MOH and Bridesmaids GIfts?!?! Is this okay?

Re: MOH and Bridesmaids GIfts?!?! Is this okay?

• KatWAG member

  

  January 2013

  Shop for each girl like its her birthday. You know your friends, would each girl really want a bag with their name on it and some make up remover? I know I wouldnt. Treat them like the individuals that they are.

  

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• lls31 member

  

  January 2013

  Honestly, if I want/need wedding day essentials as a BM, I would bring them myself.  I use certain products and if you bought me a compact or makeup remover (or whatever) that isn't my product of choice, I'll probably just toss it in the trash and it would end up being a waste of your money.  Water and a granola bar aren't gifts.  Shop for your BMs like it's their birthdays.  If you can't figure out something physical to buy, you can never go wrong with gift cards.

  

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• Maggie0829 member

  

  January 2013

  For the necklaces, I would just give them whenever you see them.  Tell them "Hear I would like you to wear this for the wedding and of course it is yours to keep."
  
  For the actual BM gifts.  I would leave any and all wedding related things out of it.  These gifts should be personal and individual.  I know you said that you have a hard time buying people gifts, I am the same way.  You need to think about it a person at a time.  Do any of them have hobbies?  Love wine?  Love spas? Knits? Scrapbooks? Etc, etc.  Then buy gifts according to what they like to do in their spare times.  I would much rather receive some arts and crafts supplies and nice bottle of wine then something generic and that is exactly the same as everyone else.  By personalizing their gifts it lets them know that you know who they are and took the time and effort into each persons gift.
  
  Also, the gifts do not have to be identical.  In fact, it is better when they aren't identical.
  
  Oh, and for your bach party.  You could have a spa day or something where in the day time your sister can be included and then at night you can party it up with the rest of your girls.  This is what we are doing for my one friend.  Her sister (MOH) is pregnant and will be about 8 months by the time her bach party rolls around so we are doing mani/pedis, massages, facials, etc at the hotel in the day and then at night her sister will go to bed and we will go out.

  
  

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• itzMS member

  

  January 2013

  I never expect a gift when I'm in a bridal party, but that's just me.
  
  That being said, every bridesmaid gift I've ever received has ended up in my Goodwill donation box because the bride gives everyone the same gift and it doesn't happen to be my taste.
  
  Write each of your bridesmaids a hearfelt note and include a giftcard to a store they'd like. I would encourage you to skip the artsy-craftsy stuff and "getting ready kits".

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• mattycam member

  

  January 2013

  Can't go wrong with a gift card or personalized gift catered to each BM

  http://www.theknot.com/contests/my-real-wedding/photo/161064/mattycams-wedding-traditionally-classy

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• Summer2011Bride member

  

  January 2013

  Sorry, but I would not be excited to open up a bunch of water bottles, granola bars and a mini fan. Those are not gifts.
  
  I wanted to have a bag of necessities like that available so I brought a huge bag of stuff and told my BMs "Dig in! Take what you need." I absolutely didn't try to present it as a gift though.
  
  Shop for each girl separately. When it's her birthday, what do you get her? I would try to spend around the same amount on each girl, but their gifts may be completely different and that's totally fine.

  
  
  
  
  

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• Simply Fated member

  

  January 2013

  The gifts don't have to be all matching. Try to add something different in each of the bags along with what ever you already bought them, since you already bought some stuff. It's confusing because, you're not giving them the jewelry as a gift because it's for the wedding... but these bags are for the wedding. I'm missing your logic lol. I'd give them the necklaces as soon as possible only because as a MOH I found out I was getting mine after I had already picked out my jewelry. I was disappointed, ya know?

  
  

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• Kate61487 member

  

  January 2013 edited January 2013

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_moh-and-bridesmaids-gifts-is-this-okay?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:37Discussion:e016c77f-fd76-48da-9a28-f58d643a54cePost:ff54395a-32dd-434b-8105-6fb2a65b0303">MOH and Bridesmaids GIfts?!?! Is this okay?</a>:
  [QUOTE]First off -<strong> I wanted them all to wear the same necklace</strong> for the wedding, but a lot of my maids are astill in school so <strong>I am buying the necklaces for them</strong> - when can I give them to them to be clear that its a gift in the sense that they keep them, but its not THEIR MOH/BM gift? I wanted to be as budget friendly as possible so they did have to buy their dresses ($79 at DB) but can wear any grey/silver/pewter shoes, can do their own hair/makeup if they want, etc. I'm one of those people that has a hard time figuring out what to get people, even my own sister. I thought I would make it a little easier on my self and get them a whole bunch of little things.<strong> I got them each a bag with their names embroidered on them</strong>. I was going to put essentials for the wedding day in them along with some other personalized things. I.E. Water bottles, granola bars for between getting ready and the ceremony (its at 2pm), fans in case its hoti n the church (August Wedding), mini-compacts, some makeup remover, basic stuff. <strong>Then I was going to make each girl a two-sided frame with one side an originial picture of near when we had first met and then the back would be blank and I would send them a nice wedding picture of Me and that BM</strong>. I also like to trace/paint logos (huge sports fan) so I'm making them all <strong>handpainted plaques that they can hang on their walls</strong> or not (depending). Should I add something else to the gift bag thats not wedding related...I know that some of them like wine, but my MOH is my 19 year old sister (oh the dilemmas for bachelorette - stupid bar rules) Any thoughts are appreciated.
  Posted by clem2011[/QUOTE]
  
  1) why?  no one (including you) will notice what jewelry they're wearing.  Unless they all actually have the same taste in jewelry at least half of them won't wear it again, so why bother?
  
  2) It's good you're buying it for them b/c ANYTHING required/matching for the wedding that's not their dress (shoes, shawls, clutches, jewelry) you're supposed to pay for.  If you decide you're sticking with it I'd give it to them early so they don't buy something else with the wedding in mind
  
  3) I still don't get this as a gift.  Do any of your girls frequently use other items with their names plastered on them?
  
  4) the frame I think is cute and thoughtful.  Make sure the frame itself goes with their individual home decor. are they more comtemporary? more rustic?  It sucks to receive a gift that should be on display in your home and you'd feel guilty NOT putting it out if it doesn't actually go with anything else you own.
  
  5) I think this could also be cool, but only if THEY are big sports fans and, again, if it would actually go with their home decor.  If there's one girl who would love this more than the others - great!  give it to her!  Then get the others individual gifts that fit their tastes.

  

   
  

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• clem2011 member

  

  January 2013

  THanks so much for the input!! I think I'm going to give them the necklaces as soon as I get them. ANd you're all right the "wedding essentials" part of the gift is kind of tacky as a whole gift. We are all young (early twenty's) and yes we do occasionally have bags, totes, etc. with our names on them so I'm thinking put the wedding essentials in the bag. Have it out and give it to them. Then at the rehearsal dinner I can give them each their personalized gifts - individual frames, plaques (not all sports related - they know its coming because I wanted to give them something they would actually like to I had each girl give me some ideas of sports, cartoons, etc that they like) and then wrap it up with a gift card or bottle of wine or gift certificate - whichever will best fit each girl.
  
  Again I really appreciate the feedback. - plus alot of the wedding essentials stuff was bulk sale so I won't feel guilty if it never gets used. I might even use it as the welcome bag for each girl instead.

  

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• TT Bride 13 member

  

  January 2013

  Since you already have your solution, I just wanted to say I love your idea about the picture frames. I might have to steal that idea!

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