Appropriate Amount to Spend on Bridesmaids Gifts

Hi Leigh! I love your idea of picking up the tab for one of the beauty services! I always appreciated that as a bridesmaid over an extravagant gift. I like the single glass idea with goodies and including a heartfelt written card of thanks is spot on ❤️ It’s been my experience the brides who truly appreciated my friendship with a heartfelt card were far more important than an wildly expensive gift with no true appreciation behind it.

I think this is really going to depend on your own budget. I think it’s more important that you buy them something meaningful/thoughtful for them than the actual cost of the gift.


Personally, I paid for my bridesmaid’s dresses, hair and makeup. For their gifts, I spent around $400/each and around $600 for my MOH.

There is no set/expected price beyond what you can afford that you feel is appropriate. Not everyone has bottomless funds so if you can only afford $100 per person then do that. Don't let anyone pressure you into spending more.

I don't really know if there's an average? I think it depends on your budget and on what you consider as their "gift." I spent around $60-$65 on a piece of jewelry for each of my bridesmaids as their gift.

I also paid for both their hair and makeup (makeup was $90 per bridesmaid and hair pricing ranged from $110-$130 per bridesmaid depending on the hairstyle that each girl selected). I also paid for their getting ready outfits (silk pajama sets with their initials monogrammed) which I recall cost about $40 each. So in total I spent about $325 per bridesmaid. However, I didn't consider hair, makeup, or getting ready outfits to be gifts because they were wedding related and basically photo props.

I really don't think it matters how much you spend, but that you get them something thoughtful and meaningful that you know they will like.

I think the single glass is fine! It would never come to my mind to think "oh why didn't she give me a set of 2" haha. I don't see anything wrong with the gifts you're giving as-is. There's also no real average price for gifts. It's completely up to your budget.

I'm also paying for my bridemaids hair or makeup and then giving them a tote with a gift personal to each person. I'm also getting them tanks to get ready in and Kate Spade earrings to wear the day of, but I don't consider these to really be gifts since they're for my wedding. Everything will total around $215 each.

The amount you spend is going to depend on your budget. My bridesmaids will be purchasing their own dresses, but I'm paying for their hair, makeup, and getting ready attire, treating them to a manicure and pedicure the day prior to the wedding, and will be giving them jewelry which they are not required to wear for the wedding (though they can if they choose). I've budgeted to spend around $500 per bridesmaid (I have 5 bridesmaids). What you're doing really sounds fine IMO. Including some other goodies in the glass would be great. I doubt anyone will even care if they receive one or two wine glasses. If you want to add that extra something special without paying extra, draft a thoughtful handwritten card for each girl to include with the gifts.

Your idea is wonderful & extremely thoughtful! I spent around $85 on their gifts. My party is small (total of 3) - I’m paying for mine, my MOH (my sister), & 1 bridesmaid (my daughter) hair & makeup (other bridesmaid wants to do her own). I’m covering the cost but they’ll cover the tip.

There's no rule of thumb for this

I definitely don't think you're being stingy! It's very thoughtful of you to pay for their hair/makeup as well as give them a gift. I would also only give them the one glass. I'm paying for my bridesmaids hair and will get them something small as a thank you gift.

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Thanks so much Katie! This makes me feel so much better!

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Thanks Karla! You're definitely right that the thought is more important than the cost .

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Thanks Michelle! I'm definitely mostly pressuring myself based on what I've seen in other forums. I keep reminding myself that I didn't expect anything from my sister-in-law when she married my brother. I was just happy to be a part of their day. I've only been a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding, so it's hard to know what the norm is for others who have been bridesmaids many times! Only one of my bridesmaids has been a bridesmaid many times and she is really laid back, so I am probably overthinking it as always! Thanks again

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Thank you Hanna! This is really helpful!

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Thanks so much Melanie! This is really helpful

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Thanks so much Sara! This is really helpful

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Thanks so much Michelle! This makes me feel better and is very helpful!

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Thanks so much Ally! This is really helpful and makes me feel better about it all!

My wedding is super far out so I have not thought of this too much. I will most likely not pay for hair and makeup because paying for everyone's hair OR makeup would be like $600+ dollars and I'd rather use that to cover for transportation for everyone. I plan to send bridesmaid proposals ~$25, and day of wedding gifts ~$50. One thing I will probably get them all is a champagne glass since we will have mimosas/champagne set out while getting ready.

I find it super generous to give out free hair and makeup because that really adds up. Once I was a bridesmaid for a great friend and we all got a glass and a bridesmaid bracelet to wear for the wedding. So it really just depends on what you can swing or not. We weren't offended at all with just getting that, its really such a small detail in comparison to all of the fun you will have getting ready and enjoying the actual wedding.