What was your FAVORITE bridesmaid gift you received?

I'd personally like anything that's not an item or memento.... I know I'm not in the majority though.

I've accumulated lots of monogrammed totes, robes, etc. I have a lot of "stuff".

The way to my heart would be a bottle of wine, or just a service covered (i.e. hair or makeup).

Personally, the best gift I got was a 31 tote. She got our initials embroidered on. I use that thing all the time!

Least useful is probably the custom hangers. I have a few and haven't been able to reuse them because they are fragile/glittery/not very practical.

For my ladies, I bought their shoes and a Vera Bradley tote.

I think my favorite gift was actually a mani/pedi, because all the bridesmaids went with the bride and we got to hang out!

One bride put all our goodies in a Vera Bradley tote. It was actually the kind you can reuse for groceries, so not a super nice one, but I use it every summer as my pool bag. Its cute and waterproof!

In the bag were earrings and a bracelet for the wedding (that I've never worn since) and a shirt for getting ready. My favorite thing was definitely the $8 bag lol.

I've only been a bridesmaid once, and what we got was a necklace that we wore during the wedding and was a keep sake for afterwards as well. It was a simple gold chain with a pink-ish pearl charm and a small leaf charm with our initial on it. Simple, elegant and I wear it often because it's perfect for work.

Personally I'm a fan of necklaces. I also gave my BM necklaces. Something simple that can be wore for any occassion.

I like a mix of things for the day and things for whenever, like jewelry, clutch, perfume, candles. My favorite was a bag with the love is patient quote on it that we used to carry our stuff for the day.

My baby brother gave all of us glasses appropriate to our tastes with the date written on them-- some got brandy snifters, some got wine glasses, I got 'an apple juice tumbler' (I don't drink) and my brother got 'a glass for whiskey' (happened to be identical, but who cares?). I really liked it and would have used it, but it broke on the flight home. 8-/

A friend gave me, not as a BM gift, but as a pre-wedding gift, a stocked toiletry kit. Up till then, I'd always filled my toiletry bag when I traveled, then pulled it apart when I got home. Now I just grab my kit and I know I have toothpaste, deodorant, floss-- it's perfect and probably cost $40, tops!

Oh, and another friend gave us the pearl necklaces we had to wear and paid for the hair and makeup, but what I actually *like* and remember fondly is the framed picture she gave me of the two of us. Keep this in mind, those of you who say, "I'm oaying for hair, makeup, and their shoes..." if it's for your wedding, it probably doesn't feel like much of a gift to your BMs, not matter how much it costs.

Best gift I've ever gotten as a bridesmaid and I've been a bridesmaid 10 times...is yes...a tote bag with my initial on (yea I have like 8 of them) but also a mini emergency bag with my initial on it. It came with hair ties, lipstick, all these awesome little things which I use everyday! She also went to the Kate Spade outlet and got us earrings and a necklace to wear the day of the wedding. It was so perfect and practical.

I'm sorry, the English teacher in me is dying a little, but I think you mean original, as in something different.

If that's the case, I would certainly do something that suits your bridal party and your relationship with them. For instance, if your MOH LOVES scarves, get her a pretty one to fit the season. If one of your BM's is a big coffee drinker, maybe a personalized travel mug would be nice.

Sorry for the bad grammar? Just a bride trying to get ideas. Not a saint.... thanks everyone for your input. It was extremely helpful!