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If money was no object when it came to our wedding, the first thing I would change is the amount of money I’m spending on my bridesmaids. Out of the 6 Lioness b-maids, 5 are in grad/med/law school and only one lives in Atlanta. This means lots of travel expenses on very tight budgets. These ladies have both literally and figuratively gone the distance for me, and I just wish I could afford to thank them more than I already plan to. If I had the means, I would get them something like this:
These bags are by 1154 Lill Studio, a custom handbag design company. Sure, they have stuff like this on Etsy, but one of the things that makes 1154 Lill so fun is the experience. You see, unless you live in Chicago or Boston where they have actual studios (or if you just shop online), you find a representative and design your own bag at a 1154 Lill party! How fun would it be to have a handbag designing party with your bridesmaids?
You start with a blank canvas, which comes in every shape and size:
Then, you choose your fabrics. Note: you can also buy any of these fabrics by the yard…so you could make handbags to match your decor!
I wish I could do this for my girls, but unfortunately it’s just not possible. Don’t worry though; I have a few tricks up my sleeve in addition to the shoes and fascinators that they know they’re getting!
What are you getting your bridesmaids as gifts? What would you get them if you could get them anything?
I am getting my bridesmaids jewelry that they can wear at the wedding and after. If I could afford anything I’d take us all on a spa vacation in the caribbean.
I am getting my girls bags to match there personalities at http://www.etsy.com/shop/poppypunch.
She was great to work with and so many options, any fabric she has she can use.
AAAH that is what I am doing! There was a Living Social or Groupon deal on these awhile back for half off and free shipping:) Unfort. we dont live in an area with a studio so I am ordering the girls choices online but it is still so fun for them to choose their fabrics!
You know, I walk by that place in Boston all the time, and never went in. I’ll have to check it out!
My budget is definitely holding me back from spending as much on my bridesmaids as I would like but I’ve gotten lucky with the amount of crafty people I have around me that want to help.
A girl friend from work volunteered to help make crocheted clutches for my bridesmaids, which I’m going to make into ‘wedding survival kits’.
I’m also supplying their jewelry which I’m paying to have custom made by another friend, so it’ll look gorgeous but reasonably priced.
My future mother-in-law is a seamstress so she is making their dresses and I paid for the material.
I do wish I could spend more to say THANK YOU but right now I’m trying to stay reasonable.
LOVE love love LOVE Lill bags! We actually went to the store in Chicago and picked out a bag for my friend for her wedding as part of her bachelor party weekend, it was awesome!
This is the first I’ve heard of these bags…I’m about 3 hours from Chicago so next time I’m there, definitely going to at least check out the store!!
I’m a Lia Sophia advisor so my girls are all getting their jewelry from me! I haven’t decided what else to get them but I love the idea of their own bags that match their personalities!!
That’s awesome! I am going to play with this website all day!
I love Lill bags!!! I went there (Boston one) as a bridesmaid… the bride was generous enough to give us each a gift certificate and then we’ve covered the rest if necessary. It was so much fun to pick out the different shapes and fabrics! And I have to mention…. the sample bag that you posted is the same one that I made and the top fabric is the same and I used that main fabric on the inside! Too funny! We must have good taste!!! 
I am trying to do a lot for my girls but on a tight budget.
I hosted a Premiere Jewelry Party (http://www.premierdesigns.com/) and earned enough money in free jewelry to get all five of them earrings, a necklace and bracelet and the Moms something as well, plus a few things for myself I would strongly recommend doing a party similar to the one I had. You get all kinds of incentives and if you can get a lot of people there and ordering things you can earn so much free stuff. Not just jewelry either, Thirty One Gifts (http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/) is another company that has bags and other cute things.
I am also having tote bags made for them. A friend of my mom’s makes bags and I went to Wal-Mart and picked out fabric to fit each girl’s personality and even some for myself. It cost me $40 in fabric and she is only charging me $20 to make all 6 bags. Not too shabby.
I found some t-shirts at Target on clearance for $2 a piece and I am going to get the iron on rhinestone “Bridesmaid” decals from Michaels and put them on each shirt for our last night out.
I am also going to get each of them one of the Lolita painted wine glasses to fit their personality. These are $25 a piece and you can get them at Hallmark and online (http://www.thelolitastore.com/).
If I had an unlimited budget I would take my girls on a long weekend vacation somewhere tropical and relaxing. We would spend the days on the beach sipping Mimosa’s and being waited on hand and foot and hours in the spa….
2 of my BMs actually introduced me to Lill bags, and I’ve been hooked ever since (hooked to making hypothetical bags online, not so hooked to actually committing and buying them, of course). I would LOVE to have a purse-making party for part of a bachelorette party, but I don’t think it’s in the cards or the budget. Great idea, though!
I’m sure you could find a seller on Etsy to make your girls custom handbags.
A friend of mine recently told me about Lill Bags. She was the MOH in her sister’s wedding this past summer and her sister had a bag party for all of the bridesmaids. I went on the website to see if it was something I could do for my girls, but sadly, it was not. So far, I’ve paid for a portion of each girl’s dress since we went with a more expensive design and I’ll probably find a few other small gifts to give them before the wedding.
I was thinking about getting my girls the Lill makeup bags- picking out a design as unique as each of their personalities. And the makeup bag was something that I could afford for my 4 wonderful BM’s.
OMG!!! I am in looooove with those Poppy Punch clutches!! I think I may just have to get my girls those!! I’ve already emailed the store link to several friends - some getting married & some not!
For those who have bought the clutches, how much was shipping?
We have one of these stores in Kansas City. I went to a bachelorette party that started at that store because the MOH was not 21. Everyone at the party was involved in the wedding in some way so the bride gave everyone $20 toward their purchase as part of their thank you gift. It was a lot of fun. Six years later, I still bust out that cute, cute purse!
This is the first I’ve heard about these bags. Thanks for the tip
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Mrs. Lioness, Atlanta Age and Occupation: 25, Physical Therapist Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Attorney Engagement Date: August 29, 2009 Wedding Date: April 2011 Venue: Anthony’s Fine Dining About Me: I’m a Southern girl with New England roots. I say "wicked" and "y’all" in the same sentence and I like to drink sweet tea with my lobster. Mr. Lion and I are both former Floridians now living in Atlanta, which fortunately is still SEC country...Go Gators! We both love baseball, coffee, traveling, cooking, and playing Words with Friends with each other on our iPhones all day long. I’m very passionate about the things and the people I love, and I tend to plan things with all of my heart...our wedding, of course, is no different! Oh, and also Mr. Lion is a first generation American of Cuban descent. I may look more like Lucy than Ricky, but I’m doing my best to incorporate some Latin elements into our vintage-garden-Southern wedding!
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