By: Alison Sigman

It’s never been said that planning a wedding is easy. Booking the music, the photographer, the venue to all match up on the same day takes a lot of work. Then there are the flowers, colors, and two dresses still left to pick out. When time comes to purchase a gift for the bridesmaids it all seems a little daunting. Traditionally, the gift for the bridesmaids is the jewelry which they are to wear on the big day. This creates cohesion and stops wedding day confusion by the girls about what to wear. Another gift for the wedding day is personalized tote bags featuring the name of each girl. This is great for make-up, perfume, reception shoes, and anything else a bridesmaid needs to carry around.

Since there are no rules, the gift can be influenced by her personal tastes, or reflect a special memory between the two of you. Start the search off in a broad manner. There are five categories most gifts can be classified into; entertainment, lavish gifts, do-it-yourself, food and drink, or things for the wedding as already discussed. Once you choose a broad category, then you can narrow down what fits all of the girls, or each one individually.

Entertainment gifts can be as simple as an iTunes gift card, to something more elaborate like tickets to go see a favorite band. The possibilities are endless, but this can give little room for personalization. Digital cameras make great entertainment gifts, and for that added touch, install a memory card with favorite pictures of each bridesmaid. While the cameras can get costly, not all lavish gifts have to be expensive. These gifts are meant to help your bridesmaid pamper herself after the wedding is over. A bubble bath gift set with a silky bathrobe. Gift certificates to a local spa are great even if it is just a 30 minute massage session show you care.

            Do-it-yourself gifts can be cost efficient, but great care should be taken to make sure they are not too homespun. Candles and bath soap kits are available at any craft store, and are great ways to tailor qualities of each girl. Color possibilities for each are endless, while soap molds and candle scents can be personalized.

            The food and drink category is just a broad as entertainment. My personal favorite, for the alcohol consumers is a personalized flask complete with leather sleeve in their favorite color. It is just important to keep their interests in mind. You picked them; it shouldn’t be hard to choose something memorable and useful on your big day.