I need some help with bridal party gifts!!

Question

I am aware it is traditional to get the bridesmaids and groomsman a gift. I bought the girls' jewelry (but I got it at a very cheap price and they are aware of my deal...) so is it tacky and cheap to just give them that. I didn't go with very expensive jewelry for myself or them because it will only be worn that day, and that's it. I was going to make the guys a beer mug w/something manly etched into it. Now it's coming down to it, and we are getting backed out on by several of our family who was supposedly going to kick in some $ to pay. We can't be mad, if they can't afford it now (although we have only been planning for 2 months and you'd think they would have known if they could help out or not. whatever) so now I'm getting married in 5 days...and I'm going even more into debt to pay for the wedding expenses. I couldn't find the etching supplies to make the guys' mugs and now I'm not sure I'll find the time or money. What do I do?! How can I get them something for fairly cheap without it seeming cheap and last minute? And should I get the girls something else so the gifts are all of equal value?! Any ideas for either??? HELP?! (thanks...)

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the fact that my fiance and I have DONE EVERYTHING for this wedding ourselves...decorations, set up, even planning so I'm rather dissappointed with some of the people in the wedding party and I am also angry we had to pay for one of the guy's tuxes...Maybe I'm becoming bridezilla, who knows?!

Answer 1

Finances cause a Bridezilla!!! I will be one to! Welcome to the club! =) As far as gifts go, for the girls the jewelry is fine. It's a gift. Give the guys the mugs without etching them. It's your wedding. No stress...or at least minimal stress! Good luck!  

Answer 2

You buy what you can, they are your friends and I am sure they know how much you are spending!

For the guys mugs, bring them to someone to etch them or skip it and just put a thank you card inside it with some candy or something

for the girls get tote bags and add some beach things like a towel, flip flops and sunscreen

Answer 3

You do what you can, and don't worry about what they think.  If there truly your friends than that will not matter at all.  You didn't give enough details about your wedding to make any good suggestions, but you could purchase a inexpensive picture frame, and place a note on the frame and say like after the ceremony you will be receiving a picture of the ceremony that they could than place the picture frame.  Or fine a picture of you and your fiance, make copies and use some of those caption stickers and just say "Thanks from the two of us".  You can make copies for cheap at a photo center in Walgreen's if you have one available in your area. As for the girls, you've done enough, unless you want to fix them little goody bags, you can also fix the guys these too.  good luck and hope this helps.

Answer 4

Stop stressing.

Your wedding will be the day you planned but more important your life will be with the man you love.

Go to a local winery and get some bottles of wine with custom labels that say thank you for sharing our special day..or something equally schmaltzy.

Then... stop worrying about who promised money. It is your day and not theirs. Two months is not a lot of time to budget for someone else's wedding or to raise enough money to rent a tuxedo for someone that may live paycheck to paycheck. With gas at 4 bucks a gallon and tax bills coming out in July and August ...well..you just have to let that one go.

In ten years it won't matter. You will only remember that you married the man you love

Good luck!

and R E L A X!!

Answer 5

For the guys, I say give them the plain beer mug (with candy or something, like someone else said) and a 6 or 12 pack of their favorite beer.  Most guys appreciate getting beer and it's not that expensive, and it's an easy pick up for you.  For the girls, you can give them the jewelry sets and maybe some nail polish to match and/or lip gloss for the day.  Or, follow the alcohol theme and give each the jewelry and an inexpensive bottle of wine.

Answer 6

I don't think it's important that the bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts are the same price, just in the same general range.

You should get them something besides the jewelry that you are (I'm assuming) expecting them to wear to your wedding. Get them something that has nothing to do with the wedding, maybe candles, jewelry, gift card, etc. It doesn't have to be expensive.  

Answer 7

It's not the price you pay for a gift, it's the thought that goes into the giving of the gift. They're being given the honour of helping you celebrate your wedding, and realistically shouldn't expect a gift, but a gift is tradition to just say thankyou. I'd stick with the mugs for the guys, and for the girls, use the jewellery, and maybe include a small handmade thankyou card, or some soaps/bath bombs, something to help them relax.Good luck on your wedding day, hope it goes well.  

Answer 8

hey my sister when she got married bought us some nice fake peal necklace and matching and a nice sliver heat shaped box with our name etched into,,, and it says thanks for being my bridedmaid,,,,,,,,you can still use the necklaces you bought ,,,,,,but maybe you can get a nice box small jewlery box to put them in,,,something they can always use that , might make you and them feel better,,,,

best of wishes

hope this helps

tabby

Answer 9

Calm down.

If you want to add something to the BM gifts, add some unexpsnive manicure sets and lotions from the dollar store. You can get cute things for little money there. Most brides give the BM jewely for the wedding, so I wouldn't be overly concerned.

As far as the GM gifts, the beer mug is very commom (my fiance has 3 GM beer mugs). What about cuff links? They are fairly unexpensive and useful. Personalizing costs a lot of money and no one likes it anyway. Shop around for cuff links or a pen set and leave it at that.

Congratulations and good luck

Answer 10

dollar tree and 99 cent stors has reall nice things some of them you cant even tell their cheap Id go there pick up a few things maybe make a gift basket or maybe just find one really nice gift in there! hope this helps

Answer 11

The jewelry is fine. I got my bridesmaids cheap jewelry and I gave them that and a pair of cheap old navy flip flops to wear at the reception so they wouldnt have to stay in their heals all night. My husband gave his guys flasks that were engraved. They were fairly cheap at $10 each. If you already have the beer mugs you can bring them somewhere like 'Things Remembered' and they will engrave them for you even if you didnt buy them there. If you dont want to do that just give them the mugs without engraving. Dont worry too much about it. They are your friends and if they are good friends they are being in your wedding to be there for you and support you on one of the most special days of your life and not for the things they will get. I'm sure they know how expensive a wedding gets. Congratulations on your wedding!