The Good, The Bad and the Definitely Not!

I wouldn't say I have been given anything terrible, but my two favorites have been a silver fossil watch and a monogrammed yeti water cup! I have tank tops, tote bags, etc but the watch is definitely my favorite since I wear them daily.

If I were you, I'd steer away from anything related to your wedding. That means nothing that says bridesmaid, no getting ready robes, no jewelry for the day of, and no dress hangers. It's okay to gift those things, but they should not be the main gift. Try to think of things that they will actually like and want to use. And it's okay to get them different things based on their likes/dislikes. For instance, I never wear make up...so a cute make up bag would be useless for me. However, I do have kids and love going to the beach, so a super cute beach bag would be a great gift. For my bridesmaids, I am gifting them each (they are all getting the same, because they have the same interests): A large monogrammed rope handled tote, a slender water tumbler with their name on it, and a round beach towel.

Been a bridesmaid 14 times. I’ve never reused pajamas, robes, tote bags, tumblers, jewelry, sunglasses, makeup bags, or anything with the word bridesmaid on it. I gave all my girls gift cards to their favorite places because I wanted their gift to be something they could use.

I love these suggestions.
I've never been a bridesmaid but I know for mine I wanted to gift them something useful too like a gift card and some wedding themed things so they could at least have a memento of it.
I also gifted them more like a spa set. I put in some face masks and some lotion, things like that I thought would be fun and relaxing.

I was given a pearl necklace and bracelet set that I really liked namely cus I didn’t have anything pearl. Im giving my girls jewelry boxes each to their taste, and i did charm bracelets to match each individual. Funny I was out with a BM and she’s like we should all do charm bracelets! I had to straight face tell her no, not good idea. It’s a know what they like kind of thing.

I decided on getting mine a wine tumbler with their names on it, a gift card to their favorite drink places, and a small bottle of wine.

I hate those cheap satin/silk (not sure what they are made of) floral print robes. I actually LOVE robes, just not those. I like & use cotton or microfiber ones. I always prefer they pay for my hair and makeup to save me money.

I think the only thing I haven't used that I got afterwords was a robe, just because I'm not a robe person. I've gotten rings and bracelets to wear in the wedding and loved both of those and have worn them since. I'm not a huge jewelry person, so not often though. The last wedding I was in we got flannels with our initials and I loved that because I love a good flannel during the fall. I may do the same with my bridesmaids, but may ask first. I may opt out on initials or "bridesmaid" so they can definitely get more use out of them.

My sister got me earrings to wear at her wedding, and I wear them all the time. But that's because they're my style and while theyre fancy, theyre still suitable for everyday/ date night wear. For the record I also still wear the shoes I wore as a bridesmaid in her wedding.
I'd definitely recommend what I did- For my bridesmaids, I got them spa boxes from Etsy (store - the dancing wick) and high quality CZ stud earrings from etsy (store- hannabella designs). Also gave my MOH a matching bracelet. I personalized the scents, and had their names printed on just the gable spa box and on the earring cards. My bachelorette was last weekend and I gave the gifts then, my wedding is in 9 days. 2 bridesmaids already have used some of the spa box and my cousin was saying how tempted she is to wear the earrings before the wedding but she is waiting so she doesn't lose them.

I have never been a bridesmaid but I got my girls tote bags with their monogram, hangers, robes and shoes for the day of, their favorite candy and mini bottles along with a thank you note and I am going back and forth between a gift card to their favorite store/ restaurant or a message gift certificate.

I had a monogrammed tote bag that said my name and maid of honor, it was a really good quality bag and I don’t use it often but it was nice. Both of my sisters also gifted Coach wristlets that were super nice and could be used again. We have an outlet nearby that’s super affordable. I also got a visa or Amex gift card which is always good. For my girls I’m going to do either pjs for getting ready (or at least a tee), monogram tote bags that don’t say bridesmaid on them, hangers, a personalized tumbler and most likely a gift card or something else. I’m not doing jewelry as I know some of my girls have sensitive skin.

I must be the odd duck but I appreciated jewelry to wear the day of as a bridesmaid! I also would have liked getting my makeup gifted the day of.

I’m not really into “stuff” so I would prefer a bottle of champagne (or my favorite wine), spa or manicure certificate, or gift card to our local mall, and most importantly—a heartfelt card from the bride. My skin is too sensitive for the bride to pick out lotion, perfume, or at-home spa products. If in my 20’s, a fancy or fun wine glass would have been fun (in my 40’s, I have too much stuff).

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Agree! I liked the earrings I got to wear the day of because I rarely spend money on jewelry for myself. I would love a bottle of my favorite wine and a fun wine glass because I break them so often lol.

I never got a present 🤷

I have been a bridesmaid 5 times in my lifetime (one was my SIL - I still say she was kissing up to me, LOL). Forgive me for being crass, but this is a discussion board!

The worst:

3. Fake Tiffany's earrings... sigh. Just skip that idea all together - find something else... anything else (except for #2 and #1).

2. A jewelry box with her name and date on it... hmm... are these favor samples?

1. Keds (THE WHITE SHOES) that said "Bridesmaid" in handpaint across the toes -- to wear for the reception. It would not have been so bad if she did not get upset that no one wanted to wear them (at all or) with their dress. It looked ridiculous.

The best:

A knit shoulder bag with my monogram initials on it. I take that thing to the pool, weekend, everything! I love it.

As a bridesmaid, I didnt receive a gift and honestly, I did not really think one necessary. As a bride, I am making the gifts count to bring down their costs for the day. I want them to have similar jewelry so I got them jewelry sets and the pins to hold their ribbons on, which i allowed them to pick out online. Mind you, i spent $3 + shipping on the jewelry sets and $15 or less each on the pins for a total of $16/person that they no longer have to think about or wonder whether or not they are fulfilling what I want for these items. With my girls literally at opposite ends of the country, this has already saved a lot of stress. It also allows me to customize the wrapping with a special note. As I allowed them to pick out the pins and matched the metal for the jewelry to the pins, I am fairly confident they will like the jewelry and pins enough to wear them again after the wedding.