12 Gift Ideas for Bridesmaids
Dear Wedding Women:
I was wondering if you had any gift ideas for the wedding party. I want to get my bridesmaids something unique. Thanks!
blat1009
Dear blat1009:
We are always happy to help brides come up with new and different gift ideas for their bridesmaids. Here are a few of our favorites:
· Gift certificates for a massage or other spa treatment, to show your appreciation for all their hard work (now they get to relax)
· Open registration/gift certificates (you pay, she goes when she is available) for a one-day classes on a topics you know your friends have been dying to learn about, such as wines or cooking or poetry writing
· Gift certificates to their favorite store or restaurant
· A handmade friendship book for each person, filled with photos and other mementos of the years you've spent together
· Lingerie -- why should you be the only one who gets a new something silky to wear?
· If you will be moving away, long-distance phone cards with pre-paid minutes (you can order these from the AT&T Talk Center here at iVillage) so you can stay in touch with each of them · A different piece of jewelry for each person (instead of buying everyone the same thing), to show how well you know her (it can be something she can wear on your wedding day but it doesn't have to be)
If you want to personalize each gift, go ahead. Just know that that means more work for you. But we're sure your bridesmaids will appreciate the extra effort. An alternative is to write a special note to each person to go with her gift. You can even wrap the gifts in different wrapping paper, to reflect the receiver's personality or favorite hobby.
Also, here are some great ideas that iVillage members posted on our board:
"When I got married, I gave the ladies in my wedding party nice baskets that were filled with picture frames, fancy soaps, perfume, necklaces (matched their dresses) and bubble bath. I put the baskets together myself, which I think saved quite a bit of money. The necklaces were all the same, but everything else was suited to the taste of each person. I gave the same gift, but in a smaller version, to my flower girls and junior bridesmaid." --rachelalli
"I got my attendants lapel pins. They are both pretty quirky, and I got them something to reflect their personalities (a silver elephant for one, and a daisy for the other with the petals picked off that says, 'he loves me, he loves me not')." --bpt3
"I was just talking to a friend of mine who said that over the weekend she went to one of those paint-your-own pottery places. She said the place had everything from ashtrays to elaborately carved vases. I think that is a great idea if you have some artistic talent, and it can be unique for each person. I'm thinking of doing the pottery thing and then filling it with either a live plant, flowers or various items (like the basket idea many people do)." --cbieniek
"The best gift I received for being in a wedding was from my cousin. She gave me a 'comfort book.' It is a pretty book with blank pages to put inspiring quotes, pretty pictures and so on to look at when you are blue. She started the book out with some pictures and quotes and pictures of us as we were growing up and left the rest of the book blank for me to fill in. I love it and have been filling it up. This gift definitely requires some work, but it is worth it." --Suiya
"For all of my bridesmaids I am making up small photo albums. I am trying to collect photos of all of us together, or me with them at parties. After the wedding photos are developed I plan to give each some of the photos to put in the album. With this I am also giving them bracelets with their name engraved and their birthstone. For the flower girl I am going with the bracelet and a small jewelry box." --gorillalady
And be sure to check out the iVillage Shopping Channel for more great gift ideas.
