got for my WP: MOH: Vintage belt, personalized pen, dinner at a nice restaurant BM1: Elvis beanie baby, dinner BM2: Mustache t-shirt, mustache pen, mustache notepad, dinner BM3: Water bottle, personalized tote, gift card BM4: wine charms, gift card Best Man: dinner, gift card GM 1: Fishing gear, dinner GM 2: Cigar, handkerchiefs, dinner
Posted by pokepoke27[/QUOTE]

<div>Ditto this! </div>

kaos16

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ideas-for-bridesmaid-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:89299b94-4321-401e-8272-ef8a2b407281Post:998016fc-8f07-4381-9b5f-ba2c80224007">Re: Ideas for bridesmaid gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]Shop for them like it's their birthday. I personally hate matchey matchey gifts - like, everyone gets a personalized tote. Take your $50 spending limit and buy each of them a gift that they'll like. You can keep a theme if you want, but it's not necessary. I got for my WP: MOH: Vintage belt, personalized pen, dinner at a nice restaurant BM1: Elvis beanie baby, dinner BM2: Mustache t-shirt, mustache pen, mustache notepad, dinner BM3: Water bottle, personalized tote, gift card BM4: wine charms, gift card Best Man: dinner, gift card GM 1: Fishing gear, dinner GM 2: Cigar, handkerchiefs, dinner
Posted by pokepoke27[/QUOTE]

I want a mustache tshirt!!!!!!

wrigleyville

I agree with the others. I'm getting them "birthday" type gifts instead of matching gifts. All are roughly the same value.

Is your wedding on the beach in NC, or is it a tropical destination wedding? If it's an actual DW (even if it's only a couple hours), you could get them a tote full of stuff they might want for the beach - sunscreen, lotion, flip-flops, travel size drinks (those single serving pina coladas and stuff), a gift card to a bookstore for magazines and whatnot, and so on.

ninamyspace

Wonderful ideas! I never thought of it that way

My wedding is in Charleston, about 3 hours away.

Meegles4

We sort of did matchy-matchy.

For the ladies I bought a bottle of Bridesmaid wine and a couple good Godiva chocolate bars.

For the men, H did a gift card to a favorite restaurant for them and their SOs to enjoy.

The BM wine was a wine I'd had at one of our e-parties and it was really fabulous, so I thought it was both "kitschy" and also a nice gift. I'll admit though, some BMs probably enjoyed it more than others based on their love of wine. I tried to do the whole "shop like it's their birthday" thing, but had a lot of trouble coming up with gifts in the price range I wanted to stay within. Also, most of the weddings I've been in have been matchy-matchy and I was afraid they'd find it weird if I didn't do that.

The gift card thing went over really well with the guys.

Ali092011

We're giving each BM a piece of jewelry that matches their tastes and personalities (not to be worn for the wedding, unless they want to), and a gift card to a place that fits their personalities--still haven't decided where but probably Sephora, Victoria's Secret, H&M, or Amazon.

GMs are getting a bottle of expensive tequila or rum and gift cards.

marburger06

Related question: *when* do you give the gifts? My instinct would be to do it at the wedding, but most of them will be coming in from out of town, and I'm planning on giving a bottle of champagne as part of the gift, which they couldn't take on a carry-on. Should I just mail everything?

boomboom1243

Normally gifts are giving during the rehersal dinner

specialk84

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ideas-for-bridesmaid-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:89299b94-4321-401e-8272-ef8a2b407281Post:b1461cc8-6e24-49d8-86f3-5c33b99f75e7">Re: Ideas for bridesmaid gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]Related question: *when* do you give the gifts? My instinct would be to do it at the wedding, but most of them will be coming in from out of town, and I'm planning on giving a bottle of champagne as part of the gift, which they couldn't take on a carry-on. Should I just mail everything?
Posted by marburger06[/QUOTE]

<div>Well, you generally can't ship alcohol, unless it comes from the distributor. I'd either pick a different gift, give them a GC to a local (to them) wine store, or warn them ahead of time so they leave room in their packed luggage.</div>

nicolray

I''m getting them all little wristlets from coach...around 50 each, they match the dress, so they can use them on and after wedding. I was also thinking of getting everyone robes from pretty plum sugar. They would look so nice in pictures getting ready, especially on the beach.