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Bridesmaid gifts-how much to spend?

Cutie2882Cutie2882 member
10 Comments
in New York-Hudson Valley

I have soooo many questions about this. I am the first one to be married of everyone I know and the last time I was in a wedding I was 13.

-How much is everyone spending? I am thinking $50 per girl.

-Do you get extra for the MOH? (I am thinking yes, I know I definitlely want to get something extra.)

-What should  I get them? I want to get them something nice that they can use, not something like another tote bag, jewlery case, etc. but I can't think of anything really great! There is always jewlery which I keep looking at. I feel funny buying stuff when I can't take it home and match it with the dress though.

This is driving me crazy because the people I normally ask about these things are the ones getting the gifts...

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Re: Bridesmaid gifts-how much to spend?

  • psichickpsichick
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    -spend what you can afford, there's no set amount, it's what you're comfortable spending. it can be $20 or $200. 

    -i did, and i think most people do. 

    -shop for them like it's their birthday. 
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  • CrissyoCrissyo
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I did spa gift certificates...and some other little stuff ( a tote bag, etc)....it was very appreciated!
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  • mrsredmoosemrsredmoose
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    ditto psichick.

    We're giving spafinder gift certificates (check out costco discount (4) $25 certificates for $80 if anyone is interested).
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  • DOLLIE.17DOLLIE.17
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I based my BM gifts on what the girls were paying for. ie. the shower, the bachelorette party and their dresses. You should give what you can afford, but remember, if these girls are taking care of you, you should take care of them. 
    I am giving them Zable bracelets and a bead in their favorite color, and Flip Flops for the reception (Old navy ones), and baskets from the Body Shop. Plus a few Godiva Chocolates since they are all fans of the delicious treats.
    If you can't afford to give a lot, just remember to take the time to write something thoughtful in the thank you cards for them. They will Cherish them more than you know.
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  • Cutie2882Cutie2882 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for the ideas. It's so hard to decide. I would like to buy them jewlery to cut down on one expense, but I feel like jewlery that matches one dress really isn't useful. Most of the girls have a lot of nice jewelry already and one girl really doesn't wear jewlery so I want to get something that everyone will appreciate and use. Maybe I can buy some inexpensive Claire's type stuff if it doesn't look too cheap and then buy a nicer gift. I already put $50 each toward their make-up for that day so I guess that's something.

    (I need to learn how to spell jewlery!)
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  • kristinanddankristinanddan member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-york-hudson-valley_bridesmaid-gifts-much-spend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:113Discussion:eb4b092a-a1d5-44a7-b4b4-65644ed58c61Post:bfd5bfba-a6a6-4bf2-951e-741265cadea4">Re: Bridesmaid gifts-how much to spend?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Thanks for the ideas. It's so hard to decide. I would like to buy them jewlery to cut down on one expense, but I feel like jewlery that matches one dress really isn't useful. Most of the girls have a lot of nice jewelry already and one girl really doesn't wear jewlery so I want to get something that everyone will appreciate and use. Maybe I can buy some inexpensive Claire's type stuff if it doesn't look too cheap and then buy a nicer gift. I already put $50 each toward their make-up for that day so I guess that's something. (I need to learn how to spell jewlery!)
    Posted by Cutie2882[/QUOTE]


    Cheap Claire's jewelry to match their dresses really isn't a gift. If you're requiring them to have their makeup done, that really isn't a gift either.
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  • MidgetthMidgetth member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm taking my girls for a manicure and pedicure before the wedding as my gift to them. They were so happy because they all told me they would just put some kind of knick knack in their drawers and they didn't really need anything. So it's going to be a nice girls day getting pampered.
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  • ssagessage member
    Seventh Anniversary 1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    -How much is everyone spending? I agree with pp.  you have to spend what you can afford.  We spent alot on our bridal party but that was by choice..

    -Do you get extra for the MOH? I had two MOHs (a maid and a matron) both are friends for over 30 years (i am 37)...their spa gift certificates were double what the BMs got.

    -What should  I get them? Again, everyone is different.  My BMs and I are older so some of the ideas i have read before on the knot I felt were not us.  I got them all a pashmina, jewelry for the day of but it was nice sapphire/diamond jewelry that they could wear again (I know lots here are opposed to that but I loved it...i still ahve the sapphire earrings I was given by my MOH from her wedding 12 years ago), spa gift certificates and personalized stationary from design-her-gals,com (love that site!)
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  • Cutie2882Cutie2882 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Kristinanddan no need to get snotty. You didn't even read what I wrote. I said i would buy them cheap jewelry to wear with the dress SO I CAN GET THEM A NICE GIFT THEY WILL APPRECIATE rather than be stuck with jewelry that they might not wear again. Three of my girls already have a lot of nice jewelry so I want to get them something that won't end up in the jewelry box with everything else.I also NEVER said the make-up was a gift,  nor did I say that I required them to get their make-up done. They WANT to get it done and only one girl wants to do her own and that's fine with me. I think paying $50 dollars of an $80 dollar make-up application is a nice gesture IN ADDITION to the gift. Read what I write before responding please.
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  • Cutie2882Cutie2882 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks midgetth and ssage. I thought of the idea of taking them to get a manicure and pedicure too which seems fun and it will cut out one cost for them too. I also go between getting them all the same thing or making it personal for each girl. I really don't want to seem cheap but I don't know if I can go all out and spend like $200 dollars. Thanks for the suggestions!
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  • cherryblossom80cherryblossom80 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Maybe they'd like pearl necklaces? I bought some in bulk on overstock for $25 each and they're beautiful!

    Otherwise, check out Etsy. They have great gifts. I bought some jewelry pouches for $12 that can be monogrammed inside with their initials and I think they're very cute.

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  • ssagessage member
    Seventh Anniversary 1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    cutie...i also ended up paying for the mani/pedi of my MOHs as well all went the day before, the morning of the rehearsal.  They had done so much for me and we have been friends for over 30 years, i just felt it the right thing to do.  plus both their daughters were my flower girls so they had add'l expenses
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  • Cutie2882Cutie2882 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    That's a good idea, I think I will take them for mani/pedis as well. I really want to make the cost of being in the wedding as low as possible for them since it's such an expense. I had one "friend" that was in my bridal party and I just asked her to leave because we had grown apart (by her choice) and it was pretty clear she had no interest in the wedding. She also had a disagreement with my MOH and said she wanted to punch her in the face (not like a figure of speech, she really wanted to). So she is out and now all my BMs are people I really care about and people I really want to spend money on, so that makes it a little easier.
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  • cherryblossom80cherryblossom80 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I got my BMs Vera Bradley totes, pashmina shawls, pearl necklaces & jewelry pouches. It came to about $100 each and a little more for my MOH because I got her some more expensive jewelry. Check out Etsy..you can find some nice things out there.
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