Beca Hale Photography, Vintage Soul Floral Design, NL Glam
Whether you realize it or not, bridesmaids and groomsmen will spend a lot of money, time, and efforts leading up to your wedding. Typically they are the ones behind your engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette & bachelor parties! After all, these are your closest friends and family members, so they know you best. Still - all of the love and energy they pour into celebrating you shouldn't go unnoticed!
We love working with our brides and grooms, all with different personalities, budgets, and priorities. One thing they all have in common is: they value practicality!
Practical tips could look like:
- repurposing decor elements from the ceremony to the reception
- having a sheet cake in the back to cut cake costs
- etc. the list goes on!
( Maybe we'll do a future blog all about this!)
So how does practicality tie into wedding party gifts? We got you covered!
With so many gifts online, it can feel overwhelming to pick out gifts that your friends will a) like, b) use, and c) genuinely appreciate! Here are our favorite gift ideas that check all of those boxes - let us know which idea you love! These are great to give to your wedding party on the actual day, but you can also give them a heads up in advance if you're providing something they would usually have to buy themselves. (dress, shoes, jewelry, hair, makeup, etc.)
FOR YOUR GIRLS //
1. Personalized Bridesmaid Getting Ready Outfit
This is definitely something your girls can reuse, but it is perfect for getting ready photos as well! Surprise your friends with matching slippers, custom robes, or bridesmaid pajamas!
Keith & Lakyn Photography, Cali Stott Artistry
2. Custom Name Hangers
Everyone uses hangers, so these are super practical! You can order these online from places like Etsy for a custom design, so each bridesmaid has a special memento of getting ready with you.
Samantha Grigg Photography, Cedar Creek Ranch
3. Sentimental Personal Scrapbook
A personalized scrapbook is the perfect way to say thank you & reflect back on all of your sweet memories together! Fill it with photos, old concert tickets, mementos, and a sweet note for each friend! Mini scrapbooks are pretty inexpensive, so the main labor of love here is your time :). Your bridesmaids will cherish these for years to come! If you'd like, you can even leave a space on the last page for a wedding photo. After your wedding day, gift each bridesmaid the missing photo of you with each respective bridesmaid!
Yah Photography, Taylor Ann Photography
4. Mini Champagne Bottle With Custom Flutes Or Tumblers
One of our favorite wedding day moments is when our brides pop the champagne with their girls! The only way to make champagne even better is to make it mini - seriously, mini bottles are adorable! Take your toast to the next level with custom toasting flutes or tumblers that feature your bridesmaids' names. They will appreciate the personalization and can reuse the glass for future drinks!
Click Away Photography, Jennifer Abercrombie Beauty
5. Professional Bridesmaid Hair Styling
This is a super practical gift that your bridesmaids will absolutely LOVE you for! Professional hair & makeup can get pricy and your bridesmaids might not want to pay for this service themselves. Gifting your girls with a professional hairstyle will save you all time, effort, and the stress of trying to make it perfect!
Anchor and Veil Photography, Cali Stott Artistry, Wonderlab
6. Professional Bridesmaid Makeup
You can pair this with hair styling, but if you had to choose one - we'd recommend makeup! If you ask us, the cost of a professional makeover is totally worth it - it really makes a difference in photos and will hold up the entire night! Your bridesmaids will appreciate this gift because it's practical and gives them one less thing to pay for on your special day.
Avonne Photography, Jennifer Abercrombie Beauty
7. Bridesmaid Dresses
A practical, yet thoughtful gift: paying for your bridesmaids' dresses is the perfect way to show your appreciation and release some pressure off of your girls. Once you know their sizes, styles, and other preferences, we'd suggest letting them know it's taken care of so they aren't in the dark and don't order it before you have the chance!
Beca Hale Photography, Vintage Soul Floral Design, NL Glam
8. Bridesmaid Shoes
This is a great gift for your girls, especially if you plan on having matching bridesmaid heels. If you can, you could pack them with your belongings, so you don't have to worry about a bridesmaid losing or forgetting them during the trip! They will love the sentiment, and they can wear the shoes for other occasions as well :)
Haley Lynette Photography, Ribald Events
9. Jewelry
Jewelry makes a beautiful present no matter the occasion, but it can mean even more when worn on someone's wedding day. If you envision your girls in matching necklaces, bracelets, or earrings, you can order/shop them in one easy purchase. Jewelry is a great way to complete your bridesmaids' looks and gift them something practical they can use time and time again!
Samantha Grigg Photography, Click Away Photography
FOR YOUR GUYS //
1. Cuff Links
Custom cuff links are a great present to surprise your guys with! You can choose from different colors, designs, and even have them initialed to represent your groomsmen. They can wear them while they stand by your side and reuse them many times after your big day.
Taylor Ann Photography
2. Personalized Socks
This is definitely one of the most popular groomsmen trends we see lately, but it has actually been around for awhile. We don't see this dying down anytime soon, simply because it is so fun! No matter what your collective interests are, we promise you there's a sock for that! Marvel/DC characters, favorite foods, Rick & Morty - you can pretty much have anything you want customized onto socks. These make a hilarious and fun gift that you can wear with your guys during the entire day!
Hope Taudevin Photography
3. Cologne
For a more sophisticated present, you could try your hand at selecting a specific cologne for each groomsman to wear. Every time they smell the cologne afterwards, the scent will bring back all of the fun memories of your wedding day!
Hope Taudevin Photography
4. Custom Flask
If I had a dollar for every time I saw a groomsman pull a flask out of his jacket... well, let's just say I'd have a lot of dollars. The point is: your friends will love these! You can have flasks customized to feature an inside joke, image, or other special message of your choosing.
Tyler James Photography
5. Groomsmen Shoes
If you're looking for something super practical, covering the cost of your groomsmen's shoes might be the way to go. Your guys will appreciate this gift because it's reusable and saves them a little bit of money preparing for your celebration! Usually groomsmen pay for their own tuxes, which can cost upwards of $300-$500, depending if they buy or rent, so they'll appreciate the gesture.
Anchor and Veil Photography
6. Tie Clips
On the morning of your wedding, you can gift each groomsman a customized tie clip featuring their initials. This is something they can wear for years to come, and will look great in your photos!
Beca Hale Photography, Vintage Soul Floral Design
7. Sporty Cheers
For a super masculine toast, gift them something sporty! These amazing baseball bat glasses made the perfect toast moment for the groom and his bros - personalized with each groomsman's name!
The Stewarts Roam, Weddings with Barbara, Charlotte Knights Stadium