Comments on: Budget Wedding Myths: The Bridal Party

By: jammy

jammy — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:33:21 +0000

i have 4 bridesmaids...i'm getting them each something personalized:
MOH - she's the hardest to shop for so it'll probably something from one of my travels this summer

Jo - travel kit (blanket, eye mask, pillow) since she travels a lot for work and the airport stuff is all germy

Di - gift certificate to a cooking class

Shish - gift certificate on jetblue or southwest to come visit sometime after the wedding (she lives in SF bay area we live in LA)

the great thing is that each gift will be under $60 but will be meaningful and specific to each person...i felt weird getting them all the same thing anyway since they're all so different...

it was funny, when i told jo i was trying to figure out what to get them she was like "OMG i get another gift aside from being in the wedding? that's never happened to me before, sweet." it made me realize that they are honored just to be able to stand up there with us while we get married which is great...

By: Meg

Meg — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:01:55 +0000

Ms. Guilty, email me if you have any good ideas for more myth busting. Those were the two that I hate the most, so I did them first.

By: Cate Subrosa

Cate Subrosa — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:24:01 +0000

Oh man, it’s so not about the gifts. We haven’t got to planning this yet, but they’ll be small and heartfelt, to be sure.

I like these myth-busting posts. Any more coming?

By: cindy

cindy — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:17:51 +0000

Hi there! Greetings from Malaysia! Just wanna say how I enjoy reading your blog! :) I dreamt of having a grand fairy tale wedding ever since I was a little girl! But then, now that I am planning my own wedding, I knew I had to be practical and realistic as I do not have high budget, plus am not really keen to spend a fortune for a one-day event, no matter how friends and relatives have been reminding me that this is Once-in-a-lifetime thing! :p
Your blog reminds me to be practical and to stick to what I believe in. Hehe… thanks…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:15:58 +0000

I’ve told my maid of honor (my sister) to wear whatever her heart desires, and if it happens to be something brand new, I would help her pay for it. Our best man is getting the same deal. I don’t understand how the ‘mandatory bridal party gifts’ thing came about either! Or even favors, if you keep thinking in that vein. We are already feeding them, and providing entertainment in a giant family gathering! When else are some of these folks going to get the chance to catch up with Aunt Sue or meet Uncle Benny?! I LOVE how you so beautifully point out the confusing aspects of weddings. Great post!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:54:17 +0000

I agree with the loosing the myth that they all have to have matching gifts. What about a gift that matched their personality? I made a gardening kit for a BM who loves to garden. Got a cocktail making book for my MOH, (who enjoys entertaining, and making mixed drinks) as well as other gifts that match their personality. I am also making them poppy hair pins that match their dresses (from a tutorial I bought on etsy.com) All something I know they will get more use out of than an engraved pink flask.

By: miss purple

miss purple — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:44:17 +0000

Since our wedding party is already spending money to be with us in the Caribbean, we’re buying their outfits. I think that’s only good manners though. I’m not sure what our gifts for them will be. If it were me, I’d love a piece of jewelry that’s timeless and would remind me of how much fun we all had at the wedding each time I wore it. :-)

By: carak

carak — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:44:54 +0000

We got the BMs makeup brushes and the GM Leatherman multi-tools. Useful and fun!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:11:16 +0000

I hate the idea of getting the wedding party matching gifts. To me, it’s another way to treat different people “the same.” We did not have a wedding party in the sense of “attendants,” but we did invite particular people to participate in the ceremony: four people, mostly family, stood at each of the four corners of our chupah; my dissertation advisor served as emcee and made an amazing speech; two friends read poems of our choice; another friend did a reading she wrote; my mom and best friend read a prayer my mom an I wrote together; my partner’s parents and stepparents read the traditional Jewish wedding blessings in Hebrew and in English. My cousin was our only real “traditional” participant because she begged us to let her be the flower girl– it was her last chance and she always wanted to be one. :) These people got invited to a dinner the night before the wedding (to which we provided transportation to those who didn’t have any), personalized thank you notes, and photographs of them with us from the wedding. Those who did lots of work and preparation (writing, etc) got personal gifts. I just don’t see the point of giving your friends objects that match unless they all happen to like those objects, or objects that say “wedding!” unless they really happen to like weddings.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:40:47 +0000

I guess jewelry is a popular thing! I have a friend who makes jewelry, so we’re going to make the bridal party some necklaces that hopefully will be cool enough to wear again. Also, I had thought about the flip-flop thing. I don’t (can’t) spend too much on gifts for them, and like dudamis said – I don’t think they’re going to be expecting much. You know, a sincere note is always a really sweet gesture!