Etsy :: The Storque :: Spotlight :: Handmade Weddings: Thoughtful Gifts for Your Wedding Party with ruralabandon

Handmade Weddings: Thoughtful Gifts for Your Wedding Party with ruralabandon


Story by ruralabandon Published on April 9, 2008 in Spotlight	Photo by Kim LaFrenz

And now a word of advice from the woman that so often has to hold her tongue — the bridesmaid! ruralabandon tells the Handmade Wedding Series the Dos and Don'ts of another wedding tradition: thank you gifts for your bridesmaids.

Brides have enough to think about when planning a wedding. Seriously, although I'm ashamed to admit it, I’ve seen that show Bridezillas! Not everyone has the funds to hire a wedding planner, and those who do still seem to agonize over every little aspect. So take some advice from a seasoned bridesmaid about one detail: the bridemaids’ gifts. Here are some simple Do’s and Don’ts to help any bride pick the perfect gifts:

Thank them in style with these beautiful letterpress tags by FullCirclePress.

DON’T give gifts that only work when matching the dress – think about this one. Is it really a gift when you are buying something to match a dress the person is likely to never wear again? This type of gift says "I don’t trust you to wear appropriate accessories with the dress I picked out."

DO give gifts that match the person – think about each individual and buy accordingly. Is there a memory you share? An inside joke? Buy something that will really touch their heart or make them chuckle.

Make her smile and remember all those trips to the ladies room together with this Ladies Room Necklace by rotorcaps.

DON’T give manicures and pedicures before the big day – they can take care of that. (And don’t worry, they won’t come to the wedding with florescent yellow nail polish.) Although according to a recent Storque article, neon IS making a comeback.

DO give personalized bath and body gifts – think of the person’s favorite scents, colors and personality, and buy accordingly. For example, if the person is into natural products, why not give them a gift basket with organic bath and body items?

This Aloha Gift Set by soapboxhawaii is perfect for the bridesmaid that longs for sand between her toes.

DON’T buy a t-shirt, tank top, or sweat suit with BRIDESMAID written across it. Britney did this, and we all saw how that turned out!

DO buy something they can use long after the wedding – whether it be a nice pair of earrings or a special purse, make sure it is something they will use and cherish.

Think about sending a special message with a practical gift. Check out this pocket mirror by dcdesigns.

DON’T buy each person the same gift – this screams sale at Big Lots! You chose your attendants because they share a special place in your life, so personalize things a bit. This doesn’t mean monogramming a key chain either.

This bridesmaid prayer candle by gagavida will let your bridesmaids know that the dresses could have been way worse!

When it comes to gift giving one thing always rings true: the best gifts have a personal touch. The good thing about buying handmade is the intrinsic value of a personal touch. You can even use Alchemy to do custom, personalized orders. So, 'SHOP ON!' Brides and Bridezillas…a gift from Etsy will probably make them forget all about that horrible dress you made them wear.

Wishing all the lovely brides a beautiful wedding day and a wonderful life filled with love and joy! Oh…and one more thing…I am sure your bridesmaids' dresses are smashing.

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