Favorite bridesmaid gift?

I can honestly say I’ve never gotten a bridesmaids gift that I just absolutely loved. I’ve always received the usual; a wine glass, jewelry, etc. which is fine, but I’d rather the couple just save their money. That’s why it was really important for us to get our bridal party gifts specific to them.

The best bridesmaid gifts I've received: Starbucks gift cards - but I'd take most gift cards for that matter. Yeti Tumblers. Sherpa Blanket, which I use to this day - it was a nice quality throw, not the cheapie $10 you find everywhere.

From the weddings I've been in, my favorite gifts have been good bags and pajamas without my monogram on it! I'm in the minority with this, but I love getting loungewear and pjs! I just don't care to have my monogram on things, especially if you have girls in your party who may get married and have their monogram change.

But the big tote bags that you sometimes see brides put the gifts in for each bridesmaid are my FAVE. I still use some of the bags I've been given often.

The best gift I received was a monogramed travel jewelry case! it's cloth, so I can actually use it for more than just jewelry. I really liked how it didn't have anything wedding related on it, and it's something I STILL use to this day!

Honestly my favorite has been nice jewelry. I once received a Tiffany & Co necklace with my first initial "H" on it (each girl received a necklace with her first initial), and this necklace has become a staple jewelry piece that I wear constantly. I know this goes counter to what many people say on the forums because the bride did want us to wear these necklaces for the wedding in this instance, but they were such nice + high quality necklaces and definitely the bridesmaids gift that I get the most use out of.

I've never actually received one that I really liked, that's why i'm so passionate about not doing that to others, lol.

My ultimate dream though is to just not have to pay more for your wedding because I have the honor of standing up with you. Transportation and accommodations are typical wedding guest expenses and it always seemed crazy to me that because I'm a guest of honor i have to spend more money for the outift, hair, makeup, etc and then you get me a gift a I don't want. I would LOVE if brides would just pick affordable dress and pay for them, and pay for hair and makeup if that's something they want us to do.

I've never received anything but cookie-cutter "bride tribe" stuff that I had no use for and have long since decluttered. I certainly pretended to like the gifts at the time, and I hold no grudge toward the friends who gave them to me.

But I hate waste (money, resources, clutter) and have never been interested in "gifts just for gifts' sake", so I am definitely not the target audience for most things that are popular bridesmaid gifts. I doubt I will ever be a bridesmaid again, but I would prefer no gifts to useless matching gifts.

I definitely like the newer trend of buying different gifts for each individual bridesmaid's taste. And in that case, no one knows her bridesmaids' personalities and tastes better than the bride, so I don't have any general suggestions to offer.

View Quoted Comment I love the idea of just buying their dresses. But does that not count as a gift because it will be in the photos? I don't know the rules

I haven’t liked most gifts I’ve gotten, but the winners have been a zip up hoodie with my initial and a wallet.


The wallet is very much my style and the hoodie is handy for throwing over gym clothes. I’m not a sweatshirt person and donated all the sweatshirts I had from high school and college things, so that was a very practical gift.

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I gave my bridal party a small (like $10) individual gift and long thank you note. I personally think the best gift is to not have to spend money on your wedding (above what I would be spending as a regular guest) and would never expect a gift for being in your wedding. Something small and a heartfelt thank you letter would be more than enough in my opinion.

Been a bridesmaid once, so i will say of the stuff she got me, what i liked most was the face masks - i enjoy korean sheet masks

The best gift I’ve received is definitely when the bride pays for the dress, hair, and/or makeup! Yes, those could be considered wedding props; however, if I get to pick style then hair/makeup is a pampering I otherwise would not have had and the dress is money I otherwise would have spent (for something I probably don’t even like!). Add in a heartfelt note, and 🤩. It shows that the bride wants to make standing with her a positive experience, not a financial burden for the sake of cute pictures.

Best bridesmaid gift(s) I've received are flip flops (and the Toms my sister-in-law got her bridal party) and tote bags! The flip flops were great for changing into during the reception and then I had a pair of flip flops for the summer (same with the Toms). And I always try to use reusable bags wherever I can so I appreciated the practicality from both a long-term standpoint and again, as a useful item to use day of. I'm a sucker for a good practical gift though - I'm taking that mindset into gift buying for my bridal party.

As a bridesmaid several years ago, I was given a gift box from Lush Cosmetics. I don't think it was one of the super expensive ones - I believe it was actually the "Lovely" set which is still available, about $20. It had a bath bomb and a body scrub. I thoroughly enjoyed this because it wasn't a gift for the wedding, it truly was a "thank you" for being there, and something to be enjoyed on my own time.

It did get me hooked on Lush products, though, so beware.

Bath & Body Works candle (Champagne Toast) and a mini-bottle of champagne. The weekend after the wedding, I lit the candle and had a glass of bubbly in the bathtub while I watched a movie on my iPad, it was such a nice way to relax after the hustle of the previous weekend. If I'd gotten a bath bomb and a face mask too I would have been in absolute heaven!