Bride-To-Be Seeks Bridesmaid Gift Advice From Women Who Already Tied the Knot in an Attempt to Be Practical and Gift Savvy on Her Big Day

Author image for Sienna Varady
Sienna Varady
Mar 7, 2024 8:00 AM EST

Planning a wedding takes a lot of work. Eventually, it becomes unfeasible to keep up with the extensive list of things that require immediate attention. One task that often goes unnoticed, or at the very least put off until the very last minute, is getting gifts for the bridesmaids who have devoted their time and energy to making your big day even more memorable.

In the post below, a blushing soon-to-be bride asks her fellow Redditors what constitutes a meaningful bridesmaid present. Naturally, suggestions started rolling in almost right away. So, whether you're planning a wedding, attending one, or just love wedding celebrations as much as I do, be sure to check out the piece below! Once you've finished reading through all of the comments, don't forget to watch the hilariously funny TikTok video of a girl trying to explain to her father the well-known girl math phenomena!

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  • 01
    What's a useful, actually wanted bridesmaid gift?
    via Canva
  • 02
    What's a useful, actually wanted bridesmaid gift?
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  • 03
    Hello! I'm hoping to get some ideas from people aside from other brides (which is why I'm posting here instead of a wedding sub). I'm getting married in June and would love to give the girls in the wedding party a gift on the day of the wedding, but I'm coming up blank. In the past I've
    via u/yinyang2000
  • 04
    gotten things like getting-ready robes, candles, socks, some kind of jewelry, etc. but most of it ends up collecting dust somewhere in my apartment the day after. What are some ideas for a gift people
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  • 05
    would ACTUALLY want, and would be able to use beyond the wedding day? What have you received before that you really liked? TIA!!
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  • 06
    SnarkyBehind TheStick · 15 hr. ago Honestly, use the money towards something they're already paying for to participate. And MAYBE a piece of jewelry to wear day-of if that's important to you. Something timeless.
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  • 07
    You can send a message like "in lieu of traditional bridesmaid gifts that often end up collecting dust, we've chosen to cover the costs of hair, nails, and makeup for the big day(or whatever)." Weddings are SO expensive to participate in, especially when there's travel involved.
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  • 08
    A heartfelt thank you letter with a printed photo of each bridesmaid from the photos you receive back is sweet enough.
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  • 09
    studyabroader 16 hr. ago. edited 15 hr. ago . Paying for some part of their part in the wedding would be nice! It's expensive to be a bridesmaid so covering any part of that would be great. ETA: I do think offering to pay for the hotel room and/or the dress would be the nicest option! You're the one choosing to get married.
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  • 10
    prancingflamingo 16 hr. ago I got my girls a little necklace on wedding theme and paid for their hair and makeup. The hair and makeup was probably the more useful of the two though
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  • 11
    FairyGodmothers Union 16 hr. ago I did that, too. I had an artist friend make silver pendants with a gemstone for each bridesmaid. I brought in makeup and hair stylists, and I hired babysitters to look after children during the event. Everyone seemed pleased.
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  • 12
    B EastSeaweed · 15 hr. ago I would avoid jewelry unless it's high quality. I've received bracelets and necklaces as gifts that we were to wear on the day of and then I never wore them again because they looked cheap and irritated my skin and they've just been tarnishing and turning green on my dresser ever
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    since. One of the bracelets I was gifted literally broke before the ceremony even started. I would avoid robes unless they're high quality for the same reason. For one wedding I was in, the bride gave us all "silk" (polyester) robes to get ready in. We were all DRIPPING with sweat and had to take them off
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  • 14
    before we were done getting ready because they did not breathe AT ALL. Also, I thought this would go without saying, but before getting anything monogramed, make sure you're spelling their names correctly :) Not only was the robe uncomfortable, but my name was spelled incorrectly.
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  • 15
    I think paying for their dresses or hair and makeup or for their hotel stay are the most useful gifts. I would have MUCH rather have had some of the financial burden lifted than received "cp" as one of the brides in this thread so eloquently referred to the gifts she gave her bridesmaids lol.
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  • 16
    moodyje2 15 hr. ago The best gift is nothing that has your wedding date embroidered/stamped/whatever on it. Nothing with the word wedding or bridesmaid on it. Buying them jewelry to wear in the wedding is not a gift for them, it's you covering the costs of something you want. I think the best gifts I've received
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  • 17
    have been things tailored to me and my interests. I have a pair of earring a bride bought me in a wedding I was in back in 2008. They weren't for the wedding, just some cool earrings she picked up at a local art fair she knew I would like. I've been a bridesmaid in 15 weddings so I
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  • 18
    have a lot of tote bags, makeup bags, robes, getting ready pajamas, headbands, coasters, bride tribe cups, etc. even for my nearest and dearest that stuff gathers dust until it gets donated.
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  • 19
    msnobleclaws 16 hr. ago Consumables for sure, especially snacks. My next suggestion might be influenced by the fact that I'm on my period, but a basket of tortilla chips, queso, and salsa would make me happy most days....especially if I don't have to share.
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  • 20
    tismsia · 14 hr. ago As a wedding guest/bridesmaid, I always bring a "Hangover Kit." It heavily overlaps with the goody- bags I made when I worked in hospitality. I usually say it's for everyone and leave it in the bridal suite and the other girls end up loving it.
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  • 21
    Hangover kit includes: emergency sewing kit. NSAIDs, Liquid IV, bobby pins, Vaseline, and Safety pins. I also always pack a couple bottles of coconut water. I prefer it to plain water and Liquid IV
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  • 22
    and because I often attend Indian-American weddings, I usually end up giving it to the mother of the bride (especially when I notice they're acting stressed/hangry).
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  • 23
    weirdchic0124 - 16 hr. ago I bought my bridesmaids all good sized makeup bags with their names embroidered on them. I got myself one too and it's the best bag ever. I know for a fact that at least 4 of the 6 of us use our bags regularly. It's mine and my best friend's go to makeup/toiletry bag for out-of-town trips.
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  • 24
    tismsia · 14 hr. ago I can also vouch that this is a useful gift. I got a square "travel jewelry organizer" (first result on Amazon) at a wedding with no name. At a different wedding, I noticed all the bridesmaids got the same exact thing, but personalized.
    via u/tismsia
  • 25
    zweekhorst101 - 15 hr. ago I did books. I gave them each one of three different titles, based on which one I thought they'd enjoy. All my people were readers, though, so YMMV.
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  • 26
    JerryHasACubeButt 15 hr. ago · I just want to say, if you go with earrings as some are suggesting, make sure everyone in the bridal party actually has pierced ears, and be familiar with what metals they can wear. I was a bridesmaid at a
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  • 27
    wedding where we were given earrings and 3/8 of us couldn't wear them due to metal sensitivities or healed over piercings. It's more common than you'd think!
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  • 28
    gabmonty 15 hr. ago Please no cheap satin robes! My favorite gift I've received as a bridesmaid was some lovely slippers that pack well (open toed so they can nest in each other) - I take them on every trip I go on because hotels and airbnbs are gross. A close second was a nice oversized shacket
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  • 29
    (shirt jacket)- we all wore leggings and tanks and our shackets to get ready and it's one of my most worn pieces when it's too warm for a real jacket but I want a third piece for my outfit. Please don't do jewelry unless you know it's high quality & won't tarnish, and you know it's something
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  • 30
    they would actually wear. I've gotten little rinky dinkk necklaces that look fine for the wedding but after a few wears start to tarnish and look cheap. Same with bags - everyone has a million tote bags and a monogram doesn't improve the quality of the bag itself. I think water bottles and reusable cups are also
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  • 31
    overdone - people just don't need more clutter in the cupboard. If you really wanna do a necklace or bag or reusable cup - don't just order something from Amazon, get a real brand that's high quality. The only bag I ever kept from a bridesmaids gift was a high quality baggu tote
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  • 32
    bag that had a pattern that was chosen for me by the bride - I love the roomy size, the colors, and that it packs down into a small little bag so it's great for travel.
    via u/gabmonty

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just girly things girls club friendship gifts presents wedding party bridesmaids appreciation askreddit relationships wedding advice Party subreddit Reddit cuteness overload
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