Bridesmaid has paid for travel expenses and more. Does she need to buy a wedding gift?
My friend is having a destination wedding. As the bridesmaid, I have already paid for my plane ticket, my hotel fees, my bridesmaid dress and accessories, the bridal shower, as well as the stagette. After paying for all of these wedding expenses, do I still need to get the couple a wedding gift?
Traditionally, the bridesmaids would contribute to a wedding gift from all the bridesmaids to the bride and may give a separate gift to the married couple. The choice is up to you whether you would like to give that separate gift. Having said that, as you are paying for the trip and hotel expenses, if you do decide on a separate gift, keep it small and symbolic. Often times, the best gifts are ones that come from the heart and aren’t really about the dollar sign behind it.
If you’re close enough with the rest of the bridal party, have a chat with the rest of the bridesmaids and see if they are interested in getting a group gift for the bride that is affordable and symbolic(some of them may also be feeling pressed for cash but may not have expressed it verbally). A scrapbook with photos of the bride’s journey with the soon-to-be groom, with supplies for her to continue the memories, may be a great sentimental wedding gift from all of you.