Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash
The big day is almost here, and you still have plenty of things to do. From seat charts to finding the right heels or the perfect pair of drop earrings to complement your gorgeous wedding dress, planning a wedding can become very overwhelming. Luckily, you have your best friends by your side to support you and help you with everything that you need. If you want to show your bridesmaids how much you appreciate them, but you aren’t sure how much to spend on your gifts or when is the appropriate time to give them, keep reading for the proper bridesmaids' gift-giving etiquette.
Choose a Special Gift
Photo by Photos by Lanty on Unsplash
Gift-giving is not always easy, especially if you are shopping for a group of people with different personalities, but luckily there are plenty of retailers out there specializing in bridesmaids' gifts. From the more budget-friendly options, like personalized wine glasses and sweet treats, to the more costly alternatives like plane tickets or jewelry, the options are limitless. Probably the most popular bridesmaid gift out there, jewelry will always be an ideal gift for your best girls. Whether you choose colorful birthstone earrings or prefer the more classic pearls, you can’t really go wrong with this kind of gift. Plus, it is easy to personalize, which is always a bonus. Whatever your gift choice may be, make sure it is thoughtful and fits each of your bridesmaids’ unique personalities.
Don’t Overspend
The most important question you should ask yourself before you start shopping is “how much should I be spending on bridal party gifts?”. While the support and help you receive from your girls is priceless, your wedding budget actually has a limit. Try to include the bridesmaids’ gifts in your overall wedding budget early on, so you know that you have that specific amount set aside for gifts. If you are planning a small wedding and your budget is a bit tight, spending between 30$ and 75$ on a gift is perfectly acceptable. However, if your event will be quite big and extravagant and you have the money for it, a 150$ gift for each of your friends would be considered as a generous gift.
Pay Attention to Their Interests
While it is totally acceptable to give everyone the same gift, like personalized coffee tumblers, fuzzy slippers or beautiful jewelry boxes, making each gift as personal as possible would be ideal. This means that you don't HAVE TO buy the same thing for everyone, but make it unique and tailored to their individual personalities. Whether it’s a luxury skincare set for your beauty-lover friend, or a personalized travel bag for your adventurous bestie, giving your bridesmaids individual gifts that match their interests, will definitely not go unappreciated.
Go the Extra Mile for Your Maid of Honor
While there is no hard rule on how many gifts you should give each of your bridesmaids, a general idea would be that you pay a little extra attention to your maid of honor. Your best woman generally takes on more responsibilities than the bridesmaids, which can be more expensive and time-consuming, so it is only fair that she receives a gift that is a bit more generous than the rest. It doesn’t have to be a big gap between the gifts you buy for your bridesmaids and for your maid of honor, but your gifts do have to show your right-hand woman that she is special and appreciated.
Make It Personal
Photo From greenweddingshoes.com
From time and emotional support to money and more, your bridesmaids will be with you all the way to the big day, so it is important that you show them how much you appreciate their contribution to your wedding. A great bridesmaid gift is not about how much you spend, it is about how thoughtful the gift is. Try to choose things that have a meaning for you and your friends, or personalize a more general item. Wrap your gifts in cute and colorful bags or boxes and add ribbons and hand-written cards as the final touch. Monogrammed gift boxes add a little extra personal touch to your gift, so choose that option if you want to increase the wow factor of your gift.
Create a Special Moment
Photo by Clayton Cardinalli on Unsplash
Now that you have chosen the perfect gifts for your bridesmaids, it is time to hand them over. The moment you present your squad with their gifts should be a very special moment, whether it is at the rehearsal dinner or you are organizing a pre-wedding party for yourself and your best girls. Gather all your friends around and let them know how much you appreciate all their help and support. Talk to each person individually while you hand over the gift, and let them know how much they mean to you.