Bridesmaid Gifts

It is a long-standing tradition that the bride gives specially selected gifts to her bridesmaids in order to show her appreciation and love to them for supporting her throughout the pre-wedding days as well as on the big day.

When deciding what to choose for her bridesmaids, a bride has almost endless choices, making this decision very difficult. Usually, the bride and groom present gifts to their attendants at the rehearsal dinner, and may express their personal thanks to them at that time. Another option is for the bride to present her gifts during a special bridesmaids' brunch or luncheon. A lovely tradition is for the bride to give her maids a gift of jewelry that can be worn on the wedding day. I have seen gifts of delicate pearl necklaces, silver bracelets with monogrammed initials, and crystal earrings, all of which were worn by the bridesmaids as a part of their wedding attire, as well as having a special gift of jewelry to wear later. There is an infinite variety of appropriate jewelry, and a wide price range, so a gift of jewelry could be worked into most budgets. A friend whose daughters attended her at her second wedding presented each of them with a gold heart-shaped ring, so that each daughter had a "wedding ring" of her own. Another thoughtful idea is for the bride to have make-up bags, tote bags, or purses monogrammed with the bridesmaids' initials. Engraved silver jewelry boxes, mirrors, or picture frames in which to place wedding photographs of the bridesmaid with the bride are also good choices for gifts. There are catalogs, specialty stores, and websites galore from which to choose wedding- related gifts, but a bride can also find beautiful and tasteful gifts from local department stores. Occasionally the bride will gift her attendants with the salon visit for hair and make-up prior to the wedding, or even with a spa day at some time leading up to the wedding. The options are limited only by the budget, and there are so many lovely ways for the bride to express her appreciation to her bridesmaids. The difficult part is making the decision on which gift to give.