Hi. I'm getting married in just over two week. My fiance and I have been brainstorming ideas for attendant gifts, and I was just wondering how much we should spend. We have four attendants each, and we don't have tons of money, but we want to get them something they'll appreciate.
I was originally planning to get $25 necklaces for the bridesmaids, but since that seems more like a gift for myself (since they'll be wearing the necklaces in my wedding), I'd love to treat them to manicures and pedicures as well. All in all, I'd be spending about $60 for each bridesmaid. (My fiance and mother said that's a bit expensive, but said it's okay if that's what I want to do.)
My fiance is planning to get $25-$30 gift cards for his groomsmen, either to their favorite restaurant or favorite hobby store (Fry's Electronics, Guitar Center, etc.).
Do you think those would be good gifts? Is that a reasonable amount to spend on each attendant? How much did you spend? Thanks!
Update:gr_gal1993: Your idea sounds lovely! I don't know any jewelry designers, but I am getting slightly different necklaces for each bridesmaid and I'm getting a brand they've said they like.
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Sounds perfect! Congratulations! Both ideas are very classic. Women like to have a thoughful keepsake, but guys couldn't care less. My husband did get a calculator as gift from one wedding that had a little engraved plate on it with "thank you from so and so and such and such" and the date. He actually does use it. It came from one of those stores in the mall where they sell engravable gifts. You might want to check one of those stores out, such as "Things Remembered"...they have many reasonably priced items. Otherwise, truthfully, your ideas sound fine for what you're comfortable spending.
I actually spent quite a bit on my bridesmaids and my husband spent very little on his groomsmen. For the maids, we went to a local day spa the day of the wedding and everyone was massaged, had their hair, makeup and nails done, and recieved a gift certificate so they could each choose to buy some of the products that were used on them that day. The guys got personallized keychains and wallets. To the best of my knowledge the guys didn't feel stiffed. I don't think any of them would have really wanted to spend the day at a day spa with us!
First of all, best wishes for your upcoming wedding!!
Next, I'm with you on the matching jewelry. It doesn't really seem like a great gift for the bridesmaids. I've received jewelry twice and in both cases, I've never worn it again. It collects dust in my jewelry box because it was the bride's style, not mine. If it doesn't match my personality or my style, then I'm just not about to wear it.
For our fall wedding, we're letting the bridesmaids select their own jewelry. A good friend of mine is a jewelry designer, so she's done a number of sets and we're letting them decide what they wish to wear. The bridesmaids also selected their own gowns, so each set compliments their gown. Perhaps you could do something specific for each bridesmaid?
We're also probably going to do a bottle of their favorite alcohol or something along those lines. I don't know your age, so that may not be an appropriate gift, but if you and your maids are of legal drinking age, then perhaps that would work for you as well.
Best wishes!!!!!!!!!
PS: I'm also doing some survival kits for our friends with sparkly flip-flops and makeup for each gal, so maybe that is something you could do as well. I found a great deal on some pretty (and comfortable!) flip-flops that I thought would make a nice switch from the heels that we're all wearing. We're all in our 30s and still convinced that heels are the way to go! Even though I told them to wear whatever was comfortable...
I think the gift idea's you have are good ones. We did necklace/earring/fabric/sequined jewelry box and a linen hanky for the women and the guys got wallets. We took the practical route with the gifts. (No frames, no flasks, nothing engraved). The bridesmaid gifts were all under $30 and the guys wallets were about $20 a piece.
This was our biggest problem w/ the whole wedding. I wanted to spend $25 max on each pearson--well...It ended up being about $35. I got them all something personalized from Things Remembered--for the ladies-Compacts, Business Card Holders, Jewlrey Boxes. The guys got flasks, beer mugs, and lighters. I had 18 people in the party.
I bought small porcelain jewelry boxes and gave necklaces for them to wear in the wedding. I think if you give the necklaces that would be a nice gift.
I spent $20-40 on each person. The Flowergirl and RIngbearer got pewter banks, the BM got a shot glass with her name on it since she collects them, the GM got a tool keychain and the other one a money clip. The MOH and all bridesmaids got necklaces...
My fiance got his guys flasks from things remembered and had their names and the date engraved on them. about 35$ each. I got my girls a jewelry box engraved with "Their name, Thank you for being my bridesmaid, then the date then my name. These jewelry boxes are so nice and they were only $20 each, i swear I got a steal on them! the website for them is www.engravablesplus.com and click on jewelry boxes and it's the princess jewelry box. You should check them out! Good Luck!
All together I spent about $250 on each of my bridesmaids. I really wanted to show my appreciation, especially because two of them traveled halfway across the country not once but twice for wedding related activities. I gave them Coach bags and body care and perfume gift sets. I also paid for the manicures, pedicures, and hairstyles but I considered those things more for me and the wedding than for them specifically.
congrats!! those all sound good. i can't afford for manicures and pedicures for my bridesmaids otherwise i would so i will be spending about $20 on each..maybe $30..
Sounds perfect. My only suggestion is that maybe you get something "extra special" for your MOH and his BM. Give these gifts in private away from all other attendants. These are the two who most likely did most of the work. Have fun!