Hello,
For our wedding, we will not be having a wedding party. Both my fiancé and I didn't want to burden anyone with $ or responsibilities (we're having difficulties asking favors or help which may be a cultural thing, too..!). Instead, I will be inviting a group of girls to join me pre-ceremony as my "VIP guests" for tea time during getting ready hours and take photos in coordinated outfits from their closets. This way, I can also spend a few private moments with loved ones and don't have to miss out on cherishing memories-with-a-"faux-bridal-party"-from-the-wedding without pressuring anyone with anything. I just want them to enjoy the celebration of my fiancé and I becoming one. We will be having one maid of honor (my sister) to help with my dress and bouquet at the alter and one best man (fiancé's best friend) to help with the rings. And they can wear whatever they already have since they don't have others to match. My sister won't do much pre wedding stuff since she's away at college.
My friends call me the gift fairy because of my love for giving and of course, I wanted to formally invite the girls with a box as if I would be doing a bridesmaid proposal (will def be doing one for my MoH). I did splurge a bit to show my appreciation of our friendship. Included are "will you be my VIP" balloon to pop, champagne gummy bears, a unique champagne flute from Anthropologie, a small Diptyque rose candle, macarons (totaling about $75+ each).
But my question is - in my case, would I have to in addition prepare a "thank you gift" to hand out during tea time (because to my knowledge, proposals are option while thank you is recommended). I will not be expecting any of them to plan a bridal party or help out but a few seem eager to be involved in anyway needed. Two of the girls suggested a private picnic celebration (so not all the members are taking part) and one wanted to take our engagement photos and film the wedding (since we don't have a videographer) as our wedding gift. Should I be doing "thank you gifts" separately for those who played a bigger part (& it doesn't have to be public like at tea time)?
And if I were to do the thank you gifts, I'm wondering how to budget for it since I already splurged. I panicked and thought maybe to do the balloon & macarons for the proposal and save the rest for thank you's but then thought since all the girls would be receiving them that it wouldn't be fair to those who put in the extra care to congratulate me. Or would it be not be fair to just gift some and not some & so would being equal be better..? Or if I were to do the proposal box as is and think of something new for the thank you's to select individuals, would I have to top the proposal?
I feel really stupid now because I don't think I thought this through... I don't want any hurt feelings or me becoming broke.
