Gifts for Bridesmaids to Keep Long After the Bouquet Toss
By the Gift DeskUpdated 17 hand-picked ideas
The ideas at a glance
Being a bridesmaid is a lot. There’s the dress she paid for, the shower she helped host, the bachelorette weekend she flew to, and the wedding morning that started before dawn. A thank-you gift can’t repay all of that, and it shouldn’t try. What it can do is show that you noticed, and give her something she’ll pick up long after the photos are posted.
That’s the angle of this page: keepsakes and comforts for after the wedding, chosen for each person rather than for the color scheme. It starts with jewelry she’ll actually wear again, moves on to everyday comforts, and talks plainly about budgets and whether everyone should get the same thing. Then there’s a section on the maid or matron of honor, who usually did the most, and a few small add-ons for the box.
If you’re looking for things to use on the day itself, like getting-ready robes, emergency kits and rehearsal dinner gifts, that’s on our separate page of wedding gifts for bridesmaids. Thanking the other side of the wedding party? See gifts for groomsmen.
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What makes a bridesmaid gift land
Choose for each person, not the color palette. The dress is a one-off; the gift should fit her everyday life.
Write a letter to each bridesmaid. Be specific about what she did and what it meant. That’s the part she’ll keep.
Keep the budget equal across the group and add a little more for the maid or matron of honor, given privately.
Mind the metal and the style she already wears. A gold piece for a silver-only friend goes straight in the drawer.
Stuck on one friend in particular? Describe her to our gift finder and you’ll get a few ideas picked for her.
Questions people ask
How much should you spend on bridesmaid gifts?
Around $50 to $100 per person is common, with a little more for the maid or matron of honor. If they’ve spent heavily on travel and attire, lean toward the higher end; if money is tight, a smaller gift with a heartfelt letter is entirely appropriate.
Do all bridesmaids need the same gift?
No. Matching gifts are fine for a close-knit group, but choosing something different for each person, at the same budget, often lands better. Personalized versions of one gift, like birth flower necklaces, are a good middle ground.
What is a good gift for a maid of honor?
Something a step up from the others and personal to her: a leather crossbody bag, a photo book of your friendship, a cashmere scarf or a weekend bag with a promise of a trip together.
When should you give bridesmaid gifts?
Most couples give them at the rehearsal dinner or on the wedding morning. Keepsake gifts like those here can also be given after the honeymoon over a thank-you dinner. Our page of wedding gifts for bridesmaids covers the day-of side.
What if one of my bridesmaids is a man?
Give him something chosen for him at the same budget as everyone else: a leather crossbody or weekender works for anyone, and our gifts for groomsmen page has plenty more. What matters is that the gift fits the person, not the title.
Years from now, your bridesmaids won’t remember whether the earrings were real gold. They’ll remember that you wrote to each of them, that you got the birth month right, and that you thanked them properly once the confetti was swept up. If the wedding left you too frazzled to do it well on the day, it’s fine to give the gifts a few weeks later over dinner. A late, thoughtful thank-you beats a rushed one every time.
