This was not an easy task. I’m sure many of you have had trouble with this wedding item as well. I have only three bridesmaids — they are my best friends from three different parts of my life. One from childhood (since we were in kindergarten), one from college and the third from my “post college” life in NYC. They are all very important to me so I wanted their gift to be thoughtful and lovely.
At first I wanted to get them each something different — one “big” gift, but quickly realized that I’d break the bank. What was I going to do? For BM #1 I was going to get new running sneakers as she’s a marathon runner. For BM# 2 a white water rafting certificate as she’s adventurous. For BM #3, a certificate for a baking class in NYC for the two of us so we could do it together.
So then I had to reconsider. I decided $100 each was what was realistic for our budget, so with that I went to work and here’s what I came up with.
1. Body Shop goodie — mini body butter with matching flavor/scent body scrub. Took advantage of a sale - 2 for $10, so I couldn’t pass it up and snapped them up when I saw them.
Grapefruit, Brazil Nut and Passion Fruit:
2. Personalized Note Cards:
I found the above personalized note cards from City Writes but couldn’t spend $52 for 25 cards, so I bought extra card stock from Creative Montage. I had them cut in quarters making 4.25″ by 5.5″ note cards by AlphaGraphics on 5th Avenue and 28th Street. Then I rounded the corners with my trusty corner rounder (see below) and had Michele Clark, our wonderful calligrapher, calligraph their full names on the cards. Each girl has their own custom font and color.
The cards ended up being about $11.25 per girl. (Breakdown: $3 for 25 cards + $4.50 for 25 envelopes + $3.75 calligraphy ($.15 per card) = $11.25 per bridesmaid! Great budget gift and so lovely. Here are details on what I used and where I got it from.
Finished Cards — calligraphy by Michele Clark:
Envelopes from Kate’s Paperie SOHO store closing sale:
Corner Rounder from Impress Rubber Stamps:
For an added touch I finished them off with this great corner rounding punch from Impress Rubber Stamps that I got on sale for $7.20.
The punch even arrived with a hand made and signed thank you note from the owner! Nice touch.
3. Sweet little custom make-up cases from 1154 Lill Studio:
These are the “Sam” for $32 each. 1154 Lill Studio offers a large range of custom items — clutches, purses, make-up cases etc. You get to choose from a range of fabric choices to fit your girls. They also have wedding party discounts.
4. Pearl earrings from Dasha Boutique:
I got these on sale for $45 (regular price $60). They are lovely and came nicely packaged in a jewelry box and sheer bag. Dasha Boutique will “customize” your choices — select color of pearl, gold or silver, earring backing, length etc. They also offer discounts for wedding parties. Check out their many options at www.dashaboutique.com.
Re-Cap:
1. Body Shop Goodies = $10
2. Personalized note cards = $11.25
3. Make-up case = $32
4. Pearl Earrings = $45
Grant total: = $98.25
Happy Bridesmaids…priceless!
i like how you made your own notecards for a fraction of the price. they look great!
I got my wedding bag at Lill Studio! I LOVE that place!!
I’m doing something similar for my BM. I found denim bags at Bath and Body that were 90% off!! (1.50/bag) and then I’m having them monogramed for each girl. I also socked up on some bath and body durring the sale to put in the bag. I bought the girls slippers that they will wear in the wedding. Also a few other random things I’ve found like Initial Notepads at the dollar store fun things like that they like. I love the Note Card idea that you did and the pearl earings. I want to give my girls a pearl necklace to wear in the wedding I think thats all my bag is missing 
The bridesmaids gifts are great.
Jewell - I found the same sale ($1.50 each)! And then, I went to Joann Fabrics and found cute rhinestone iron-ons and personalized each girl’s tote bag (rhinestone iron-on $2 each) with something that she likes/represents, etc
I also hit up Coach’s Outlet store and found the cutest wristlets on sale for only $29 each
I also go my girls matching reef flipflops in my wedding colors (brown/light blue) to wear for the reception (on sale plus online coupon for $15 each)
and another friend makes jewelry so I got a great deal from her for a bracelet/necklace/earring set for only $30 per girl
so for me..
$77.50 per girl for a necklace, earrings (I let each girl pick their own earrings so those will be reworn), bracelet, flip flops, wristlet, and a personalized denim tote bag.
I got my girls different jewelry at Dasha boutique and loved it. I used a coupon I got here and the price was right in my budget. Very pretty!
Miss Onion, those look like great gift baskets. I have got to pick up one of those corner-rounders. I was designing accordion programs when I realized that there was no way on God’s green earth that I would be steady-handed enough to round 300 corners myself.
I love your gifts - and how you saved so much money on the stationery! I just ordered bags from 1154 Lill last week - Anne for my MOH and Amy for my 2 BMs, in colors each of them likes. Then I’m buying them all necklaces to wear the day of, that they can also wear after the fact - white gold pearl pendant necklaces with little diamonds (hard to describe). That will be about $100/girl, a little more for MOH.
Jewell & Dee - I got the bags too!
Great stuff, Miss Onion.
I’m hoping to do something very similar to the little items described above. Some personal, some pracitcal, etc.
Dee — reef flipflops for $15 each huh? Great idea! Do you know if the sale is still going on? But wait — then I’d blow my $100 budget. Bad Miss Onion!
how cool we all got the same deal! I was so excited when i found those my fiance’ was with me he was SHOCKED and was ready to buy them all! hehe
I love the rhinstone idea… I’ll have to check that out… the monogram place is only open til 5 so its hard to get there after work, and they arent open on the weekend!
I also thought aobut having her monogram some materal for me to form a “tag” that i could sew in the bag to personalize it more like putting our name and wedding date inside, something like that…
I have bags of Bath and body 5 of everything …I’m ready to stuff the bags and give them away
When is everyone else giving the girls their gifts??
Hey, I got the reefs online at http://www.islandsurf.com
Free shipping over $50
and
Save 10% on all orders over $100 with coupon code SKOOLD.
Miss Onion! I just got this email:
http://wellncheap.blogspot.com/2007/07/old-navy-summer-clearance-sale-free.html
Old Navy’s having a summer clearance sale. Free shipping with SHIPPLUS2U promotion code.
Tip#1 Great deal: Women’s flip flops in a variety of colors for $1.99.
That still keeps you under $100 per girl!
Thanks Dee!!
All my girls know well everyone knows that flip flops are my weakness! I got all the girls a pair of flip flops in their favorite colors! I’m sure they will love it… it goes well with their bath and body bag too!
The shipping code works btw
Yeah for Free Shipping!!
[...] blogged before the wedding about my bridesmaid’s gifts and wanted to share with you how it all came together. Some people present their gifts to their [...]
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[...] some time out to give my best friends and bridesmaids their gifts. Their presents were one of the first things I blogged about on the bee. I was so excited to see their reaction and I fully expected water works from all of us. [...]
[...] I wanted to share some of my favorite holiday sales and gift ideas. Holiday sales are a great time to pick up bridal party gifts! First up, Dasha Boutique, where I purchased beautiful pearl earrings as a gift for my bridesmaids. [...]
Miss Onion, NYC/Burlington, VT
Age and Occupation: 26, PR & Marketing and Jazz Singer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Data Analyst
Engagement Date: April 2, 2006
Wedding Date: September 2007
Blogging Since: July 11, 2007
Venue: Restaurant in Burlington
About Me: I didn't think I'd be "that girl," but I am having so much fun planning our wedding (mostly by myself). I'm a PR and Marketing Director for a major jazz festival and camp by day, and by night, a romantic jazz singer and bride-to-be! I hope all my research can help other brides in their planning.
Perfect timing, thanks! I have just started my search for ‘maid gifts. I have four girls (my sister, FI’s sister, and my two closest friends) and they are all totally different. Love your ideas.