What should you spend on wedding parties?

Question

If your parents and In-laws were picking up the costs for your wedding except for aprox $1000 which has to be paid by the couple. How much should you spend on the wedding party gifts and should your best man and maid of honors gifts be different than the rest and more expensive? If so how much should you spend on those two?

They have a house. It is proper ettiquete to buy your wedding party gifts for the work they have done to help with the wedding....it's customary.

Answer 1

I'm getting married in 3 months and I decided that I would buy my bridesmaids their jewelry for the wedding day.

I took into account who was the maid of honour and bought her jewelry that set her apart from the others and paid a little more. This way, they don't have to spend extra cash on jewelry they'll only wear once and it's makes a nice gift. (I spent about $50.00 for each bridesmaid and &75 for the maid of honour)

I still don't know what my future husband will choose for his groomsmen, but I think he'll need my help with that. hehe

Answer 2

I have been a bridesmaid 12 times in the last few years. How much I spent depended on how demanding the bride was really. These are the averages I have spent on everything. I drew the line at getting a spray tan, which wasn't a financial thing but a request I felt was taking it too far. I've spent between $500 and $2,000 on each one and have decided there will be NO more no matter who asks. Mostly because showers have gotten out of hand. They used to be 20 people at someones house with lunch and a cake. Now it's turned into 50 people, catered food and just a crazy budget. Dress = $150 Alterations = $50 Shoes = $25 - $100 (bride made us buy them) Hair and Makeup = $100+ (bride usually made us but and didn't pay for it) My portion of bridal shower = $50 to $300 Bridal Shower Gift = $50 to $150 Hotel for wedding = $100 to $500 (One was $250 a night) My portion of bachelorette party = $25 to $150 Wedding Gift = $100 to $200

Answer 3

I would go with something around $50 per bridesmaid/groomsmen and something a lil different for MOH and BM if they really are helping. My sister did all the stuff my MOH normally would have (thank god for her cause my MOH was a disaster) and so I just got them all the same thing. A great list of questions to ask when picking your price range is this--
http://www.weddingstand.com/articles/1/ws-5-factorstoconsiderselectingbridesmaidgifts.htm


Yes the cost of the wedding really affects this but I say anywhere bt $50-$100 is probably average unless you live somewhere like NYC or Cali--and are having one of those platinum weddings in which case that might look cheap.

My husband ordered my groomsmen all monogrammed tie tacks from things remembered. I got my bridesmaids the jewelry for the wedding (bracelet and earrings--around $50) and a couple lil things for just them.

Here are some tips.
http://www.highmountainweddings.com/articles/bridesmaids-gifts.html
1. Choose something that fits the personality and/or style of the recipient.
2. Select a gift that the bridesmaids will actually find useful.
3. Give something of quality.

Here are some sites with suggestions.
http://www.engravedgiftsstore.com/
http://www.bridesvillage.com/bridgif.html
http://www.foreverwedstore.com/bridesmaidsgifts.html
http://www.gifts.com/occasions/bridesmaids/34ohraicp?sid=vsm:Bridesmaids+Gifts:P&rid=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3B_ylt%3DA0oGkjpsqPlF7E4BKMZXNyoA%3Fp%3Dgreat%2Bbridesmaids%2Bgifts%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501%26x%3Dwrt
http://www.groomsonlinegifts.com/gifforbrid1.html

Some great bridesmaids gifts are a personalized tote (around $20) with some stuff you know they like in it. It can be simple stuff--a water bottle, something to snack on, lip balm, ball cap--or you can put gift cards in there. You can also do a spa day where you take them all to the spa (though thats more expensive--but just a massage is around $60). Some people get them stuff that is more specifically oriented for their own personality, instead of all the same gift. Each get something different. A glam girl doesn't want the same thing as your outdoorsy sister. book or bookstore giftcard. Perhaps a photo frame with a picture of both of you. Bath stuff. If its a winter wedding, some nice leather gloves would be appreciated. Try incorporating something from the theme--if its Irish get them some everyday jewelry with a celtic knot. Winterwonderland, perhaps snowglobes from a destination they desire to go (like Eifel Tower). Summer wedding, sunscreen and a beach towel.

www.americanbridal.com has a lot of great stuff
http://www.weddingsolutions.com/article/Bridal_Party_Gifts_1.html

One thing bridal parties really dislike is getting engraved stuff with the Bride and Grooms name on it. Ordering things with their name and wedding date, but that isn't really a gift for your friend. Or something engraved with "Bridesmaid." Better to get them something as a ThankYou gift that has nothing to do with the wedding.

Hope this gave you a good idea of how much to spend plus some good ideas of WHAT to give a bridal party. Good luck do something special for these girls keeping you so calm before your wedding day. Congratulations!

Answer 4

Generally, the gifts for the party are paid for by the bride and groom, so let your budget guide you on how much to spend. Things like engraved wine glasses, brandy snifters, beer mugs are nice gifts, that can be used at the reception as well as later on and are not horribly pricey. To set apart the MOH and BM, you could choose a more ornate mug/glass or include something else along with it.

Answer 5

you should spend a reasonable amount conducive to your budget, however, the gift is more important than the dollar amount. what ever you decide, give it from the heart. a good amount would be $40.00 - $50.00 per person. you should expect to pay a little more for each the maid of honor and best man. a great idea for the bridesmaids would be a day at the spa and pedi's for all. and for the men, a round of golf or engraved beer glasses

Answer 6

Don't stress over how much, just budget whatever you can. The wedding should understand you have a wedding to pay for. But in my case we're budgeting between 30 to 40 each person.

Answer 7

you don't have to buy any gifts for you maid of honors nor best man they are the ones who should buy you the gifts. Cut back on that expense. Listen you do not but the wedding party gifts. they may get keepsakes if the invitation is not already a keepsake. or you may also be creative if you insist on giving them gift , make the gift get on the web search for ideas and choose the one you like and make. it will be more appreciated.

Answer 8

Since the two of you are obviously not independent and mature, and are not paying for your own wedding, I guess you have only pennies to spend on the bridal party gifts... or thousands - either way. We bought our bridesmaids silver heart lockets and the girls wore them on the wedding day; and the guys engraved keychains and something else, which I can't recall.

Answer 9

spend whatever you see fit. I am buying my girls Willow Tree Angels (you can find them at gift stores) of a girl holding flowers. On the card that comes it says "Thank You." They are about $12/each and it is what I can afford.

(and pay no attention to this Kali girl (your first poster) she's obviously anti-wedding as she has posted negatively on all wedding posts. )

Answer 10

just spend how ever much you can afford on them. and no their gifts dont have to be different unless you want them to be.