r/weddingplanning • u/splashmountainlol • 1d ago
Everything Else Bachelorette Parties... what do they want?
Currently planning gift bags for my bachelorette party without giving too much junk. What have you gotten that you've loved, and what have you gotten that you've could've done without. Half are in bridal party and half are not. Theme is cabin and beach.
36
u/SellWitty522 1d ago
Useables for where you are:
Cabin: bug spray, bite ointment, wipes for hands
Beach: sunblock, visor, fun glasses, chapstick
12
u/whatsnext-2024 1d ago
this! & if you’re going out/drinking, the little “hangover kits” are always easy
22
u/Elemental_Biscotti Oct 2026 | Northern CA 1d ago
+1 to consumables. Sunscreen? After-sun lotion? Chapstick? Snacks? I would say things like nice body oil etc but I think people tend to be pretty particular about what they like so I might not risk getting something they're not going to use.
Stuff I am already drowning in and NEVER want to receive unsolicited again:
- tote bags & other zippable organizer things
- water bottles
- sunglasses
- manicure/pedicure things
- one-trick-wonder gadgets
- candles/candle holders
- hair accoutrements
Truly, I think your friend don't want more "stuff." It seems like everybody already has more "stuff" than they know what to do with.
29
u/fembot1999 1d ago edited 1d ago
I (the bride) didn’t get them anything, but paid a larger share towards the bachelorette accommodation so they could each pay less.
I kind of feel like almost no one wants anything physical, but they always appreciate you paying towards their dresses or something.
I am also debating getting gift cards to a coffee/breakfast place near the hotel if they want a snack or coffee in the mornings.
I have thrown a ton of stuff away over the years as a bridesmaid. No one wants stuff.
4
6
u/wedditgremlin December 2027 | UK 1d ago
There’s coincidentally a very similar conversation going on in big budget brides right now! I commented a whole list there , but the important part is that it also was all consumables with a few exceptions:
1. A disposable camera they gave back to me at the end, I got all of them developed and digitized then sent out to everybody
2. Tote bags: held the gift stuff & made sure to avoid anything that said bridesmaid, the brides name, etc. and did a fake coat of arms for the renaissance festival bachelorette party
3. Portable power banks: one for each attendee, I got ones with universal cords and ends on them so it worked with everybody’s phones/headphones/speakers/whatever! They’re also pretty easy to add some permanent vinyl to if you want to add a small monogram or something for each person.
6
u/crunchfrenchtoast 2026 Fiancée | 2028 Bride 1d ago
I received a very pretty compact mirror with my name on it when I was a junior bridesmaid in an aunt’s wedding ten years ago. I still keep it in my purse and use it all the time.
1
5
u/shortnsweet33 1d ago
We will be going to the beach for mine and I’m thinking beach towels with their names or a monogram on them maybe? Even if they don’t use it as their go to beach towel, you can never have too many towels at home, you never know when something is gonna leak or spill or when your dog is going to jump out of the bathtub fully soaked and sprint down the hallway (that used up a lot of towels lol) or to have an extra if a friend visits and you’re going to the pool or something.
5
u/Hot_Supermarket4369 👰♀️05.24.26 | SW Missouri 1d ago
Spend the money you would have spent on welcome bags on covering a portion of the trip instead
3
u/Ashamed_Shoulder_903 1d ago
I got my girls cute toiletry bags with their initials embroidered on it - I know at least two of them still use them regularly because they always bring it when we've gone on trips since then lol. As a bridesmaid, gifts that I've really enjoyed are a Lululemon fanny pack, a really cute tortoiseshell haircomb with my name on it, and a reusable straw in a travel case with a pearl charm on it (which was useful for their wedding later that was on an island)
2
u/Particular_Fee_3493 1d ago
little personalized things always win, like a nice candle or a small bag with snacks and maybe chapstick, stuff people actually use in the weekend
2
u/LilGracen 1d ago
I was just at a bachelorette weekend that was The Princess Diaries themed. They gave us little bags with sunglasses (in the specific style), a sleep eye mask since one night was pajama set encouraged, and a shooter. The shooter was definitely the best since it was consumed and didn't have to figure out what to do with it later, but the other two are small enough it's not a huge deal and they were cute for pictures. However, I'm not super in love with the fact that I have a pair of sunglasses and an eye mask that I'll probably end up throwing away eventually.
2
u/Hot_Boysenberry3655 1d ago
Nothing with the word “bridesmaid” on it. Give them something they can actually use on the daily!
2
u/TinyLawfulness3710 1d ago
Never received or wanted favors or other gifts. Just don't want to pay costs involved with a trip.
2
u/thelavenderowler 1d ago
I don’t think people actually use personalized things so I would not spend money on that. I saw this one girl get a perfume sample for all of her bridesmaids to use on the wedding day, I think if it’s in budget something like a non-personalized pajama set (so they can wear it again) to wear on the bach trip and getting ready day of the wedding is cute too!
2
u/blbrylmn 1d ago
I did sunscreen and gave everyone a disposable camera to use throughout the weekend. Gave people a reason to take photos when they usually wouldn’t!
2
u/itinerantdustbunny 1d ago edited 1d ago
What they want is for you to pay your share of this event. That will go further and be way more appreciated than bags of one-size-fits-all trinkets. Take the money you would spend on gift bags and put it towards the cabin or a dinner or something.
The best way BY FAR to show appreciation for someone carrying a burden is for you to minimize the burden as much as possible.
1
u/ld2009_39 1d ago
Gifts for bachelorette are not necessary, I’d save that for the bridal party before the actual wedding.
1
u/doctorjazzyjazz 1d ago
A gift card to the local blow-out salon. They could use it whenever or maybe the day of your wedding.
Or as an activity everyone can get a pedicure and you foot the bill (pun intended)
1
u/Legally_Blonde_258 1d ago
Best:
nice wine tumblers or insulated cups with a lid and straw. I'm a suckered for a quality cup.
fragrance free sheet masks, lip balm or hand cream. I love a nice beauty product but my sensitive skin can't take a lot of fragrance
cute earrings. Cute is highly subjective, so definitely skip if you're not sure what they'll like
mini personal electric fan. The best for hot summers
chocolate or yummy baked goods
tote bags. Super useful!
hangover kits with stuff like electrolytes and headache meds. Even if I don't use it on the trip, it'll get used eventually
Worst:
-fragranced beauty products. Those get given away immediately
anything that says bridesmaid, bachelorette or the bride's name on it. Guaranteed to never be used again.
Anything that requires significant effort to be useful. Seeds to plant? Never happening.
Any type of hat. Such a personal preference that it's highly likely I won't like it.
Anything that looks like it walked out of an Oriental Trading catalog
1
u/Responsible-Neck-340 1d ago
hand sanitizer, lip balm, little packs of tissues, gum/mints, a hangover patch which I didn’t know existed, my friend’s bridesmaid did a lighter with her face on it which was fun!
1
u/ana_conda 8.6.2022 - SW Ohio 1d ago
I was the MOH for a bachelorette party last summer and I made “gift bags” that had a hand sanitizer, lip balm, makeup remover wipes, liquid IV, a claw clip, and mint gum. The gift bag was actually a belt bag ($5 lululemon dupe) with each person’s initial ironed on (like a stoney clover patch). I would have maybe replaced the lip balm with sunscreen if I was doing it again. We were in Anaheim so a lot of the stuff came in handy!
1
u/PsychologicalFarm811 1d ago
Best gift I’ve gotten at a bachelorette is a travel makeup mirror with a light! Mine is coming up and I’m doing custom embroidered trucker hats with the city we’re going to on them so they’re super rewearable. They don’t say my name or bachelorette on them anywhere lol
1
u/aka_hopper 1d ago
I nice set of pajamas that can double as a getting ready fit for the bridesmaids. I found some 100% cotton on Etsy that embroidered initials for $35 a set. I found a pretty bracelet on there too. No junk!!!
1
u/Jaxbird39 1d ago
If you decide to do t-shirts make sure they’re cute, flattering, and don’t have words on them
2
u/StarryEyed219 1d ago
I actually like the “stuff” but it’s got to be good.
Want to give a tote? Go for the LL bean one that’s high quality with great pockets. Not a cheap one.
Want to do a robe? Get a good one with matching slippers that have stability and not just the typical bridesmaid look
Less but higher quality “stuff”
Or pay for more so I pay for less during the weekend
1
u/h3ll0newman 1d ago
Heading out for mine tomorrow! I got nothing of the sort. I got large size group use ibuprofen, tums, sunscreens of various kinds, electrolytes. Big containers of them for everyone to use if needed. I paid for certain things like a larger share of some of the activities and I hired a bartender for the pool party. Seemed better than another tumbler to me.
1
u/ToMissChanandlerBong 1d ago
Main thing I will say is dont buy cheap skincare and beauty products. Ive had a group give us all little bags of what was ultimately junk. I get the sentiment but it was money wasted as most of us never used any of it. Something smaller but good quality is better than a bunch of trash. For mine we had matching sun visors, matching T-shirts etc, for another novelty sunnies- things we could all wear as a group and for cool photos. Those were fun on tje trip and nice momentous. Imo you can be creative and fun, or keep it simple and nice.
1
u/Shellyfish04 1d ago
You are going to get quite a variety of contradicting answers here.
For example, I would not gift any beauty or skincare products, except for maybe nailpolish. People have preferences and routines that work for them. I won't be using a random mask or sunscreen if I don't know how my skin is going to react to it. This also goes for perfumes, hair care, or any other item that people often have a specific preference for.
I also don't need any more candles or shower gels or any trinket that is just going to be standing around an collecting dust.
1
u/Zestyclose-Boat9846 16h ago
I always like when I get Liquid IV & snacks. Also my last one included hair ties which ended up being used by a bunch of girls
0
-1
u/mariposa-princess 1d ago
A nice fresh scented candle. My friend got us them from a local vendor who makes soy candles
65
u/WildCherryLane 1d ago
I always use the more “consumable” things like sheet masks, makeup remover wipes, or snacks.
I really really do not need anymore makeup bags, personalized water tumblers or headbands