Bridesmaids Gifts That Make Them Smile
If you are a bride planning to get married soon
, chances are you are also planning to have bridesmaids. Wedding planners report that on average, most brides have 3 - 5 bridesmaids in addition to their maid of honor. Experts say that a good rule of thumb regarding how many to have is to add an attendant (in addition to your maid of honor) for every fifty guests invited to attend your ceremony. Many brides however, responding in chat forums and online blogs, say that if someone is important enough to have in your wedding party, then you shouldn"t be afraid of throwing out the rule of thumb or the average numbers reported by wedding planners and ask who you want.
Regardless of how many girlfriends or family members are in your wedding party, you want to give them the perfect gift to say thank you for helping make your special day just right. They"re agreeing to stand witness to your commitment with your fiance, and the perfect gift speaks volumes about how thankful you are to have them by your side. Here are several unique ideas to help you say thank you in just the right way.
New shoes: Although not quite as important as the wedding dress and wedding shoes you"ll be wearing on your special day, the dresses and shoes your bridesmaids will be wearing are also something unique that you"ll pick out. Many brides plan to kick off their fancy ceremony heels for something more comfortable during the wedding reception, but what about your bridesmaids? Consider giving them a gift certificate for sneakers or ballet slippers of their own choice that they can slip into at the same time that you switch shoes to dance the night away. This ensures they can pick something for themselves that they"ll surely wear long after your wedding day, and lets them know that their comfort matters to you as well.
Hand knitted wrap or bolero: Especially if you have picked out strapless or spaghetti strap dresses for your bridesmaids to wear, they"ll need something to cover their shoulders should the temperatures get cool on your wedding day. If you"re not a crafty bride, try looking online for a knitter or crocheter who you can hire to knit a shawl or bolero for each of your bridesmaids. This is not an inexpensive option, but is one that will give your bridesmaids something they can take with them long after the dress can"t be worn anymore and could be something they keep with them on their own wedding day someday. Online marketplaces like Etsy or Ebay can help you find the right vendor for items like this.
Photos of the two of you together: If you"ve asked her to stand up with you on your wedding day, chances are you have history and you have photographs of that history in your photo albums. Make copies of those special pictures and frame them in fun frames to remind them of your history together. A frame that can stick to their refrigerator with magnets or something they can hang on their keychain is a fun twist on this idea. At your bridesmaids luncheon before the wedding you can present each picture and tell the story that goes along with it, and have a great ice breaker or some good laughs over old times.
Clothes to wear during pre-wedding prep: On the day of your wedding, you, your maid of honor, and your bridesmaids will probably be making visits to the hair salon and day spa to get ready. However you won"t be marching around in your fancy dresses, but wearing something comfy and easy to get on and off without messing up your hair or makeup. Consider making a gift of the outfits that everyone can wear that day with silkscreened t-shirts with a wide neckline (easy to pull over your heads when your hair is done up) or matching track suits that identify you all as a sort of team, going through wedding prep together. They will lend a sense of camaraderie to the day and perhaps add some lightness to an already fun day.
Spa day/pedicure after: The day after your wedding you"ll probably be off for your honeymoon, but what about everyone else? Show your bridesmaids how thankful you are for helping you through your day by giving them a gift certificate for pedicures (they were on their feet all day with you) or for a massage to relax on the day after. This kind of gift isn"t one that is intended to make your wedding day better or to benefit you personally in anyway, and out of all these ideas possibly shows how much you care about your bridesmaids because it"s solely for their enjoyment.
Custom jewelry: One recent trend in bridesmaid"s attire is to have everyone wear the same dress, but to let them accessorize with jewelry, shoes or hairstyles of their own choice. This lets them make their own fashion statement while still showing they clearly belong to your wedding party. After all, they"ll know best what hairstyle or necklace suits them best. There are great jewelry makers online who can make custom jewelry pieces and will work with your bridal party to create unique jewelry pieces for them that fit with the dresses you"ve picked out but let them show their individual style.
No matter what type of bridesmaid gift you decide to give to your bridesmaids, be sure to pick something that reflects a little bit of your personality while at the same time showing your friends and family who agree to bear witness to the commitment of marriage that you treasure them. This is your opportunity to give them something special!
by: Liz Hoefling
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