Best/Worst Bridesmaid Gifts

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Haha I did the same with the robes, just put the first letter of their name on them. I figured

I am SO glad I saw this before I ordered the flannel shirts I had planned on getting my girls and myself for getting ready...now know to just get their CORRECT initials monogrammed and NO role titles lol

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YES! This 100x over. No one needs anything monogrammed with the word "bridesmaid." That stuff all ends up in the trash or in a keepsake box at the back of my closet (god forbid someone asks where the gift is).

Get them things that they will actually be able to use. I love the idea of a nice travel mug, wine is always a great gift, robes that AREN'T MONOGRAMMED. That sort of stuff is all GREAT.

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All my girls agreed on robes as well, I just left out the words "Bridesmaid" or "Maid of honor" and put their initials instead. Tur

Worst: anything specific to the wedding that screams bridesmaid. I tried to get my girls all things that specifically didn't say that. I only got one cheesy magnet that said bridesmaid off of Shutterfly. Other than that, they got things they can use or appreciate well after the wedding.

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Oh my gosh. That's awful.

Best: a beautiful sterling silver compact with my monogram. I think if my bestie every time I pull it out of my purse then touch up my lipstick!

Worst: the cheap costume jewelry that she wanted me to wear at her wedding.

I have only been in a couple of weddings, so I don't really have a 'worst gift' category. One wedding a friend bought my jewelry to wear in the wedding. And another friend bought my hair piece and a personalized make up bag.

Basically, I think anything that has "Bridesmaid" emblazoned on it is pretty terrible as an actual gift. Sure, if you, as the bride, wish for your bridal party to have those things so that you can take cute photos while getting ready/have a photo of you all toasting with bubbly flutes saying "bride" and "bridesmaid" on them, or if you want your bridesmaids to wear a certain kind of jewelry at your wedding then, yeah. That's fine. But that's not a gift. It's a prop. I mean, the identity of your bridesmaid is not "bridesmaid." They ARE your bridesmaid, but that's for one day and one day only.

Good gifts are either a) actually personalized to the tastes of the person, or b) something that is actually practical/consumable. Like, I would say that if a bride took the hotel bill for all the bridesmaids, that along with a nice personal note would be plenty gift enough and would make the bridesmaids very happy. I mean, that's a few hundo being saved. Or if the bride picked up the tab for hair/makeup and did NOT over-dictate how the bridesmaids look. Or even if the bride bought the bridesmaids dresses.

Those are gifts that take the financial sting out of being a bridesmaid. Again, that with a card will make most bridesmaids pretty happy.

In terms of consumables, things like high-quality chocolates, or non-directly-related-to-the-wedding spa treatments (massages, etc), good wine, that sort of thing.

The most important thing, though, in my opinion, is the note. A nice, personalized, heartfelt note.

Best: Stella and Dot makeup bag and a beach towel with my name and a funky art design. I still use both of these. FW and fight over the beach towel often. I've had them both for about 4 years

I have never been a bridesmaid... so I don't have any horror stories... but I have gotten some good feedback on the gift I got my girls - I got each BM a cashmere cuddle blanket in deep red (wedding color is wine) from the Off 5th Sax store.

I made (I have a cricut) tumbler glasses that do say bridesmaid, but it's an 'add-on' for the day-of and I won't be the least bit offended if they don't use them again. I also made little hankies for the day off that have their name and say "Keep your $hi! together" (MOB and MOG get these too). I also purchased the day-of jewelry - sterling sliver necklace and earrings with garnet stones, which I hope they will like enough to wear after the fact. I am considering getting flannel shirts for getting ready but that may not happen because funds are running super low right now...

My officiant is a good friend too (and wife of best man) and she LOVES France... so I got her a "share" to be part owner in a Castle in France that is being renovated by raising funds by selling shares. She's officially "part owner" of this castle now. It's like buying someone a star but I still think she'll love it. It comes with a certificate of ownership which I may frame when I get it... I need to see how it's presented.

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Love that, what a cute gift!!! I think it's awesome when it's something you can use after the wedding day!

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Totally agree with what you said, anything with bridesmaid on it or something for them to only wear the day of in my opinion isn't the best gift! They all would prefer something more personal and something that they could use after the day!

I personally hate when people get things personalized "bridesmaids". They are a bridesmaid for the shower, bachelorette party, and wedding. I am gonna get things for them without their title so money isn't wasted for a one day thing.

For my sister's wedding, she gave the bridal party a hand towel with our initials on it and then the bridesmaids also received earrings and a necklace.

My friend's wedding, we received a keychain from Origami Owl with personalized charms inside.

I'm a little confused on how something that's required for them for the wedding (as in specific hair and make up you chose, specific jewelry you want them to wear, specific robes you want them to wear getting ready) is a good thank you gift for all the time, money, and thought they put into being a bridesmaid. That seems like just another wedding expense. Same this the hotel room for the night before. Just my opinion, but it seems kind of weird to me.

I've only ever gotten one bridesmaid gift: a make up bag and some pencils. It was cute. I use the bag still and think of her, and I know she was on a tight budget, so anything was more than enough. She also paid for my hair that day, but I didn't like the style so I'm not sure that was a gift, and I ended up paying for the maid of honor's make up because she didn't have the money.

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"We are also obsessed with Harry Potter so when I head to Universal Studios I am picking up a gift for them at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter."

Can i be in your wedding? hahahah

Worst: anything personalized with the word bridesmaid/bride tribe/bride squad.

Here's what I'm doing for my girls. They'll get these hand painted jackets to keep. Mainly to take pictures before the ceremony (kinda like the robe idea) And then they'll each get a hand painted journal with something that best suits each girl. I just couldn't do the generic robes and tumblrs!

Ive only been a bridesmaid once but I liked the gift I received: a grey Shall/scarf, very pretty simple earrings I will wear again, a hanger I will use again, and a Rtic cup with my name on it