Bridal Party 101 | Thank-You Gifts

Posted on March 3, 2021

All the Key Players on Your Big Day

Plus, a bit of fun gift inspiration to get you started.

Not every couple answers the question of who gets a gift the same. With all the mayhem of wedding planning, it’s important to remember the little people who were there for you each step of the way. It’s best if you start with a list of the wedding party and family who’ve been instrumental in planning your wedding or offered support. Mark down gift ideas by each name to thank them for being there through the dress shopping, celebrations, and planning help. If you aren’t sure where to start, browse sites with tons of options, like The Knot Wedding Shop or Amazon.

Maid Of Honor

Bridesmaid wrangler, fashion expert, bachelorette planner, and the person whom you’ve bestowed the highest honor in your party. The gift you give your maid of honor should reflect the starring role she’s played in your life. If you decide on something traditional, like jewelry or a silver compact, personalize the gift with her name or perhaps a phrase or joke meaningful to your relationship.

Olive and Piper Primrose Studs

These chic, oversized earrings are great for your MOH to wear as a sparkly statement piece with their bridesmaid ensemble. They’re also versatile enough to be worn after the wedding to add some sparkle to a little black dress.

Best Man

He’s helped keep you from drowning in wedding planning details, don’t forget to show home much you care! Gift him something the two of you can do together, such as a day at the golf course, or consider a tried-and-true gift, like a personalized pocket watch or pen.

Cooler Chair

Buy on TheKnotShop.com

If your BM is less into the flashy stuff and more about getting out in nature, check out this nifty cooler! Beachgoers, tailgaters, and campers alike will make great use of this chair-cooler combo, and it’ll be part of many gatherings in the future.

The Bridal Party

Your bridesmaids and groomsmen are your ride-or-die crew, so we know you’ll want to find something they’ll love. Some engaged couples like to go ultra-personal and give each person on their wedding party list an entirely different gift. It’s a great idea for super small bridal parties, but for those groups of 20+, you can find something in “bulk.”

They’ll appreciate whatever you give them, so don’t stress about it! These days you can add customizations like nicknames, astrological signs, and monograms to just about anything. So, when in doubt, go for something utilitarian you know they’ll be able to use, like a customized champagne flute or beer mug. There’s always the jewelry-for-the-wedding-day route as well, but if you head down that road, try to write them each a sincere note to make your gift truly meaningful.

Bloody Mary Gift Set

Help your Bridal Party out by thinking about their morning on the day after your wedding. A hangover kit or this fun Bloody Mary kit sounds like heaven after a wild night of celebrating.

Personalized Yoga Mat

If you’re looking for a wedding gift for bridesmaids who never miss a yoga class, how about new yoga mats? Have them personalized with their names or a cute quote.

Family Members

Your family–parents and grandparents especially–have been your #1 fans since the very beginning. No matter who’s paying for your wedding, it’s essential (and customary) to present both sets of parents and grandparents with a gift. Some couples also include siblings, stepsiblings, stepparents, and anyone else they dub as significant to this list of VIF (Very Important Family). A night out at their favorite restaurant, a monthly service, or a sweet framed favorite photo are all great options, and they’ll feel touched you thought of them with everything else going on.

Get gift inspiration for the mother of the bride, the mother of the groom, the father of the bride, and the father of the groom through these links.

Close Friends and Day-Of Wedding Helpers

Candlelighters, Church Ushers, Ceremony Readers, and guest book attendants tend to either be close friends (that aren’t in your wedding party) or younger cousins, nieces or nephews. If you’re close to your officiant, or you have a friend playing guitar for the ceremony, get something for them as well. A book, a nice bottle of wine, or a small piece of jewelry are all viable choices for anyone who’s a non-vendor playing a special part in your day.

Flower Girls and Ring Bearers

This might be their very first wedding! For any kid under the age of 10, we recommend gifting them something that’ll keep them occupied during “boring” moments of a rehearsal dinner and reception. Think sticker books or crafts (like bracelet makers or coloring kits). You could even put together a fun goodie-bag for them, including parent-approved snacks!

Bloomsbury “I’m a Flower Girl” Activity and Sticker Book

Kids love gifts, and parents always appreciate something that will keep them occupied for a few minutes. This interactive activity book helps kiddos to understand what a wedding is all about.

Finally, Gifts for Each Other

With all of the surprises you’re planning for your friends and family (and the gifts you’re most likely receiving from others), don’t forget the most important person of all: your partner. These gifts won’t need extravagance; sweet and simple love notes on a busy wedding day mean the world. Whatever your budget or gift, you can never go wrong by including a secret engraved message to commemorate the day.

Bridal Party 101 | History

Posted on February 3, 2021

in Bridal Party

by lcr

It Takes A Community To Have A Wedding.

The Bridal Party is the Bride and Groom’s entourage chosen specifically because of their proven support of the happy couple. According to history, their duties have included anything from kidnapping to providing the bride with a dowry if the parents were disproving of the marriage. Here’s a couple of fun historical facts behind the wedding Wedding Posse– oops! Party**

Photo: True Photography

“Bridesmaids and groomsmen had to dress just like the bride and groom to confuse vengeful spirit presences (or real-life jealous suitors) who might try to harm the newlyweds.”

This tradition seems to have changed only recently! Nowadays, there is usually subtle differentiation between the Groom and his Groomsmen, but the Bridesmaids leave the white to the Bride. We’re seeing a larger variety in color, style, and texture in bridesmaids’ dresses as each wedding season passes. It just depends on the Bride’s preference!

Photo: Shelly Anderson

“In a time in which ‘marriage by capture’ was practiced, close friends of the groom would assist him in taking the bride from her family. They’d form a small army to fight off angry relatives so that he could escape with her.”

Thankfully this doesn’t happen anymore! Imagine women being kidnapped left and right out from under their family’s nose! (Talk about awkward table conversation at Thanksgiving…)

We understand why the need for the most important people by your side remains. Choosing the ones to support you, be that shoulder to cry on when you need it, can share in good times with you, are all top factors to your bridal party. At the Ranch, we’ve witnessed it all.

Photo: Maryanne McGuire Photography

“Ancient Roman law required 10 witnesses to be present at a wedding, which is considered a precursor to the bridal party tradition.”

Today, Bridal Parties can be as small as two people and as large as 30–as long as the MOH and Best Man have some good organizational skills! We say the more, the merrier, it adds a little energy to the event as a whole, and you know the dance floor will never be empty.

Photo by Audrey Rynberg Photography

“The tradition of the ‘best man’ is thought to have originated with the Germanic Goths of the 16th century.”

“He was the ‘best man’ for, specifically, the job of stealing the bride from her neighboring community or disapproving family, and he was probably the best swordsman, too.”

Consider this, gentlemen: is your Best Man willing to fight to the death for your love?

Photo by True Photography

“In some early traditions, the groomsmen were called Bride’s Knights because they helped protect her—and her dowry, and her virginity—or because they assisted in her kidnapping.”

Photo by Muse Moments Photography

Kidnapping seems to have been pretty prevalent back in the day, but it’s not just the Groomsmen who are known to get into some mischief during the Bachelor/Bachelorette parties anymore. (Hollywood made a few movies about all that.) Although we would never promote kidnapping, we’re sure some good clean inner-party fun is still had.

Photo by True Photography

Thanks to all these fun Bridal Parties and the awesome photographers who captured them at their best!

We love seeing what each unique group is like and how the clients we’ve gotten to know so well fit into the crazy mix.

Photo by Jordan Galindo

As always, big thanks go out to the staff at Personal Touch Dining, who Coordinate, Manage, and cater to all these wonderful events!

To learn more about weddings traditions and their origins, check out these two articles:

’21 Surprising Historical Duties of the Wedding Party’ by Jen Doll

‘A History of Anglo-Saxon Wedding Customs‘ by Arden Ranger