Wedding Party Gift Guide

Dear H,

My wedding is coming up in July and I have almost everything prepared.  The one detail I am stuck on is what to get our bridesmaids and groomsmen.  We have a small wedding party- all of whom are family members.  Therefore, I am definitely willing to splurge on these gifts.  I received a beautiful home made box filled with goodies from my sister when I was in her wedding that obviously took her a long time to make.  It has been a wonderful keepsake- I feel I have big bridal shoes to fill.  I want the gifts to be personalized but I am hesitant to take on a large project. My time is very limited, since I have already spent most of it brainstorming ideas, only to come up with the cliche monogrammed jewelry boxes and cuff links.  What gifts would be very unique and thoughtful?

Yours in York

 

York,

First: congratulations!  Both for your upcoming nuptials and also for seemingly handling all of the wedding details, big and small, with so much thought.  It is rare to find a bride who is not scrambling for a last minute gift for the wedding party. 

I’ve got several ideas for thoughtful gifts for your bridesmaids and groomsmen that don’t require you to be crafty and involve minimal monogramming.  I’ve included three options below—one that is traditional and two that are a bit more fun!

Traditional Bridesmaid/Groomsmen Gifts:  Vintage Scarves, Ties, or Pocket Squares

Vintage gifts are great because they can be as unique and customized as you'd like them to be.  You can get scarves and ties or pocket squares for all of your bridesmaids and groomsmen, but also customize the pattern or colors of each to fit each person’s personality.  If you have time to scour vintage clothing stores or consignment shops, you’ll have better control over the selection and quality.  Otherwise, there are plenty of online options:  eBay, Goodwill, and even The Vintage Scarf!  

Fun Bridesmaid Gift:  Forget-Me-Not Rings

This is a fun twist on an old wives’ tale (or a young wife’s tale, in your case!):  give your ladies this ring as a way for them to always remember your special day and their role in it.  These whimsical knot rings come in gold, silver, and even red:

Forget-Me-Not Rings, UncommonGoods.com, $48-198

Fun Groomsman Gift:  Monogrammed Steak Brand

If your fiance’s groomsmen are real “guy’s guys,” a personalized branding iron is a great gift.  Men don’t want keepsakes and trinkets; they want almost-useless-but-strangely-awesome gadgets, and this definitely qualifies in the latter category.  While it is by no means an essential grill tool, every man would would welcome the ability to show off a perfectly grilled steak branded with his initials.  This set from Williams-Sonoma also comes with a “branded” carving board—perhaps the most manly form of monogramming I’ve seen.

Williams-Sonoma Monogrammed Steak Brand and Carving Board, $69.95

If you want to up the ante a bit, throw in some meat with the gift as well—it may not last forever but it will always be remembered (“Dude, my buddy gave me steak for being a groomsman!”)  With the growing trend of local and sustainable food, you should be able to find local suppliers that can make home deliveries to the guys;  otherwise, Omaha Steaks is a decent option.

Hopefully your wedding party will enjoy your big day and their mementos by which to remember it!

Cheers,

H*

 Readers, what is the best or worst gift you've been given for being in a wedding? Leave a comment.