Busy Bride Wedding Guide Blog

They’re your closest friends, and they’ll be the ones standing beside you while you recite your vows and become a Mrs. So, don’t give them a generic photo frame or candle for a bridal party gift. Use your imagination and take advantage of some of the latest trends in wedding gift-giving.

Experiences as a bridesmaid gift are a unique trend that an increasing number of brides are giving to friends.  It makes for not only a personal gift that your bridesmaids will remember forever, but a great bonding experience.

What girl doesn’t love getting pampered? Many spas have relaxation packages tailor made for brides and their bridesmaids.  Take off for a weekend at a spa resort and indulge in treatments like detoxifying seaweed wraps, aromatherapy facials and body butter massages. Of course, don’t forget the fingers and toes: treat yourself and your bridal party to manicures and pedicures. Find a spa that offers unique treatments for a something new: thai massage, ayurvedic facials and hot stone treatments are just a few popular treatments.

At night, enjoy gourmet food, wine, and conversation with friends. Every spa weekend package is different, but prices start at about $295 for weekend accomodation and a basic spa package. Depending on the location, reputation and spa services the cost will vary.

If your budget won’t allow for a full spa weekend, you can always opt for one or two spa treatments done on the day of the wedding. Take your bridal party to the spa in the morning and let them get waxed, coiffed, manicured or made up before the ceremony. It will help to calm pre-wedding jitters, and will make you and your bridal party feel beautiful. Bring along a bottle of champagne and toast to your friends! Many spas will include a light lunch as well, so you and your bridal party can grab a bite before you head to the ceremony.

For adventure seekers, white water rafting or skydiving will get the adrenaline pumping. Women who enjoy sports or outdoor activities will love a day of horseback riding or golfing. It’s important to remember that although a bridesmaid will enjoy trying some new activities, she probably won’t appreciate being taken out of her comfort zone and feeling pressured to try something she doesn’t want to. For instance, don’t give a girlfriend a bungee jumping or hangliding trip if she’s never expressed interest in it.

Tickets to the theater, a ballet or opera will please artsy friends.  You know your friends well, so think about what would mean the most to them. A frazzled mother of a toddler might appreciate a gift certificate to a fine dining restaurant she could enjoy with her husband, while a friend who has always wanted to learn to tango will enjoy dance lessons.  A basket with a bottle of wine and a handmade card providing details of a weekend wine-tasting trip make a thoughtful gift for a wine loving friend.

Wedding gear gives beachbound bridesmaids something comfortable to wear for your outdoor nuptials. Go for wedding-themed flip flops that say ‘bridesmaid’ or ‘maid of honor’ and put them in a coloful beach bag. Or, buy white flip flops and customize them will small jewels or crystals for each girl. Wedding bikinis or sarongs are a hot bridal gift for destination weddings. If you and your girlfriends plan on relaxing by the pool or walking along the beach, a bathing suit or pretty cover up is a wonderful idea.

For body-confident bridesmaids, lingerie is becoming a popular gift. A silk teddy or night set is a sexy gift that your bridesmaids won’t expect. If you aren’t comfortable buying them lingerie, you can easily find cute, custom pyjamas for weddings that have humorous or sentimental messages on them.  Fuzzy slippers are a fun addition to a pair of pyjamas, or a more elegant slipper could double as footwear at the reception for your bridesmaids! When the ceremony is over, many bridesmaids avoid aching feet by kicking off their high heels and slipping into something more comfortable.

More and more, brides are stepping away from giving the same gifts to all of her bridesmaids, and personalizing them to each woman’s individual personality and taste. If your bridesmaids are party girls, you can buy personalized packages of cocktail mix. Throw in a book of cocktails and shaker for your bridal party to enjoy.  Or, choose your friends favorite liquor and put it in a basket with mix and glasses. A bottle of tequila and a set of margarita glasses is a lighthearted way to say thank you to a bridesmaid.

Jewelry has always been a standard bridesmaid gift, but modern brides are adding personal flair by engraving necklaces or lockets with initals or the wedding date. Put a picture of you and your bridesmaid in the locket. Select fitting charms and give her a charm bracelet that she can build on over the years. For the glamour girl, engrave an antique silver compact mirror with her initals for a new twist on an old tradition.

Personalized bridesmaids’ bags give your friends a memorable and useful gift. Bags made of canvas or straw are perfect for summer or beach weddings, while crystal-initial evening bags add an elegant touch to a more formal reception. Cosmetic or travel bags are great for destination weddings, and can be personalized with initals, dates or full bridesmaid names. Whether you want pastel pink, leopard print or simple black, you can find inexpensive bridesmaids’ bags online and at wedding shops everywhere.

Give your bridesmaids personalized stationery, and select a style for each the fits their personality. Stationery can range from fun and vivid to classic and traditional. Include a monogrammed pen and your bridesmaids will have a gift they’ll be using for years to come!

Just get creative with your bridesmaid gift ideas, and think about each girls’ uniqueness and style before you buy. There is no better way to say thank you for their support and friendship than a gift that comes straight from the heart.