The best bridal party thank you gifts
Like many women my age, I’ve been a bridesmaid in more weddings than I care to count. Each bride had a different idea of what would be an appropriate thank-you gift. And while it’s up to the bride to decide (with a little help from the groom, usually), there are some gifts that are better than others and some that are downright frustrating.
In one wedding I was in, the bride decided to give us each a stuffed teddy bear because she felt that a bridal party gift shouldn’t be something that can be worn or used for the wedding and then infrequent other occasions. She personalized each bear at the Build-A-Bear Factory and I had mine until my puppy recently ate it. It was special. It was unique. It was mine.
At another wedding I was in, the bride went a little overboard for the whole thing and made the lives of her bridesmaids miserable. To put it lightly. From a “cheap” $450 dress (the ugliest I’ve ever seen – we all looked like French maids. No joke.), to the inexpensive $50 shoes (which were adorable) to the “cheap” $75 hairstyle and the “cheap” $75 gloves, I spent more on her wedding than any other wedding I’ve been in. Her gift to the bridal party was… get this… a necklace that matched the lace of the ugly dress and broke (for all six of us) during the reception. There is nowhere else that necklace could have been worn.
Bitterness aside, there are lots of gifts you can give to your bridal party to thank them. They’re the ones who are supporting you on what will be one of the most stressful days of your life. You don’t have to break the budget. You should give something nice. Jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, pocket watches, cuff links) is fine, if it’s something nice that will endure beyond the wedding itself and can be worn with other things. Your bridal party does not exist just to cater to your whims. In my best friend’s wedding, she gave each girl a string of pearls (which she got on sale) that I wear to this day and each groomsmen a personalized cuff link (which her brother proudly pinned to his uniform). But there are so many things, other than jewelry, that make nice bridal party gifts.
By the way, remember that your Maid of Honor has done tons of work and she deserves something nice and more special than the rest of the bridesmaids. That said, here are 5 things to consider giving your bridesmaids:
*Personalized cosmetic bag
*Nice bath set (salts, soaps, gels, sponges, lotions – the works)
*Scarf/Shawl
*Jewelry Box/Travel Jewelry Box – personalized
*Massage
And five things to consider giving your groomsmen.
*Bar set (in a case so it’s portable)
*Pocket knife
*Nice, leather wallet
*Fridge magnet bottle opener
*Personalized pocket watch
Keep in mind, that whatever your budget, you can find something that expresses your love and appreciation for each member of your bridal party. I know that when you walk down that aisle, you’re thinking of Number One. And you should be. Don’t worry, everyone else is thinking about you, too. Which is why after the commotion has settled down, or better yet, before it begins, you should let your bridal party know exactly how special they are with a stellar thank you gift.
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Tags: French Maids, Hairstyle, Joke, Lace Dress, Puppy