6 Bridesmaid Proposal Gift Ideas for All Budgets and Wedding Styles
Your adventures in wedding planning all began with one unforgettable proposal. Now, you have a few more proposals to make—asking the most important ladies in your life if they’ll be your bridesmaids.
For practical reasons, bridesmaid proposals are among the first steps in wedding planning. It’s important to establish the names and numbers in your wedding party before moving on with the (many, many) next steps. Bridesmaid proposals are also a thrilling and emotional experience for a bride-to-be. Asking your closest companions to be by your side as you fulfill your dream is a special moment, and one that’s worth celebrating with a personal touch.
Bridesmaid proposal ideas should suit your particular bridal style as well as the individual bridesmaids-to-be. It could be something casual and intimate, or you might turn it into a party. Bridesmaid proposal gift ideas range from luxe and lavish to simple DIY creations. Be sure to choose ideas that emphasize appreciation for the beloved ladies who you hope will become your bridal party.
To help you brainstorm unique bridesmaid proposal ideas, we have some great suggestions and tips below.
Keep it Simple With a Card
A custom card is a simple, meaningful way to ask a friend or family member to be your bridesmaid. It’s a great option when the person you’re asking lives far away, or you won’t be seeing them in person within the necessary timeframe. Even if the bridesmaid-to-be is local and you’re in close contact, it’s still a sweet gesture to mail a card.
Sending a paper invitation is a more formal bridesmaid proposal idea than a phone call or asking in-person, which honors the importance of the exchange. However, you can keep it casual by featuring a favorite photo on the card and writing a personal message from the heart. You might even text or tell her to check her mailbox and hint at a “special surprise” heading her way.
A bridesmaid proposal on a beautiful custom card is a great place to start in choosing or designing all your wedding stationery, such as Save the Date cards and Wedding Invitations. You might like to test out wedding color combinations, or a certain wedding stationery aesthetic like Modern Elegant or Pastel Watercolor.
Host a Get-Together
There’s no reason why your bridesmaid proposal idea couldn’t be to just… ask them! It’s much more fun, though, to plan a get-together with the ladies you’re asking to be in your bridal party. This works best if your potential bridesmaids are all part of the same friend group and available to attend a party or hangout together.
Come up with a get-together idea that you know they’ll all enjoy, and that feels a little bit special. This could be a spa day, a dinner party, slumber party, game night, wine and cheese night, or even a weekend getaway. Plan a fun way to “pop the question” during the gathering. Here are some ideas:
- Plan a movie night around wedding-themed movies (e.g. Bridesmaids, Wedding Crashers, My Best Friend’s Wedding), and start with “There’s a reason we’re watching these movies…”
- Bring out a bottle of champagne and glasses, and say “I’m hoping we can celebrate you all saying yes to being my bridesmaids.”
- Serve a dessert at the end of the party with “Will you be my bridesmaids?” written on the plate in frosting.
Say it With Flowers
A surprise flower delivery always makes someone’s day, so you can truly delight your potential bridesmaids with this proposal idea. If your budget allows for it, arrange a bouquet delivery to her home or workplace through a florist, and include a special note asking the question, “Will you be my bridesmaid?”
If you have access to flowers from a garden, or prefer a DIY approach, prepare your own bouquets with special paper wrapping and a hand-written tag or card for the proposal. You could deliver them yourself and get to hear their response in person, or ask a friend or family member to volunteer as the delivery person.
Tip: This bridesmaid proposal idea is also a great way to check out local florists and potential flower ideas for your wedding.
Or Food!
A gift of home-baked goods or delicious items from a local bakery is sure to be a hit with any friend or family member—especially when you use them as a bridesmaid proposal gift idea. An array of savory gourmet goods is also a good option for foodie friends. Package the items in a lovely basket or fancy tin lined with a new kitchen towel or decorative fabric.
For the proposal, ask the bakery to write the question in icing, or do it yourself if you’re handy with a piping bag. Or, include a card with a personal note plus the question written inside.
Tip: As with flowers from local florists, this bridesmaid proposal idea could also be a fun way to start looking at local bakeries for wedding cake options.
Create a Custom Photo Book
The friends and family members who you hope will say “yes” to being your bridesmaids almost certainly feature strongly in your photo collections. Capture the amazing memories you’ve shared in the past and turn them into a custom photo book as a bridesmaid proposal gift idea. A softcover book is budget-friendly and casual, while still making a meaningful keepsake.
All Mixbook’s photo book themes are 100% customizable, so you can add text alongside the photos to write your bridesmaid proposal. Or, hand-write a note inside the cover of the printed book. Here are a few recommendations for themes to customize as a bridesmaid proposal gift:
Custom Bridesmaid Accessories
Custom bridesmaid accessories are a fun choice for all the events leading up to your wedding, especially the bachelorette party. Consider a similar idea for bridesmaid proposal gifts. The type of accessories and specific customizations will depend on your budget and style. Some popular items include T-shirts, scrunchies, bathrobes, slippers, eye masks, water bottles, and jewelry customized with the word “Bridesmaid” (and a “Bride” version for yourself).
You could choose a few custom accessories and put them in a bridesmaid proposal gift box along with a card. If you’re crafty, include some DIY items like friendship bracelets or a jar of bath salts. Other nice things to add to a gift box include a small bottle of wine, chocolates, or a framed photo of you together.
It’s also important to acknowledge the possibility of a potential bridesmaid being unable to accept your offer—if so, it’s preferable to have a gift that they can still enjoy. A pretty necklace, or other accessories with thoughtful customizations such as “BFF,” a heart symbol, or her own initials, is still something she will appreciate
Share Your Bridesmaid Proposal Ideas!
We’d love to hear about all the creative and meaningful ways Mixbookers have come up with to ask, “Will you be my bridesmaid?” Share your customer story and connect with us on social media @Mixbook.
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