I get asked all of the time, “do you have any great bridesmaid gift ideas?”! I’m really a fan of gifts that combine useful and meaningful, so that is how I have categorized them! I’ve included links to some of my favorite products and specifically geared these gifts for ‘destination weddings’ because so many of you are having a destination wedding in the hill country!

So let’s start with the practical…

This tote is one of my absolute favorites for several reasons. You can find lots of cute matching totes for your gals, but this one is especially useful in the destination wedding scenario for a couple of reasons.
1. It’s closes completely! This is really great for actual traveling. It’s the perfect size for a plane carryon and has practical straps (hand or shoulder). It’s also the perfect size for all of your hair and makeup supplies a couple of extra pairs of shoes and wallet to double as their bridesmaid bag on the day of the wedding.
2. It’s stylish, and is it too old lady of me to call it “adult”? We all have a million Victoria’s secret totes that have sparkles and sequins and say “PINK”, but if you are old enough to drink, or mature enough to be married, it’s time to put those away.  Save those for beach trips where they will get trashed with sand, but it’s really time for something a little more sophisticated.
3. It’s quality. So I actually own this weekend tote and love it. I can attest to the fact that the zippers are heavy duty, it’s lined nicely and the straps are comfortable and secured really well. I actually use this as my bag for bringing my change of clothes to weddings and it’s perfect! The embroidery is also a really nice touch.
Tip: Use first names if many of your friends aren’t married yet.   

I also love this tote, because I’m a sucker for stripes, but I think it lends itself to a more spring/summer wedding.

Secondly, if you dream of having those matching getting ready photos, you’ll want to purchase those for your ladies as well. There are lots of options here, but try to think of the weddings that you and your gals have been in recently, and pick something different. For example, you and two of your gals were in a wedding last spring that did robes, so avoid robes. We all know what it’s like to get the same things wedding after wedding.

If you want to go the robe route, these are darling:

I love these hoodies for a fall or winter wedding, or Shirts/PJ’s are a good choice also:

Last, and possibly most importantly, would be the personal/meaningful gift. This is the gift that makes each of your girls remember why they were chosen. Hopefully not because your groom had 5 groomsmen and you had to match that number, but because they are genuinely one of your tribe. The people that have and will help you through life. When you are picking out this gift, don’t think that it has to be the same for each girl. Start by thinking, what would you get them for Christmas or a birthday? One of my brides (an English teacher) gave each of her girls a book where the lead character reminded her of them. Then she wrote an inscription in the front of why, and how they were the leading lady and what each of them meant to her.  How sweet!

(image credit: Lori Blythe Photography & Contigo Ranch)

Another option would be a journal (if you know they like to write) with an inscription and a photo of the two you in the front. Maybe for a musical friend, it’s a mix cd (yes, I know this is old school) of all of the songs you guys grew up screaming with the windows down, about your high school beaus. Maybe it could even be a personal experience! An individual friend date (not wedding task related) where you take them out to a concert, or dinner, or mani pedi’s and remind them how important they are to you.  Even a personalized letter for each of them could do the trick. Yes, this one takes time! Not just a quick order and go, but it’s the one they will remember the most!

Hope this helps spark some ideas for gifts for your gals!