Planning a wedding can be stressful even for the most prepared of brides. Thankfully, they not only have their family members to rely on, they also have the support of their bridal party, who often are the bride’s closest friends. The bridal party has been there from the very beginning, and will stand by the couple on their wedding day. It’s only natural to want to thank your wedding party with a meaningful gift.
Here are some tips to guide you in buying the perfect bridal party presents for your favorite girls:
How much to spend
Grooms spend an average of $36 per groomsmen gift. You can use this as a basis for setting a budget for your bridesmaid gifts. Typically, the maid or matron of honor receives a gift that’s just a bit more lavish than what the other bridesmaids receive, since she’s usually the one in charge of planning and coordinating the bachelorette party or bridal shower.
Overall, how much you spend on each gift would depend on how much you can shell out, and how much your bridal party is paying for you, particularly if they have to fly in for your wedding.
While you don’t have to come up with a gift that covers what your wedding party will be paying for by attending your wedding, it’s important that the gift you give them will show how much you appreciate them and all their efforts to be part of your special day.
When to give the gift
Often, bridesmaid gifts are handed out at a scheduled rehearsal dinner when the bridal party is expected to attend. The timing depends on the type of gift you’ll be giving, as well. If your gift is something that the bridal party can wear for the wedding, such as a tennis bracelets or a hair accessory, then you can hand them out during prep time as you all get dolled up for the big day.
Some brides like to give the gifts a day earlier during a special downtime lunch out, while others prefer to give the gifts after the wedding reception. Though this is a good option, it can be tricky since some bridesmaids may need to go home directly after the wedding reception.
What gifts to buy
You can opt to give different gifts for each bridesmaid, but it will be a lot easier to come up with a special gift that you can customize and give out to the bridal party. Personalized bridesmaid robes make great gifts, and you can all use them as you prepare for the ceremony as the wedding photographer snaps away.
Accessories, on the other hand, are pretty and useful gifts that your entourage can wear on your wedding day. You can go for letter necklaces, tennis bracelets, or hair ornaments.
Flora Robes from Wedding Prep Gals
It’s best to have the gifts purchased and ready as early as you can so you won’t have to scramble as the wedding day draws nearer and end up buying something you’ll probably regret later on. A great tip is to be on the lookout for fabulous deals months before your wedding day, and to pick them up as soon as you’re able to make up your mind. By doing this, you get it out of the way early on.
If you’re still having trouble deciding on what gifts to give your bridal party, then ask yourself this: what would I like to receive if I were a bridesmaid? Gifts for the bridal party should serve as tokens of appreciation for all the time and effort they’ve voluntarily extended for the wedding. With these tips above, finding the perfect bridal party gifts should be a lot easier to do.
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