ultimate bridesmaid gifts under $75

10 ▪ 28 ▪ 09

So you’re a Bride to be… you have a million things to take care of and a trillion things to make perfect. Throughout the process you have had the help off your Bridesmaids to make things (hopefully) less stressful and less laborious. They cared what color the table clothes were going to be when your fiance just didn’t understand the importance… they helped you figure out how to invite your Aunt Nina, but but your Crazy Aunt Bethel without hurting feelings… they watched you try on all 25 dresses and cried when you stepped out in the one.

On your special day you want to be able to gift them something special, meaningful, unique, unexpected, and awesome. You don’t want to be the bride who gives out flip-flops as a wedding gift, or a framed picture of you and the new Groom… blagh! (Could you imagine!?)

I had a friend write in to ask some advice… about what to give her Bridesmaids… all EIGHT of them. Since I was never a bride myself, I did some extensive research on this topic and came up with the following.

What you want to do is thank these special girls, who have most likely been in your life for a very long time, for all they have done to stand by your side throughout this process and be there smiling at you as you walk down the isle. You want to hand them something that will say, “Thank you, I love you, you mean the world to me.”… not something that says, “I got these on sale”… “You might not like it”… “It’s totally not you, but the other girls will love it”, or, “Please don’t open it until you get back on the airplane… because you’re going to think I’m lame and I’d rather not see the look on your face.”

Now, what’s a Bride to do when she has EIGHT… I repeat, EIGHT Bridesmaids?! I have compiled a few genre of Brides, and within those, Bridesmaid gift ideas under $75. Ladies– I would really love to know what you all think… Perhaps I’ll be better prepared by the time my wedding day comes. (Just so you all know, my Bridesmaids will be my Mom, Aunt and Grandma… maybe I’ll give them some homemade sauce 🙂 )

I tried to think of ideas rather than simple items as gifts. I think it’s so much more fun and special to give the gift of a memory, or something unique than just an item that each Bridesmaid could have easily picked up herself. If you don’t like it, then leave 🙂

Are you the total DIY Bride? Perhaps these will be up your crafty little alley… The DIY girl always knows how to get in there and surprise her friends… she loves hands on gifts that require a bit of work, and most of all she loves to make things, not just buy them… not macaroni frames with spray paint, but thoughtful, special, personally suited gifts that have a meaning and special value.

Personalize a small photo envelope for each Bridesmaid with pictures that date back to your 2nd grade field trip, or whenever you first met. Include a meaningful letter, telling your Bridesmaid how much you care about her and thanking her for standing by your side. On the last page, present a gift certificate for something special- brunch, or a manicure.. something you know she loves. Cost: $52.00 for engraved photo envelope + $20.00 gift certificate to her fave spot.

Make your special Bridesmaids a collection of luxurious soaps that consist of their favorite scents. They sell soap making kits at places like Michales , Overstock.com or you can even learn how to make soap with the things you have at home (thanks to Martha Stewart (go figure)). On the soap you can even emboss your friend’s initials or an image that you know means something to her. Within the packet of soaps also include homemade, luxurious bath salts, face scrubs and other pampering products that you can DIY. Pop one or two really special things in there- like her favoroite Chanel foundation, or that Dior Lipstick she has been obsessing over. We usually know our friend’s signature colors… and if you don’t– just sneak into her makeup bag, right?! (You have to knock her socks off somehow, and the soaps alone won’t do it… ok?!) It’s a gift that says I care, and I know what you like… in a practical, yet special way. Cost: about $30 for soap / bath salt products (most of which you can re-use!) + $28 Dior lip rouge OR about $45 for Chanel Sheer Brilliance Foundation. (LOVE IT)

Can you knit? Sew? Crochet? Make jewelry? Any of the above? If you answered yes, and you probably did since you’re a crafty gal, make your friends something that they always admire on you… Perhaps one Bridesmaid always admires your hand knit scarf, and the other always borrows that turquoise necklace you built… whatever it is, design a unique variation of yours for your gal and give it to her with other items in the same theme… [if it’s a winter wedding] maybe your friend is going on a ski trip… give her the knit scarf with matching mittens, some flashy MICHAEL by Michael Kors ear muffs, and a pre-paid day pass at the ski lodge she’s headed to. Ravelry (it’s worth registering — for free!) is a great site for all of your knitting and crochet projects, otherwise use that trust old YouTube for tutorials on just about anything else! Cost: that of yarn, or jewelry findings + $24 ear muffs + Day pass at ski resort.

Create a beautiful invitation for a girls day out. Think of all the things your friend(s) love to do… if you have 8 Bridesmaids, maybe it’s an 8-step day. Start off at Bridesmaid 1’s favorite brunch spot, if Bridesmaid 2 loves to hike, take the whole gang for a mid-morning hike at the local park (stop your yawning, it can be more fun than you think.. and UM– FREE!). For Bridesmaids 3 and 4 who might love antiquing, take the gang to a special antique spot that you’ve always talked about. After antiquing you’ll be tired, so it’s time to indulge Bridesmaids 5 and 6 who just love to relax and drink… Grab a delicious bottle of wine and some melt-in-your-mouth tapas for everyone and then indulge Bridesmaid 7 who insists on a home facial once a week by having homemade face mask ingredients ready back at your house… and for Bridesmaid 8, who made your Bachelorette party unforgettable, thank her with yet, another unforgettable male stripper, like she one she arranged for to show up at your door dressed as a policeman a few months earlier. This plan shows your girls that you know how to take a day and make it work for every single one of them. If that’s not a hands-on project, I don’t know what is. Definitely for the DIY Bride. Cost: about $14 per head for brunch + free hike + free antiquing + $20-40 bottle of wine, at least 2 bottles + facial ingredients $15 + male stripper – price unknown 😉 .. You save a lot of money doing the day out, package deal thing, eh?

If you are a DIY bride, but still feel strongly about getting your gals something traditional, like jewelry, give it to them with a twist. This Design Sponge tutorial is wonderful and explains how you can present something ordinary in an extraordinary way. A sweet pair of earrings can be presented on a little card made of vintage wallpaper, or a childhood photo. It’s not just a pair of earrings, it becomes a theme that is given with love and that extra oomph. Cost: $42 for earrings + cost of materials to make paper backing.

Are you the, “I’ll spend whatever so I don’t have to deal with it” Bride? You don’t care what it takes, you will spend an arm and a leg to ensure that your girls are happy and more importantly to ensure that you don’t have to do any work. These gifts are lovely, thoughtful, and on the more expensive side (in this case, closer to $75 per Bridesmaid).

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It might not be the most original, but a day at the spa is sure to make any Bridesmaid the happiest girl in the world. Treat her to something fabulous and luxurious, like the Ritz Carlton Spa.. which is AMAZING, trust me… maybe she needs a deep tissue massage to work out those knots in her back… being a Bridesmaid aint easy! Cost: $75 gift certificate (won’t pay for the whole treatment, but will take a huge chunk off the bill, eh?

Let your Bridesmaids chose the shoes they will wear during the wedding, or the cost of having their hair and or makeup done. If the Bridesmaids are required to wear a special accessory for their Bridesmaid dress, say a brooch, or special piece of jewelry, consider treating them to it so that their costs would solely be made up of the dress. Cost: that of shoes or other item you chose to treat them to– have them chose within a selection that is no more than $75. note- this type of gift giving also suits the practical Bride.

Got a friend who LOVES wine? another who loves beer? Two more who can never eat enough chocolate? Get them started with a wine/ flowers, beer of the month package! The packages vary depending on what it is that’s being ordered and the length of time for which you are treating the Bridesmaid. These are wonderful, personal and delicious. Cost: about $43 for one month – double it up at 2 or 3 months for a little over $75.00. If you only treat them to one month you are giving them the gift of introducing them to a really fun service!

Are you a Bride who likes to personalize?

So say one of your girls loves to cook… Maybe she would love a stylish DVF eco tote full of gourmet ingredients. If your other friend is obsessed with scrapbooking, perhaps a basket full of ribbons, stickers, scrap booking tools and vintage wallpaper would be her ideal gift… This sort of thing might not suit a bride that has a whole crew of Bridesmaids… especially if it’s close to the wedding. Cost: $30 for DVF tote bag + cost of gourmet groceries and or scrapbook materials.

If your girls love wine, handpick 4 bottles of wine, which you think will suit them, and decorate them with these adorable beaded wine covers according to their color and decor preference. Cost: cost of wine + $24 for beaded wine covers.

This amazing and decadent, gourmet chocolate and truffle company, Vosages makes the most unbelievable chocolates in the world. They are so specific to flavor and the ways in which they are to be eaten– with certain beverages, or foods that you will be able to pin point eat Bridesmaid with what this company has to offer. Your Bridesmaids will go ga-ga over something like this. Go here for ideas in the $30 to $75 range. yum. Cost: $30 to $75 and OH – SO- SCRUMPTIOUS

Coffee table books, or like.. any books are like, the cats meow (ew who says that)… right? or is it just me who loves them? I think that is one of the greatest gifts.. Ok enough about me.. so What about getting your girls a collection of books depending on their interests? A Bobbi Brown makeup book, a book on healthy eating tips and nutritional advice, one that focuses on interior decor, one full of style tips from Nina Garcia, or an instructional yoga book paired with something of the same theme is a gift that is a never ending reference and also quite interesting.

extra stuff.. um as though that post wasn’t long enough…

After reading about it do you feel like making that homemade mask tonight? Here are the directions:

Masks (homemade or otherwise) should stay on for 10-15 minutes. Follow with a cleansing and a thin layer of moisturizer.