Thoughtful Ways to Thank Your Bridesmaids

Any gal who’s ever had to walk the aisle dressed like an elaborate pink pastry (and an inordinately expensive one at that) knows that being a bridesmaid is a touch job. Even if you’d never impose teal-blue ruching on your team of VIPs, you’ll still want to think of a nice way to thank them for standing by you, calming your nerves, and suffering the occasional barked order.

Regardless of what you plan to spend on bridesmaid gifts, you’ll want to give your girls something that will be a lasting token of your friendship and your memorable day. We’ve gathered a bunch of favorite gift ideas for you, which we’ve broken into three categories: 1) the personal, 2) the practical, and 3) a combination of the two in the form of something that your bridesmaids can use or wear on your wedding day, as well as on special occasions thereafter.

The Personal

This is an important day for you, and you’ve got your most important people by your side. Whether you plan to hand-make personal gifts or treat your team to something luxurious, think about your personal histories and shared times together. 

Some ideas:

• Framed photos – whether hand-painted or silver-plated, photo frames are always appreciated. Insert pictures of you and each of your bridesmaids or of all of you together at your shower or bachelorette. They can later replace them with photos from your wedding, if they wish.
• Something you love – Sharing a little of your personal obsession with your bridesmaids is a touching way to say “thank you.” Are you an antiques collector? Whiz in the kitchen? Devoted gardener? Wine connoisseur? Think about giving vintage teapots, beautiful kitchen towels or cooking equipment (with a favorite recipe, of course), a gardening kit and seeds, or a bottle of your favorite wine with a couple of wine glasses etched with their monogram or your wedding date.
• Something crafty – Whether you knit, sew, throw clay, or just have a thing for glitter glue, a handmade gift is always from the heart. From cashmere scarves to kitschy refrigerator magnets, handcrafted gifts give your ladies a bit of your unique personality to treasure.

The Practical

Why wrack your brains over cute tchotchkes that’ll just end up in a drawer or the giveaway pile? Consider giving your bridesmaids gifts that are not only a memorable token of your day, but also something that they will actually use.

Some ideas: 

• Monogrammed stationery, hand towels or cocktail napkins – Who can have enough? See if you can get the same font or colors of your wedding invitation.
• Lotions & potions – Special toiletries in favorite scents are always a hit.
• Candles – Weddings are for romance, and there’s nothing more romantic than candlelight.
• Embossed address books or photo albums – They’ll need a place to store any cute ushers’ phone numbers, as well as photos of your day.
• Something that relates to your wedding theme – think fancy flip-flops or designer beach towels for summer; silver julep cups or magnolia-scented candles for Southern nuptials. Be creative.

Something for the Big Day

A gift that your bridesmaids can use or wear on your wedding day is both personal and practical. Just try to make it something they can use again. Also, don’t go so far as to give them makeup or your favorite perfume – you don’t want to go too far in dictating their wedding-day uniform. Finally, think about a subtle, special twist on the gift for the Maid of Honor, so she stands out a bit from the crowd.

Some ideas:

• Jewelry – Think necklaces that go with their dresses, pearl earrings, or a charm bracelet with a charm for your wedding to start them off. They can later add more charms for special occasions.
• Pashmina – They’re going to get chilly in the wee hours. Pick a color that coordinates with their dresses.
• Silver-plated compact – Etch it with a monogram, a thank-you message, or your wedding date. They can check their lipstick now, and remember your wedding forever later.
• Clutch or purse – Again, make sure it coordinates with their dresses.
• A Mini Camcorder – The Flip mini camera comes in cute colors. They can use it to record your wedding, then take it with them for any must-document moments later on. (http://www.theflip.com/en-us/)