Bridesmaid Gifts

[abradabra]

Two questions...

1. So, bridesmaids incur a lot of expenses to be a wedding: dress costs, travel and lodging expenses, shower/bachelorette party costs, etc. In planning bridesmaid gifts, roughly what percentage of those costs do you think should be recouped in the bridesmaid gift? I know the spirit of the gift is not to help them recover those costs, but

2. My idea was to put together a basket of goodies for each girl that would help them get through the weekend and a few goodies for back home. I''m looking for additional ideas, especially things that look and feel luxurious but maybe aren''t so expensive for me:
- A bottle of Cliquot: I figure it will easily be gone by the time they are heading home
- A mix CD (if that doesn''t end up being our guest favor): Easy to add to a suitcase
- Either a mani/pedi gift certificate for a salon in their hometown or would it be preferable in the town of the wedding? I want it to be a surprise, which would screw the girls who got it done before they came, but I''d rather have pretty hands/feet for the wedding. Hmmm....: Easy to add to a suitcase
- Some sort of Dartmouth memorabilia (We''re getting married at Dartmouth and most of the girls went there--so I''m sure it would be appreciated): Not too difficult to take back if I keep it small
- Snacks to get through the weekend (Vermont has great cheeses)

 

[flopkins]

I don''t know if I ever thought of the cost of the gifts as a percentage of their total costs, but I was hoping to keep the gifts around $50-75 per bridesmaid (I''m having 3)

I''m thinking of cute bags/totes in their fav color w/their initials from
Lillian Vernon
or
LL Bean

This would also serve as their ''wedding day carry-all'' too!

And I like the idea of flip flops from J Crew, or anywhere I find cute ones that match in color for my wedding, so they can wear them for the reception/dancing
or fuzzy slippers for the hotel, again maybe w/their initials in their fav color.

I also plan to do a ''thank you lunch and spa day'' the day before the wedding, so I have some time to update them on all the details, get our nails/toes done and have some time to chill and relax together... but if you plan to do it as a surprise that might be harder!

 

[abradabra]

Oooooo.... Flopkins, I like your idea of the bags--it would be a great container for everything and they are super cute...

Anyone else have suggestions?

 

[LollyBear]

You have a really great idea there, abradabra. I like that you're giving your ladies a variety of stuff. At my brothers wedding, his wife gave all her bridesmaids a matching necklace and earrings set. That way they all matched completely and also had a nice keepsake from the day (one that could actually be worn again

).
This really isn't a suggestion, just wanted to share something I thought was nice. Jewelry would make a nice addition to your basket though.

 

[MelissaSue]

I am giving my BMs some sort of bath/spa basket. I just saw the idea in Town and Country Weddings and I LOVED it.
Victorias secret has their garden stuff 7 for $35 plus a free large perfume right now!! Its a bargain!

 

[SubAtomic]

Maybe a nice pearl bracelet. They can be had pretty reasonably at places like Blue Nile and Zales. Or maybe a nice pearl bracelet dangling around a nice bottle of champagne. You could even soak the labels off the champagne and paint your own message on each bottle.

 

[abradabra]

So... I am reviving this thread because I think I have my BM gifts all set...

For my bridesmaids, I am going to put together a basket with:

* A bottle of Cliquot or similar champagne (a step up from our "Andres" days in college

)and cheap champagne flutes (hopefully I can have it chilled when they check in Friday night)

* A monogrammed purse that matches their dresses (I had them made a long time ago)

* The sash that goes with their dresses (it was actually $80 apiece, but doesn''t sound exciting)

* A Dartmouth t-shirt (the kind that is green and says "College" in block letters like John Belushi wore in Animal House)

* philosophy makes this set of body washes called "Bridal Party" with three flavors of sort: Wedding Cake, Bubbly, and Bridal Bouquet--I thought that was super cute.

For my junior bridesmaid (she''s nine), I''m just going to get her a normal Dartmouth t-shirt, a Dartmouth dog collar for her puppy, and a stuffed animal (maybe something Vermont-y with maple syrup, that might be cute!).

For my reader, I''m going to give her the champagne/flutes and a glass paperweight with an etching of one of the Dartmouth buildings on it.

My maid of honor, I''m not quite set on yet... I''ll obviously give her the purse, sash, and champagne, but I want to do something particularly spectacular to round out the gift because she lives in NYC and makes a pittance because of the industry she''s in, so incurring the costs associated with a wedding is a big deal.

What do you guys think?

 

[Strawdermangrl]

I did something simple based on how expensive everything has turned out to be (dress alterations just for the bussell (sp?) and the chest take in was $575!!!!! GASP!!) I did something very personal. All of my bridesmaids, except for my FSIL''s, have been friends of mine from camp since I was 8. My mom and I went out and bought the cutest picture frames (they are all kinds of bright colors with little ceramic women with old school swimming suits and swimming caps) and put pictures of us from years ago and wroote them all letters telling them how much they mean to me and what impact they have had in my life. ( I was a military brat so I moved every few years- it was nice to have the constant with my friends at camp vs. all the friends I lost touch with from moving so far away.) We bought them some flip flops to wear at the reception and some fingernail polish to enjoy as well as a fold up makeup bag (the kind you can hang on the back of the bathroom door) and some small bath and body works sprays.

All in all I think I spent something like $35-40 a girl!