bridesmaids gifts

Re: bridesmaids gifts

• misssunshine17 member

  

  January 2013

  Honestly, I think a painting is okay, but I don't know anyone who would want to hang a painting of themselves in their home. I'd skip it. 

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• JaxInBlue member

  

  January 2013

  Some of the best advice I got from TK was to treat bridesmaids' gifts as I would any gift given for a birthday or holiday - shop for the tastes and personality of the recipient.  Can you do that with your paintings? Will they be able to reflect the aesthetic preferences of each recipient?  Can you create something that matches their decor? 
  
  Honestly, and for me personally, I would not want to be given a portrait of myself and there are only a few people I would consider giving a portrait to, notably DH and my mom.  I would much prefer the opportunity to be consulted about what a piece of art would look like - the subject matter and color composition, and be able to give preferences for style, especially because I usually put a lot of thought into what is displayed in our home.
  
  I would save the paintings for another occasion - maybe birthday? - and let the bridesmaids gifts be things that reflect each girl's personal style and tastes, as well as your friendship with them.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• Summer2011Bride member

  

  January 2013

  Ditto Stage. I would have no use for a portrait of myself and would feel odd hanging it in my home, no matter how great you did painting it, but I wouldn't want to hurt your feelings and tell you no, so I'd say yes anyhow. That's what friends will do. I would probably suggest skipping the self-portrait altogether.
  
  Could you do a small painting for them of something they like or that would go with their home decor and supplement with another small gift you know they will like that fits their personality (can be different for each BM)?

  
  
  
  
  

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• bridalmarch member

  

  January 2013

  I would feel kind of self absorbed hanging a painting of just me in my house. What about a picture of you and the bridesmaid? I would be much more likely to hang a picture of me and m BFF, or sister, or cousin (and I'm assuming you're close to these girls) or a pet they love? I would be ecstatic to get a picture of my dog lol. 

  

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• mlg78 member

  

  January 2013

  I would LOVE to have a friend paint a picture -- but NOT of myself!  How vain!  My grandmother had a portrait painted of me as a child and now that my mom has given it to me, it collects dust in the basement.  It's adorable, I must say...but I'd be ridiculous to hang it in my home.  Is there something that would go with the decor in their home?  For me, I'd love purple flowers or something...  Otherwise, I'd scrap the idea.

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• slgirl21 member

  

  January 2013

  I"m sure your a great artist and do beautiful work, though I wouldn't want a painting of myself. a recent friend who got married made us bracelets, that was made by another bridesmaid who is very crafty and to this day I still wear it, plus we got shirts made, VS bath sets with VS purse all these I still use to this day and I love bath sets and my BM's who I think of choose also like bath sets. I looked on the knot and I saw some cute ideas too, they have a bridesmaids kit that i'm thinking about getting as well.

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• GoodLuckBear14 member

  

  January 2013

  Apparently I am a vain and self-absorbed person.  In our upstairs hallway is a small painting that my artist brother did of me and gave to me as a Christmas gift about ten years ago.
  
  If you are going to go this route OP, I would ask them if they would like it.  If they say no, then ask if there is something else that they would like you to paint like their pet, scenery, etc.  If there is nothing, then start shopping like it is their birthday.

  Proud to be an old married hag!!

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• elbow23 member

  

  January 2013

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_bridesmaids-gifts-35?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:10c0b3ee-0241-4738-afd1-86f3c60a88cePost:796283cc-971f-4776-9301-58ac7875d2fe">Re: bridesmaids gifts</a>:
  [QUOTE]I would feel kind of self absorbed hanging a painting of just me in my house. What about a picture of you and the bridesmaid? I would be much more likely to hang a picture of me and m BFF, or sister, or cousin (and I'm assuming you're close to these girls) or <strong>a pet they love? I would be ecstatic to get a picture of my dog lol. </strong>
  Posted by bridalmarch[/QUOTE]
  
  I was going to suggest this very thing.  In eighth grade, my best friend drew a picture of my dog in pastels.  It's fantastic.  Fifteen years later, I still have it framed and hanging in my apartment.
  
  Original potraits are fine, but I would choose a subject each girl would appreciate.

  

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• CnJ2014 member

  

  January 2013

  Thanks for all the input.
  
  I will definitely think this through and if I do decide to make paintings I will ask for their preference on what kind of painting they would like.  That was my gut feeling to begin with, but then my mom said it should be a surprise and insisted that they would all love a portrait... but that's because she's my mom and SHE loves ANYTHING I paint!  I agree that a lot of people would not want to hang a portrait of themselves up in their homes.  I loved the painting of my grandmother, but that's because it was a picture of someone who meant a lot to me, not a picture of myself.  I will try to figure out what each individual BM would like, or figure something else out entirely.  Thank again everyone!!

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