Wedding party gifts that don’t suck
or the Offbeat Bride, you’re looking for something meaningful, not just easy to purchase in a set of 6. The gifts you list don’t ring true because they have nothing to do with the relationships between you and your bridal party. You’ve asked these people to stand with you as your closest community; a great way to dream up authentic gifts is to think with care about how you or your affianced knows each person — a funny joke you’ve shared, an interest that brought you together, a memory only your siblings know — and go from there. (If we learned anything from Lloyd Dobler, you don’t give someone a pen!)
Groom’s girls and Best women
Here’s another great example of how to deal with cross-gender wedding parties. Check out the fabulous groom’s girls/best women in this shot from Jessicka & Christian’s fabulous wedding. (Thanks to Amanda Brooks Photography for the shot!)
The downsides of being a bridesmaid
What do you think are some of the (perceived or actual) down sides of being a bridesmaid, and how can a forward-thinking bride avoid putting her maids through those experiences?
Who pays for bridesmaids’ dresses?
I’ve told my bridesmaids that they can wear any black dress of their choosing. Since I’m not requiring them to buy an actual bridesmaid’s dress (ick), should I offer to pay a sort of stipend for a new dress that they will probably buy for the wedding anyway?