While giving thank you gifts to others, when you’re the one getting married, isn’t exactly the first wedding planning task that comes to mind, it is something to consider for those who helped you along the way.
Gifting others is a super sweet touch. A token or thoughtful present is a wonderful way of thanking those who took the time to help plan, support, or be there for your wedding. It makes them feel special in the moment. Plus, it could also be something that they use to remember your wedding long after the day has passed.
Any thank you gift that you provide to your closest friends and family will make your wedding day that much more special. Whether the gift is for your parents, bridal party, or just someone close to you and your wedding, it will make everyone feel good. The wonderful news is, you can adjust your gifts to match any kind of budget as well. This is a place where truly the thought matters most.
WEDDING THANK YOU GIFTS
It can be daunting to figure out who needs a thank you gift for their help with your wedding. Also, often the hardest part about giving a thank you gift is figuring out what the best kind of gift would be for each type of person. While it would be impossible for this post to provide specific recommendations, there are some suggestions in here for customizable gifts at each price range, for each type of recipient.
Please use these ideas for inspiration!
*This post includes sponsored links in which I may receive a small commission. All recommendations are my honest opinions.
WHO GETS A THANK YOU GIFT?
Let’s get into who may receive a gift from you at your wedding, and why.
Typically, giving gifts to kids, your wedding party, your parents, and each other is what most couples getting married will consider. Depending on your situation, you may also have grandparents or other close relatives or friends to thank. The rule of thumb is to give a gift to anyone who will cherish your wedding day later on. Also think about giving a thank you gift to anyone who helped as a participant in a big way.
Gifts are for the people who have donated their time and money to help make your wedding day an amazing experience.
Ideas for gifts that just about anyone can appreciate:
- Framed photos of you and your loved one.
- A handwritten card, strait from the heart.
- Name a star for a loved one. Naming stars after your loved ones can be done easily online through companies like Star Register. You can even order the names in bulk through them, too! When you name a star for a loved one, they receive a personalized certificate and star map, which is pretty cool. Examples of the package can be seen in the image below.
FLOWER GIRLS, RING BEARERS, AND OTHER KIDS
These are specific gifts for either your own kids, who maybe came before this wedding, or for kids who are actually in the wedding. This could also be for kids who you are very close to.
An example of giving a gift to a kid when you get married comes from my own experience. When my grandma got married (for the second time), I was about a month old. She gifted all of her grandchildren a little keepsake of the day. I’m not sure what the boys got, but each of the girls got a little gold bracelet with their names engraved on it. I ended up wearing this very bracelet on my own wedding day.
Other ideas for kid gifts include:
- A goody bag with fun activities to use during the wedding. Bubbles, crayons, coloring books, snacks, disposable camera’s, and bouncy balls are all fun for kids. Though these items may not become “heirlooms”, they will certainly be appreciated.
- Depending on the attire and age, you could treat the girls to some jewelry, and boys to ties or cufflinks.
- An event for after the wedding. This is also something that depends on the ages of the kids, but a trip to the beach, the zoo, or an amusement park, would be really fun.
THANK YOU GIFTS FOR YOUR PARENTS
This one can be tricky, depending on the parents!
For my mom, I bought her a necklace that had my birthstone, her birthstone, and my grandma’s birthstone. My husband bought his mom a necklace from Tiffany’s, where our rings came from. We bought his dad a tie (my father passed away before my wedding, but I think he would have gotten a tie as well). After the wedding we had framed pictures made, as well as a beautiful album, and we were able to gift that to our parents.
Some ideas For Parents:
- Handwritten thank you letters.
- Treating them to a nice dinner, either in or out, depending on how good a cook you are!
- An event with dad or mom like a ball game, concert, or festival.
GROOMSMEN THANK YOU GIFTS
This is an opportunity to treat the guys to something fun and classy.
Guys tend to be both easy and difficult to buy for. Easy because they tend to not care that much. Difficult because, well, the same reason. So, if you’re looking to get something for the guys in your wedding, it’s best to try and get something somewhat useful or functional, that they may not get for themselves.
Some ideas for groomsmen:
- A bottle of really nice booze, beer, or wine (my man bought his guys whiskey), along with a personalized flask or shaker.
- Cufflinks, ties, or fun socks that can be worn at the wedding.
- An event like a game of golf, a day at the shooting range, a ball game, or a game place like Dave & Busters or Top Golf.
BRIDESMAID THANK YOU GIFTS
For the most part, bridesmaids and maids of honor give a lot to their friend’s weddings, so a gift is a great way to thank them and give them a little treat.
For the girls in my wedding, I bought them a little package with monogramed champagne glasses, knot earrings, a necklace with their initial, and a handwritten thank you card. I also bought my two MOH’s pretty pashmina’s and a bracelet to wear at the wedding.
When it comes to buying gifts for grown women, it’s all about making it a little special or thoughtful.
Some ideas for bridesmaids:
- A day at the spa, or gift cards for massages or pedicures.
- A nice bottle of wine or champagne, with a personalized flute.
- A custom gift box with candles, lotions, teas, and other goodies.
- A super nice and customized compact mirror.
THANK YOU GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER
Well, this really depends on the couple. You’re probably already spending a lot of money on each other, and really, who needs more stuff?
Think about it this way. What could you buy that would be meaningful to the other person? Something that they will cherish and may not treat themselves to? What is something that will come from your heart?
This isn’t something that needs to be a material item. It might be a pledge to stop a bad habit that drives them nuts. It could be an old school “coupon book” of massages, dinners, and favors. In my case, I gifted my husband a painting that he really loved that represented his alma mater. Really, as long as it comes from the heart and makes the other one feel special, that’s all you really need to focus on.
- A special promise or pledge.
- Massages, homemade dinners, or favors.
- A material item that they will love (depends on the person).
- A trip or weekend getaway.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
HOW MUCH TO SPEND ON THANK YOU GIFTS?
The amount of money that you spend on gifts depends on your own overall wedding budget.
If you have a tighter budget, it’s important to note that these gifts do not have to be extravagant. As mentioned before, it is the thought that matters the most. Depending on how many people you are buying for, and what you can afford, you may want to budget between $25 – $50 a person, but again this is something that really depends on your situation.
WHEN TO GIVE THE GIFTS?
I recommend giving gifts ahead of the wedding, in most cases.
On your wedding day, a lot will be going on, so anything you can take care of ahead of time will make life easier. If you’re able to give your wedding party gifts in the weeks leading up to your wedding, or at some pre-wedding event (like a bachelorette party), they won’t mind. If you are gifting something small, and it’s easy to travel around with, you could gift it on your wedding day. Keep in mind what’s easiest for you and your situation.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Gifting others at your own wedding is a really nice touch when everyone has put so much effort in the day for you. You don’t have to go overboard, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money, either. Depending your budget and the number of people you’re considering buying a gift for, you can do what works best for you. Giving thank you gifts is just a nice way to show your appreciation for the people who made your wedding day special.
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