Weddings are all about The Happy Couple, right? Not exactly.
While the focus may be on the love story between two people, pulling off a successful wedding requires help from a host of others. Both friends and family often come together to lend their support and put in some hard work. Organizing a wedding is a huge undertaking and it’s something the couple truly could not accomplish if not for the help of their wedding party.
That’s the motivation behind the tradition of giving gifts to bridesmaids, groomsmen, Maid of Honors and Best Men. Of course, for the happy couple, finding these gifts can be a challenge. In the midst of planning their own wedding, finding the perfect gift to show your appreciation can seem overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve put together some gift guides for your wedding party. Here we’ll take a look at 15 amazing gifts for bridesmaids. Traditionally, roles of bridesmaids in a wedding party include:
- Help With Wedding Prep – Lend a hand with pre-wedding grunt work such as stuffing envelopes, setting up Pinterest boards and helping the bride to shop for wedding related items.
- Party Planning – Help the Maid of Honor in planning the bridal shower and bachelorette party
- Stay Involved – Planning a wedding means plenty of meetings and gatherings. As a Bridesmaid, you’re expected to attend them all: from the first group wedding planning all the way through to the rehearsal dinner.
- Be the Errand Girl – On the wedding day, it will be up to you to run any last-minute errands.
- Purchase a Group Gift – Be prepared to chip in for a large gift from the wedding party. You should also be prepared to offer some suggestions when deciding which gift to get.
The role of a bridesmaid is essentially being a flexible Go to Girl for both the Bride and the Maid of Honor. The ease of the job depends on the size of the wedding and the personalities of the Bride and her Maid of Honor.
Gifts for Bridesmaids should be something useful to show gratitude for how much they’ve worked to make planning easier. That doesn’t mean you have to buy her a juicer – Decorative and indulgent gifts reflect that thankfulness as well. Any gift that is thoughtful and from the heart will ensure it is something your bridesmaid treasures.
We’ve brought together 15 amazing options that prove you can give those special people function and beauty in one package. And, since budget is always a concern for couples, we’ve included a quick budget check alongside each one.
1. A Niche Subscription ($$ – $$$$$)
There are so many niche subscriptions now, you can get your bridesmaids something that fits their personality perfectly. The best part about these subscriptions is that there are so many options, there are options for almost any budget. Birchbox is only $10 a month and offers new makeup and beauty products. On the other end of the spectrum, you’ve got The Mixologist Taste Trunk which delivers the ingredients for artisanal cocktails.
2. A Customized Candle ($$ – $$$)
Before you roll your eyes at the thought of giving someone a candle, take a minute to consider what The Candle Lab offers. You can customize your own candles from pouring them yourself to, of course, creating your own custom scent. You can also work with them from the beginning to create a special scent for your entire wedding. Have everything in harmony and then gift your bridesmaid with high quality candles that carry the scent as well.
Custom Name Bracelet (Sunflower Jewels, $34)
3. Personalized Bracelets ($ – $$)
A simple piece of jewelry is a great bridesmaid gift. They’re common enough that you can easily find something beautiful without busting the bank – an especially great feature if you have several bridesmaids.
4. A Delicious Countdown ($$S$)
Your bridesmaids have been working hard – why not give them the gift of a relaxing glass of wine for 12 days in a row. This 12 drink collection by Get Vine was designed for a holiday gift, but you can easily adapt it to create a delicious way to countdown to your wedding day.
5. Unique, Small Batch Liquor ($ – $$)
Have a friend with a passion for adventurous drinks? Check out the offerings at Heritage Distilling. They have unique flavors like lavender and bacon flavored vodka as well as impressive small batch bourbon.
Birthstone Set (Overstock, from $30)
6. Birthstone Earrings ($ – $$)
Choose a simple personalized gift like a set of birthstone earrings or a birthstone ring. There are plenty of different styles to choose from, both from local jewelers and online chains. In many cases you can also find birthstone sets that will make sure your bridesmaids sparkle at every event.
7. Personalized Haircare ($$)
Show your bridesmaids how much you care by customizing a set of hair care products from Function of Beauty. Answer a few questions about your bridesmaid’s hair type, choose the bottle and design and you’re done. Go the extra mile and bundle it with some cool hair accessories and a new straightener to replace the one you dropped on the bathroom floor while getting ready for your bachelorette party.
8. A Lush Blanket for Cozy Afternoons ($$ – $$$$)
Believe it or not, a nice blanket is a pretty great gift. Choose a well-done cable knit throw and your bridesmaids will think of you every time they cozy up on the couch with a new show and a whole afternoon to themselves. Wayfair has plenty of options starting from under $50.
9. A Day at the Local Salon ($$ – $$$)
Give your bridesmaid a day of pampering at a local salon. Check out reviews to find nearby gems. While you’re at hit, be sure to check on Groupon and LivingSocial for amazing local deals that will let you splurge without actually busting your budget.
10. Create the Perfect Morning ($$)
This is a great idea if you want to make something for your bridesmaids. Pick up a nice French Press and then pair it with a pound of coffee chosen specifically with her in mind. Wrap the pair together and you’ll give her the amazing gift of mornings filled with the seductive scent of coffee and the taste that can only come from French Press. (And if you don’t know how amazing that is, then pick one up for yourself while you’re at it. You can score a good quality press for less than $30)
11. For the Bridesmaid Who’s a Bit Extra ($-$$)
Have a bridesmaid who is a natural born firecracker? We’ve got three words for you: Small. Batch. Hot Sauce.
Okay, so maybe that’s four words. We’re rebels.
But, seriously, small batch hot sauce is the way to go for fans of the heat. Check out the options from Farm to People, a group of small batch producers committed to artisanal products and transparency when it comes to ingredients. They have plenty of firey options sure to entice.
12. Protection – Plain and Simple ($$$ – $$$$)
Want to really show your bridesmaids how much you care about them? Protect their smartphones. Pick up a high quality, stylish case that also protects it like a tank. Tech21 and SupCase both offer stylish, protective cases. If your bridesmaid is a bit more hardcore, check out the offerings at Lifeproof – their options may not be as fashionable or colorful, but you can essentially drive over them with a tank.
13. Customized Watch ($$)
Create a one of a kind gift for the one-in-a-million friends who helped make it a success. With the help of May 28th, you can create a custom watch without the custom price tag. Their watches feature plenty of quirky and colorful designs as well as the option to upload your own photo to use as a background on the face of the watch. Pick a photo from your friendship – a favorite vacation, that cringeworthy high school prom photo or even a picture from your blowout bridal shower.
14. An E-Reader ($$ – $$$)
Now, before you object to this option based on price, hear me out. E-readers have come way down in price thanks to multiple companies getting into the game. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and others now offer tablets focused on reading content. Look for a sale and you can easily find nice e-readers for well under $50. Load it up with a few favorites and it will add a personal touch.
15. A Nice, Personalized Tote ($$$)
You can tell you’re an adult when the thought of a well-constructed, durable and colorful tote bag sounds like a great gift. But, let’s be honest, who doesn’t need a good Go To bag? Gift your bridesmaids with a bag they can count on. A nice fabric, zippered bag will mean they have something perfect for weekend trips, days at the beach or anything else.
