Bridesmaid Proposal Gifts

If these are things you want them to wear during getting ready photos, I would save that for the thank you gift you give day before or morning of the wedding. Your wedding is like a year and a half away so outfit sizes can change in that time and people will likely forget all about these items by April 2025.

I would not give gifts when you ask people to be in your wedding party. They haven’t accepted or done anything to thank them for at this point, plus it can come across as unnecessary pressure to say yes. Plus, I agree it’s way too early to give anything related to getting ready. Just ask.

You may also want to wait until about eight months before the wedding to ask people to be in your wedding party. At that time you may know more of your plans. Also, there may be changes in your relationships with these people that would affect who you include. Get some ideas about the reasonable expectations for the bridesmaids -- usually just to be at the ceremony next to you in the style dresses you selected. You may have precautions against overspending on a bachelorette or other advice you will find around here.

View Quoted Comment I’m doing a destination wedding. So I am trying to do everything earlier so they can have time to save money to travel for the wedding.

That's what I planned on doing! Asking all my girls then once everybody has said yes sending out a questionnaire with everything like that on it!

View Quoted Comment How are u planning to ask them. I made an e-card on Greenvelope and it has a survey portion but I’m debating on asking them that way or getting a physical copy of the card and asking them like that.

View Quoted Comment So the way I’m planning on asking my girls is just getting them each a little makeup bag and putting in a claw clip and some of the eye patches and then getting the cards off Amazon that says will you be my bridesmaid

View Quoted Comment That was my second option just getting them like a few gifts and a card but some people are saying not to get any gifts and to just ask them.

View Quoted Comment That’s what people have told me too I’ve also seen some girls get like cookies made and it says bridesmaid? And I think that’s cute too!

View Quoted Comment At this point I’m about to just send them a text and ask. I hate having so many options.

There’s been a recent trend within the last couple of years to do bridesmaid proposal boxes with gifts and stuff. Prior to that, people used to just ask. The issue with the gifts is that the person may feel pressured to say yes since you already got them a gift, even if they feel like they can’t financially make it work or don’t want to for whatever reason.

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If people have to save up this far In advance in order to afford attending your wedding then it's really not a reasonable expectation, IMO. Not to mention it puts even more pressure on those you are asking than a proposal gift box. If you are determined to have a wedding in a location that is inconvenient and expensive for everyone, I'd at least think about covering some of the associated costs, letting them wear dresses of their own choice, etc. Most couples don't realize that they are actually supposed to provide or pay for any out of town bridal party accommodations.

Alternatively, I'd rethink the idea of a formal bridal party in this situation. At least that way people will be able to decide closer to the date if it is affordable, and if there are any other conflicts.

Hey hey!! I too am working on my proposal gifts!

Giving a gift is just showing appreciation towards them, it's for sure not required, but I love it. I also plan to do their gift now versus the day of due to not wanting another thing to be worried about and making sure to bring... I'm not including anything that they will need the day of my wedding (ie getting ready outfits) because I would 1. be worried they would wear all of it prior to, and it would look worn, or they might mess it up. 2. That's a long time to keep it and keep track of it, and as someone mentioned, their sizes might change. I'm giving my girls their outfits at the rehearsal dinner!!

To the comment above, no one invited to your destination will ever expect it to be free. Asking in advance is wonderful, I think it shows that you WANT them to be there, and you are giving them time to make that happen. People need to request off of work, which may involve saving PTO hours.

View Quoted Comment So I think I will just send them an e-card with a survey attached, then give them a little gift around Christmas time(for accepting) and then the day before give them their big gift (get ready outfits and other stuff)