Wedding present as a bridesmaid

orangeslimes

I'm going to be a bridesmaid at a wedding. What is the done thing about giving gifts if you are the bridesmaid? I'm a bit stuck and wonder if there is some etiquette I don't know about.

There is a wedding list, but I feel I should get something special, not a hand towel, or a saucepan, or some very expensive wine glasses.

They have also asked for money towards their honeymoon, but I hate giving money as a present to anyone.

jackomdj

Do you know where they are going? Could you arrange a meal for them when they are away and a bottle of champagne on arrival?

good_advice

Brides maids are often part of a family and you could all give one gift to share.

OR
offer to get the something blue? blue ribbon or small broach.

pay for the brides shoes or flowers?

buy a horse shoe in a box - gift set.

If they are going abroad for honeymoon put in your card some cash in the currency for a meal out.

The last wedding I went to they had a list with things on like a sofa, double bed and other things no one was going to pay for.
They had a few small things of which they got many of.

I was traveling many hours by train so after a lot of thought and not much money I bought a £30 Argos gift voucher.
The couple had other Argos gift vouchers so put them towards a bed with leather look top and bottom.

daisiegg

My sister was my bridesmaid and she wanted to get us something special and not just off the gift list. She and my brother (who obviously wasn't a bridesmaid!) paid for our wedding photo book (which was not included in the price of the photographer) and for a canvas print of one of our wedding photos. My other bridesmaid was my best friend and she and her boyfriend, who came to the wedding, did get us something off the gift list.

Counting_Pennies_2

I always like to get something off the wedding list as I know this is something they really would like to set up their married life.


I don't like to give towels etc though. I go for a piece that will always be rolled out so it can be thought fondly of and remembered that you gave it to them. Such as a teapot, le creuset casserole, Salt and Pepper set, side lamp for the sitting room. Something that is regularly used.

fireyfirenze

how close are you to the bridesmaid? I was chief bridesmaid for my sister and I bought her wedding cake for her as a present

hazyjo

jackomdj wrote: »

Do you know where they are going? Could you arrange a meal for them when they are away and a bottle of champagne on arrival?

Or a meal back on home turf...

One of my nicest pressies was a meal at Jamie Oliver's restaurant '15' (up to £100 or so).

Tonnes of deals on living social, groupon and the like. There's a fab tasting menu at a local restaurant near me for £49 (total) at the moment with wine. Big discount on the usual price.

Jx

heartbreak_star

This might be a bit of an unpopular opinion, but if they've asked for money, give money! It's about what they want, not what you want

If I'm giving cash, I will usually team it with a little memento or a bottle of fizz. There's some beautiful hand-stamped bracelets on Etsy for about £10 each, could you get them one each with their wedding date on and give a bit of cash too?

HBS x

orangeslimes

jackomdj wrote: »

Do you know where they are going? Could you arrange a meal for them when they are away and a bottle of champagne on arrival?

Thanks would be a good idea but they are having the honeymoon next year and I don't think they have booked it yet...

orangeslimes

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

I always like to get something off the wedding list as I know this is something they really would like to set up their married life.


I don't like to give towels etc though. I go for a piece that will always be rolled out so it can be thought fondly of and remembered that you gave it to them. Such as a teapot, le creuset casserole, Salt and Pepper set, side lamp for the sitting room. Something that is regularly used.

The thing is they already live together and seem pretty set up to me, so I don't know that they really need any of this stuff. There is a le creuset casserole dish on the list, but how much is it reasonable to spend? (I could club together with friends possibly)

orangeslimes

fireyfirenze wrote: »

how close are you to the bridesmaid? I was chief bridesmaid for my sister and I bought her wedding cake for her as a present

She lives on the other side of the country from me, so I don't see or talk to her that often- which makes it much harder for me to chip in and pay for something like that - and I think its mostly taken care of by her parents.