Choosing Bridesmaids Gifts: Perspectives of a Former Bridesmaid Turned Bride

I had been a bridesmaid three times before I was a bride. Each time I received a bridesmaid gift; a little hand mirror, handmade jewelry, a silver lipstick case with my name engraved on the front.

If you've ever been a bridesmaid, you know how much it costs to stand by the side of your friend on her big day. There's the dress, the shoes, the jewelry, and the time! I didn't want any of my girls to worry about that. I wanted them to be confident, comfortable and happy, because that's when they are most beautiful. And that's what was most important to me.

When I was finally a bride, I agonized over what to get my bridesmaids as bridesmaid gifts. I had six girlfriends in my line up and each girl was completely different from the next. I wanted to give them something special as bridesmaid gifts, something more than a key chain or hand mirror, to show how much I appreciated them and all that they had meant to me.

I decided to do several things for my bridesmaids' gifts. I decorated a pair of plain, comfortable flip-flops for each girl and they used these when I took them out to get our nails done together the day before the wedding. They also used them at the reception as a more comfortable alternative to the shoes they wore during the ceremony. This way the dance floor was always occupied!

For the next portion of their bridesmaid gifts, I gave them each a decorated bag with goodies inside, including matching jewelry to wear with their bridesmaid dresses.

Another thing I did was make sure to set aside some money from my budget to pay for part of the dresses because I chose a rather pricey style. This way the girls only had to pay for part of the ensemble and that was a bridesmaid gift in itself.

Your bridesmaids are a priceless part of your wedding. They can provide support, encouragement, and be a voice of reason during a crazy time in your life. So don't forget to think about them, because the less they have to worry about, the more they can focus on you and your big day!