What are you getting your Bridesmaids?

[Independent Gal]

So, I''m starting to think about BM gifts in earnest. I have 5 BM''s and 2 MOH''s so it''s a task!

I think I have 4 of them sorted, but would love to hear some of your ideas!

For my monkey-obsessed friend S: a silver necklace in the shape of the monkey ''line'' from Nasca, Peru, and some Vosges chocolate
For my Kate Spade lovin'' friend A: a set of Kate Spade espresso cups in signature KS colours
For my Sister: I''m buying her dress for the wedding
For my environment-obsessed, anti-materialism friend: a donation to the charity Heifer on her behalf

That leaves my best friend, my sister-in-law, and my friend M.

I''m embarassed to say that I am totally stumped with bff, but the other two really like fun scarves / accessories, and sister-in-law likes to write.... Any ideas?

What are you getting your Gals?

 

[anchor31]

Well, my sister, my bff and I are all college students and budget-impaired, so my gift to them is paying for their hair and make-up on the day of. It shouldn''t be very expensive for me, and it brings the amount of money they''ll have to pay for my wedding to just the dress (0$ for my sister, since my parents will be paying for it).

As for yours, I guess it depends on your budget! For your siter in law, I immedaltely thought of an ink pen... I''m pretty sure there are some for every budget. For the two who likes fun scarves and accessories I think it''s a great idea to get them something that fits the category.

Good luck!

 

[MustangFan]

I''m doing the same thing as Achor
Hair and makeup to keep it simple, I know I would appreciate spending less.

 

[bee*]

I''m in Ireland so we pay for the bridesmaids dresses, hair, shoes, make-up etc anyway. So for their presents, I''m going to get them a tiffany necklace each and also make up a hamper, with miniature shampoos, body lotions, pyjamas, and things like that.

 

[sputat]

I''m not sure yet what to get my MOH. I don''t really want a bridal party and she''s the only one I asked since she''s been there from day one when I first started dating my fiance.

She had offered to make my wedding dress as soon as I told her I''m engaged. She''s a fashion designer and have made other wedding gowns for her close girlfriends. We''re going to have a destination wedding so I know she''ll be forking up some for this wedding. She''s really terrific. I''m a bit at a loss what to get her... She''s one of those gals who pretty much has everything.

 

[zoebartlett]

We''re only having two attendants - a MOH and a best man.

Here''s what I gave my sister. It was a Christmas present as well as a gift for being in our wedding. Aside from that, I''m going to pay for her nails and makeup to be done.

 

[iluvchoc]

I''m not completely sure yet, but I''m thinking of getting my girls leather Coach wristlets. I asked my cousin who''s also a BM about that idea, and she liked it a lot. I have one myself that I find very functional to be put in cash, license, and cell phone when I want to run quick errands and not have to carry a purse.

 

[Neveah]

I love that you are giving such unique thoughtful gifts! Watch? Coffee table book? I am having a hard time as well.... they are all so different and there are 2 left that I am stumped about. Good luck to you!

And sorry, I have to disagree about paying for hair and makeup. If you require your girls to do this, you should pay for it anyway, it shouldn''t be a gift. I completely understand being on a budget.... but getting them something (hair and makeup) for YOUR big day doesn''t seem like much of a gift to me. It doesn''t have to be expensive or extravegant. Just some token that they will have to remember.*

*This is just my opinion..... One of my friends who was on an extremely tight budget gave me a beautiful vintage compact for being a bridesmaid. She is an ebay queen and I know it didn''t cost a lot, but it holds extreme sentimental value. Another wedding I was in the bride paid for our hair. Which she insisted we do. For her wedding. Nothing to remember. I don''t know... I just felt a little hurt.....

 

[yarrmatey]

I''m thinking of getting them the Tiffany initial necklaces (obviously with the letter for their name). I was trying to think of something I would enjoy getting.

 

[Independent Gal]

At last! I think I found the perfect thing for MOH / best friend! It may be hard to explain why these are so perfect, so you'll just have to trust me that they are. But surely you can all appreciate their extreme cuteness, if nothing else. They are hand-made and are called "Bunny BFF's"

I'll probably add some nice smelly stuff to this (aveda candle? that kind of thing) and maybe some Vosges chocolates. But this is just so her. And just so us. Yay! Glad I found them.

So that's 5 down, 2 to go.

 

[Independent Gal]

And here are the Kate Spade cups...

 

[GolfGirl2008]

How much are you all spending on each maid??? I have nine so was thinking to spend about $100-150 but maybe that''s being cheapo? This wedding is costing a fortune, OMG!!

Since my maids are not young chickadees anymore (all are about 34) and nearly all are married I wanted to get something elegant and classy they can use for their home. So today I decided I will get them pretty Herend dishes .... perhaps I will also end up buying their necklace to wear on the day.

I have many months to choose so I am not stressing about it!

 

[GolfGirl2008]

Another ....

 

[GolfGirl2008]

One more ....

 

[LaurenThePartier]

I gave my sister a Tiffany bracelet - very funky, but they don''t sell the line anymore so I can''t find any pics of it.

 

[GolfGirl2008]

And the piece de resistance for my MOH:

 

[Independent Gal]

Hey Golf Girl. I don't think $100-150 is being cheapo at ALL! Especially with 9 maids. You have to decide for yourself, though, and what is normal in your circle of friends I guess.

Those dishes are lovely. The only thing I would say about that, though is that you should be careful to consider whether they would 'go' with each girl's decor. I try not to get people things for their home unless I really know their taste and decor well. Although I suppose one can always find a use for a pretty dish! Candy anyone?

That last one is oh-so-pretty. I want that!!

 

[Harleigh]

Hi Indy,

I think I posted before with pix of the silver monogrammed bracelets I got my girls...I''ll see if I can find it if you want to see them, though I think you''re pretty much set already!

I am also making the girls matching jewelry sets with Swarovski crystals to wear the day of the wedding, tho the dresses have a rhinestone brooch, so I may ask them not to wear the matching necklace on that day.

I am also doing monogrammed tote bags in fuchsia with celery color lettering that I plan to fill with some of their favorite goodies.

To put in these I got:

A lovely glass and silver "friend" frame to later put a picture of us from the wedding in.
Fuchsia rhinestone flip-flops to wear after the ceremony
Bubble bath and lip gloss, lip balm, etc...
Satin jewelry pouches to hold their new bling

I know there''s a few other things I have to throw in there, but I can''t think of them right now. I plan to give 3 of them to the gals at my shower/bachelorette party, so that things that don''t NEED to go to Hawaii stay home, as well as take away the hassle of MY getting all of their loot to Hawaii on my own.

The other bridesmaid is in Missouri, so I will ship hers to her and again let her figure out what of it she wants to bring with her to Hawaii...the jewelry is the only stuff that HAS to go, so I may just keep that out and present it to them there (this would be a good way to make sure it DOES get there, I suppose!) and the tote bag would be useful in Hawaii, too, but that is their choice.

I also bought their bridesmaid dresses for them, as I figure they will be making their way to Hawaii, so I would like to take away any other expense having to do with the wedding.

HTH!

 

[GolfGirl2008]

Thanks! I agree but I feel like I know my girls well enough to know they might like the dishes and they would always look so lovely in a bathroom or beside the bed as a jewelry holder. At this point in our lives serious jewelry doesn''t do it for me as all the girls have already such gorgeous pieces from their husbands, diamonds etc, how can I compete? And these dishes are so "me"! In addition to the dishes (all of which are less than $100 except for the last one which is $250) I would get their necklace to wear the dat of the wedding which I would suspect to be about $50 or so.

 

[Tinuviel]

Oooh, Independent Gal, those Bunny BFFs are so cute and unique! How are they used?

I''m paying for my girls'' BM dresses and hotel stays and I don''t have a lot of money left to spend on their gifts, so I''m considering giving them necklaces that I bead myself... I know that sites such as www.artbeads.com sell all sorts of materials for jewelry making, and this way I''d be giving the girls something w/ sentimental value since I''d be designing each necklace w/ each girl in mind. Not sure how they would come out though.. the necklaces might come out kinda cheesy looking...I don''t have a lot of experience in jewelry design so I''m still thinking about it! hmmmmm (anyone have any tips?)

 

[Independent Gal]

Tinuviel beading something for your gals sounds like a great idea! As for how the Bunny BFF''s are used, they are used for SNUGGLING of course. My BFF is very sentimental about plush things.

OK, I''ve got the last two gals sorts. I bought these beautiful hand bound journals on Etsy for my sister in law and my friend M. I''ll add a fancy candle and some Vosges chocs to each.

Here''s one...

 

[Independent Gal]

...and here''s the other one. Aren''t they pretty?

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I got my girls silver necklaces from Tiffany''s

 

[GeorgiaGal]

I just purchased gifts for those hosting a shower for me and I gave the following gifts:

For the hostess and her husband I got them a monogrammed serving tray from pottery barn as they are big entertainers.

Then for the bridesmaid and other hostesses I got them mongogrammed silver jewelry boxes from Pottery Barn....can''t figure out how to attach the 2nd picture....but they turned out great and Pottery Barn had really great service!

 

[Independent Gal]

How pretty, GeorgiaGal! And thank you for reminding me that I should be getting gifts for those hosting showers. I completely forgot about that. Now I''m going to check out Pottery Barn...