BRIDESMAID GIFTS THEY WILL ACTUALLY WANT!?

I got mine bridesmaids jewelry for them to wear that day. It is also can be worn more than once.

Weddingstar!!

Love this site. They have oodles of ideas for bridesmaids gifts, groomsmen gifts, favors and decor. Makeup bags, tote bags, compacts, some jewelry, sandals, cool pocket watches, survival knives, flasks.....

Just really nice stuff. Most of the gifts can be personalized.

http://www.weddingstar.com/

Btw, I hate rompers. My sisters love them but I would never wear it. I can't have a whole lot of pressure on my crotch and I've never liked rompers and how they feel.

DO NOT get them useless items that will be adorable on your wedding day then never get used again. See: tote bags, flip flops, flimsy cheap robes, cheap matching jewelry, glassware, makeup, flasks, generally anything marketed as 'favors' or 'gifts' on wedding websites.

Instead get them something they'll use and appreciate. Get them a massage, or pedi, or theater tickets, or gift cert to a nice restaurant they love.

I got mine started with makeup bag sets that I found at TJMAXX. Not site about what else yet but I thought this was a good start.

I disagree with Katie, makeup/hair or shoes CAN be considered a gift! Since the bride is NOT expected to pay for these things! (the bride should also be courteous and not expect her 'maids to pay for these things as well...ie. requesting a "certain" hair style/makeup look or blue sparkly shoes).

So if the bride DOES decide to GIFT these things to her maids (which is really generous) it CAN count as a gift and the bride should not be "expected" to give something else!!!! NO bridesmaid should be accepting a bridesmaid invite just to "receive gifts" in the end!!!

With that said, whatever you want to give them, they should LOVE. After all they are the closest ones to you and should know what they would love! You do NOT have to spend a fortune either.

As for monogrammed stuff, I love having my name on stuff...I wouldn't mind something that said "bridesmaid" either. But then again, I'm grateful for WHATEVER I receive as a gift.

The bride is not expected to pay for those things but you have to keep in mind that not everyone wants those things. I have sensitive skin as did some of my ladies. The last thing I need was to have a red irritated face because I wasn't able to chat with the make up artist or have a hair trial before hand. Likewise with the shoes. If you want matching shoes and you pay for them, that is for YOUR wedding, regardless of my ability to wear them again which if they are heels, I won't be.

No one accepts an invitation to be a bridesmaid for the gifts. They will pay far more to be a maid than the cost of a typical gift. But let's be serious, those types of gifts (hair, make up, robes) are usually for you. Better to give them something they can use beyond your wedding other than looking good in your pictures.

Getting them something they will need for the day of the wedding is not something they will actually enjoy in most cases. It's just something they will wear on the day of the wedding for you and for photos. Shop for them like it's their birthday if you really want to get them something they'll like.

I got them tote bags in their favorite colors. I plan on tucking in some essentials/goodies for the weekend

I kinda went overboard here! LOL My BFF and his adult daughter.

embroidered train cases

tarte makeup sets

philosophy perfumes

skin care samples

good mascara samples

heated eyelash curlers

real pearl earrings

huge embroidered tote

embroidered men's shirts with their names to get ready in

and...we bought their dresses and I'm paying for hair & luncheon on the wedding day

I'm not making my bms wear the necklace the day of the wedding, it's just for them and I really hope they like it. They're not cheap...

I did also get them personalized hangers but I'm not considering that a gift because who knows. I decided to do nothing that says "bridesmaid" because, let's be honest, who really wants that long term?

Eta: I'm actually super worried they won't....

Definitely agree with the ladies that say get something more personal. Anything that's required for your photos or for the wedding isn't an actual gift IMO.

I'll spend the same but I plan to get my girls individual gifts based off their personalities. Some are into sports, coffee, shopping, makeup, massages, coach wrestlet, Jewelry not for the wedding, ect

Thank you ladies for all of the comments! I put together a fun questionnaire for all the bridesmaids to answer of random questions so I can personalize their gifts a little bit. all of your inputs are great! Thank you all so much!

Cute ideas!

Most of my BMs are teachers, or have stressful office jobs. I was thinking of getting them monogrammed (they are all married) totes, and filling them with things to help them de-stress at work and home.

We got our maid of honor a Swiss army knife. She was thrilled. If you have picked only people you are really close to as BMs, you should know their taste enough to get them gifts they would like.

Anything they need for the wedding is not a gift. Don't make the gifts match and just shop like it is their birthday or Christmas.

None of my girls will be receiving the same thing, aside from a leather passport cover. They all travel all the time though. Shop like it's their birthday - I just set a limit I wouldn't go over, and found a few things I thought they'd enjoy.

My girls love pictures so I'm giving them iou cards with their earrings and it's going to be a picture of just me and them from the wedding

I got my girls robes personalized with their initials in their favorite color. I wanted them to be comfortable while getting ready and robes are always useful for lounging around the house or on vacation. Each of my girls loved their robes. :-)