Okay, I’ve noticed that a few people have strong opinions on money etc. and I’m not looking for a rant, just a bit of advice on if what I’m going to propose is okay. I have four bridesmaids, and a tight budget (trying to get a mortgage as well haha) –which I have been making work, but is it bad of me to combine their upcoming Christmas presents with something they can use on the wedding day? (And afterwards of course)
The whole personalised silk robe thing, seems like a waste to me, I’d rather just buy nice plain dressing gowns that can be used after the wedding as well, but I haven’t really budgeted for “bridesmaid gifts” and can’t really afford anything too expensive, but I don’t want to just bombard them with typical tat that will be thrown away, forgotten or sold afterwards either. Is it cheeky to get them the robes as a part of Christmas presents, with the expectation they’ll wear them when the wedding comes around? I plan on getting them a small thank you gift each on the day as well.
My logic is that people sometimes do similar when gift giving to someone who is getting married, for example, I received a wedding garter for Christmas last year from a friend –which got a few giggles from the other family members, but I appreciated it nonetheless (didn’t have to worry about my “something blue” anymore). Or when a family member will give you a “bottom drawer” present for Christmas, as they probably can’t think of a gift, or want to get you something a bit nicer than a “standard gift” that you’ll actually use.
For example; last Christmas my cousin (and chief bridesmaid) gifted my H2B and I a slow cooker as a joint gift, we currently each live with our respective parents and I’d had a call from my aunt (her mother) a few months before asking if I’d be interested in a slow cooker as a wedding gift –I’m not actually the type that expects wedding gifts, but I said it would be a nice thing to have if that was something she wanted to get for us. I was a little confused at receiving it for Christmas, but quite funnily, incredibly grateful. My parent’s oven died about a month later and we didn’t have the money to get a new one. I went to the future-in-law’s house and retrieved the slow cooker for my parents to use while they saved for a new oven. Lots of other expenses were going on over the following months; Christmas aftermath, my mom’s car broke down, among other things, so the oven was effectively last on the list. So all in all, it was quite a well appreciated gift that is still used regularly and I honestly don’t even mind if it burns out before we move into our own home as I shall definitely get another.
So enough of that tangent haha; Christmas gifts that are wedding / bridesmaid related, yes or no?
I think it’s okay as I’ve appreciated gifts that were “dual-purposed” in the past, and a dressing gown is a perfectly normal Christmas present on its own (with the added bonus of being usable for getting ready at the wedding) but I just want a few opinions on the matter to gauge if I’ll be getting some raised eyebrows at Christmas dinner.
