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Is there anything more romanticized than being proposed to (thanks a lot, Sweet Home Alabama)? But much like gift giving, it can be an even better feeling to do the proposing yourself. After the marriage proposal, the bride gets to experience the joy of proposing when asking each of her closest friends to do her the honor of being in the bridal party. It’s a special moment that deserves its very own fanfare.
Weddings are getting more and more elaborate, and while some new-ish traditions (wedding hashtags, insane email threads, ridiculous bridal entrances) are too much, the blossoming of the Bridesmaid Proposal into a big deal is a net positive. A personalized gift to show how excited you are to share this important moment in your life with your favorite people is a lovely way to kick off the Bridal Team’s season. While deciding on the perfect presents for your best friends, you can pick out a gorgeous Be My Bridesmaid card (I also love this digital one from Paperless Post) to pop the question. We’ve picked out a range of Bridesmaid gifts (with options in every budget) to make this momentous occasion in your life one that will be memorable for everyone who matters to you.
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When should you propose to your bridesmaids?
TLDR answer: Best practice is to present your thoughtful gift and request to be a bridesmaid roughly 6-12 months before the wedding. The logic behind this (thoroughly covered) recommendation is that your bridesmaids need time to get their dresses (selection and tailoring) and plan an unforgettable bachelorette party. That being said, this time frame is a pretty wide range and it depends on what type of wedding you’re planning and how agile (sorry for the startup language) your friends are. Of course, it’s terribly important to be courteous when you’re asking your friends to take time out of their lives to center you—but you also know their planning preferences. If you’ve suddenly come up with a must-execute-now wedding plan and your crew is the type that easily converts a group chat to a girls trip, then you might be able to err on a tighter schedule and invite them to your bridal party a handful of months before the big day. But if your friends are more of the spreadsheet-making, researching hotels for hours type, then you’ll end up less stressed all around by giving everyone a long lead time. Bottom line, don’t adhere to any one-size-fits-all rule because your wedding is an extension of your and your relationships, which you know best of all.
How much should you spend on bridesmaid gifts?
Another “it depends” answer—but it seems all the most important questions are a version of this! Think about it like this: your friends will be honored to be included in such an important step in your life so it’s really not about the dollar value of the gift you give, it’s about how you present it. If you’re throwing a wedding on a tight budget, a handwritten card that reminisces about your friendship over the years is completely appropriate. Hand-delivering is a nice touch that can also make your bridesmaid feel extra valued. If you have the means to be extremely generous, that will certainly be appreciated by your bridesmaids, but you should also take time to make the request in person and give each one a personal moment. The spending is secondary to the sentiment and attention you give, which is something that doesn’t cost and arm and a leg.
Personalized Gifts
If you are a think-ahead, plan-everything type of bride then monogrammed and personalized gifts are a must. Nothing feels better than opening up a present that was designed just for you.
A love-themed gift is all too appropriate for this special request. You can personalize it with your bridesmaids’ names and the date of your wedding.
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Choose from eight monogram styles (4 with two initials and 4 that are middle-name-friendly) to customize this crisp button-down for some gorgeous stripe-filled pictures.
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Yes, you’ll give away a bit of the surprise by asking for your friends’ ring sizes, but they’ll fall in love with these stunning (and reasonably priced) birthstone rings. The bands are sterling silver plated with 14K gold and available in 12 gems for each month (but if you know one of your girlies is a sapphire-lover you can make the call for her regardless of whether she was born in September).
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Another birthstone gift that doesn’t require any pesky size questions is this delicate bracelet that they’ll love. The 14K gold chain and real gemstones look lovely stacked with other bracelets. It’s a gift that will remind you of this special time long after the wedding festivities conclude.
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Glam GRWM Gifts
If you could give your besties perfect skin and flawless makeup, you would. The next best thing is to gift them your favorite skincare and beauty products so that everyone will feel their glowiest during this highly-photographed season of your life.
I’ve already raved about how much I love this manicure set and gifted it to plenty of friends. It includes everything your bridesmaids need to give themselves a professional-quality mani (including the sold-out, acetone-free polish remover), which is ideal if you’re inviting them to a destination wedding where the salon situation isn’t certain.
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This is one of my favorite skincare brands and I’d be overjoyed if one of my affianced friends bridesmaid-posed (did I invent something there?) with this luxurious set. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes to vegan formulas, biome mists, cheek masks, and so much more.
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Even if you’re springing for professional hair and makeup for your entire crew, there are plenty of full-face-of-makeup events leading up to the big day. This eight-tone eye palette in elemental hues is great for all skin tones and your bridesmaids will be thanking you as they get ready for your rehearsal dinner.
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Let’s All Match Gifts
Remember how fun it was when you were twelve and your clique wore matching slap bracelets to make everyone else jealous? Your wedding is probably the best opportunity to do that in your adult life—so don’t miss the chance.
The only thing more fun than getting ready with your best friends is getting ready in coordinating outfits. These feathered slippers ($60) and robes are made for bridal glam. If white is strictly bride territory, you can opt for champagne tones for all your bridesmaids.
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Don’t you love a gift that you can use right away? Your bridesmaids will get to break in these Tinkerbell-core mules at your bachelorette party. Picture you and your squad strutting through (anywhere but Nashville) after the first (couple) rounds of drinks in a rainbow of butterfly wings. They’re available in pink/orange and yellow/green. And as always– white for the bride-to-be.
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You’re in luck if you’re celebrating in New York, Austin, New Orleans, Charleston, or any of the other destinations featured in Katie Kime’s toile designs. These stylish and airy PJs will help both celebrate and commemorate your special day.
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Matching swimwear is a bit much– or is it just the right amount? This chic but festive print is also available in a mini dress ($98) and a one-shoulder high-waisted bikini set ($138 and $98 respectively) so you can mix and match styles while including everyone in the colorful (and ruffly) aesthetic.
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It might be your special day, but making your bridesmaids feel special and appreciated will be one of the highlights of your entire wedding journey. A thoughtful gift to ask them if they’ll have your back for yet another adventure is the perfect way to honor your friendship.
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