Your bridesmaids and groomsmen will spend the next 6–18 months helping you plan, listening to your stress-cries about table plans, picking dresses or suits, sorting hen and stag dos, and turning up on the day to make sure everything runs smoothly. A small thank-you gift isn't just a nice gesture — for most British couples, it's become a proper wedding tradition.
But here's the thing. The internet is full of bridesmaid gift guides that all say the same thing: jewellery, candles, robes, prosecco. Nothing wrong with any of that. The problem is that everyone's giving the same gifts, and your bridesmaids have probably already got three matching dressing gowns from previous wedding parties.
This guide does things a bit differently. We've put both bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts in one place, because most people are sorting both at once. We've covered the proposal stage and the thank-you stage. And we've focused on personalised ideas — because a gift with their name on it, or a photo of you together, is the one they'll actually keep.
Whether you've got two bridesmaids and a best man, or a full wedding party of twelve, you'll find ideas here that match your budget, your style, and the people you love.
At a Glance: Wedding Party Gift Quick Guide
How much to spend: £20–£50 per bridesmaid is the UK average; £25–£60 per groomsman. Maid of honour and best man usually get a bit more (£40–£80).
When to give them: Either at the proposal stage (when you ask them to be in the wedding) or on the wedding morning. Many couples give a small proposal gift and a bigger thank-you gift on the day.
What works best: Personalised, useful, and reflective of who they are as a person — not just generic "bridesmaid" branding they'll never use again.
Where most people go wrong: Buying matching gifts that ignore the actual person. A bookworm bridesmaid doesn't want a gym water bottle, even if it's pink and engraved with her name.
Wedding Party Gift Etiquette: What You Actually Need to Know
Before we get into the gift ideas, let's clear up the questions everyone Googles in a panic at 11pm three weeks before the wedding.
Do You Have to Give Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Gifts?
Strictly speaking, no — it's not legally required, and your wedding party will love you whether you give them anything or not. But it's become standard etiquette in the UK, and your bridesmaids and groomsmen have probably each spent a few hundred pounds on hen do, stag do, outfits and travel for your day. A thoughtful gift is a small way to say "thank you for all of this."
When Do You Give Wedding Party Gifts?
There are three main moments, and most couples use one or two of them:
At the proposal stage. When you ask someone to be in your wedding party — sometimes called a "will you be my bridesmaid" or "will you be my groomsman" moment. Usually a small token: a card, a little box of treats, a personalised keyring.
On the wedding morning. This is the most popular option. Hand them their gift while you're all getting ready together — it's emotional, photographs beautifully, and gives them something to enjoy on the day itself.
At the rehearsal dinner or the night before. More common with American influences, but a quietly lovely option if you're having a small gathering the night before the wedding.
If you're only giving one gift, make it the wedding-morning one. The proposal gift is genuinely optional and many UK couples skip it entirely.
How Much Should You Spend Per Person?
Honest answer: whatever you can afford, given everything else you're spending on the wedding. Some rough UK averages from 2026:
Bridesmaids: £20–£50 each is typical. Up to £80 for the maid of honour.
Groomsmen: £25–£60 each. Up to £100 for the best man.
Flower girls and page boys: £10–£25 — small and lovely is the rule.
Parents of the couple: Often £50–£150, though this is a separate gift category.
There's no rule that bridesmaid and groomsman gifts have to cost the same amount, by the way. They often cost completely different things because they often want completely different things. What matters is that the thought is roughly equal.
Do Bridesmaids Have to Buy the Bride a Gift Too?
This goes both ways. Many bridesmaids do put together a joint gift for the bride — often a personalised photo book of the hen do, a piece of jewellery, or a wedding-morning hamper. It's not required, but if you've got bridesmaids who are doing the traditional thing and giving you something, you don't have to feel awkward about giving them gifts back. The exchange is mutual, not transactional.
"Will You Be My Bridesmaid?" — Proposal Gift Ideas
This is the bit where you formally ask your closest people to stand next to you on the day. Some people make a real moment of it; others just send a WhatsApp. Both are fine. If you do want to do something a bit more thoughtful, a small proposal gift makes it feel proper.
What Goes in a Bridesmaid Proposal Box
The classic UK bridesmaid proposal box has four or five small things in it. You don't need to spend a fortune — the whole box should land somewhere between £15 and £35 per person. Common contents:
A card. Either bought or handwritten. "Will you be my bridesmaid?" printed on the front, a personal note inside about why you want them there.
A small keepsake. Something they can keep that doesn't scream "wedding." A personalised keyring with a photo of the two of you, a charm bracelet, or a small acrylic photo block.
Something edible or drinkable. Mini bottle of prosecco or champagne, a posh chocolate bar, a small bottle of gin. Always goes down well.
A treat or self-care item. Bath bomb, lip balm, a candle, a face mask. Makes it feel pampering rather than utilitarian.
Something useful for wedding planning. A pretty notebook, a pen, a fridge magnet for the hen do save-the-date.
Personalised Bridesmaid Proposal Gift Ideas
These are the small, thoughtful items that turn a basic box into something they'll actually feel emotional about.
Photo keyring with a picture of the two of you. One of the best £5 gifts in this whole guide. Pick a photo that shows your friendship — holiday, school days, a silly night out — and pop it on a heart-shaped keyring. It's small, it's personal, and they'll keep it on their keys for years.
Personalised "will you be my bridesmaid" mug. A photo mug with a picture of you both and "Will you be my bridesmaid?" as text. They get the question and the gift in the same object. Bonus points if you fill it with their favourite chocolates.
Acrylic photo heart. A small heart-shaped acrylic block printed with a photo of you together. Sits on a desk or shelf and looks proper grown-up — a step up from the usual proposal-box trinkets.
Engraved jewellery. A simple necklace or bracelet with their initial, your wedding date, or a meaningful word. Pick something they'll actually wear after the wedding too.
Personalised candle. Their name on the label, a scent that matches their personality. Yankee Candle and a thousand small UK makers do these in any budget.
Customised "maid of honour" or "bridesmaid" card. Sometimes the card itself is the gift, especially if you've handwritten a proper letter inside. Don't underestimate this one.
"Will You Be My Groomsman?" — Proposal Gift Ideas
Groomsmen proposals are catching on in the UK, though they're still less common than bridesmaid ones. The vibe is usually less formal — fewer matching gift bags, more pub-and-a-pint energy. But a small token still goes down well.
What Goes in a Groomsmen Proposal Gift
Most groomsmen proposal gifts are simpler than bridesmaid ones. A typical kit:
A card or a printed "I need a best man"-style note. Don't buy something tacky from a service station — a hand-written card always wins.
Something they'll actually use. A bottle opener, a hip flask, a leather keyring, a pair of socks they'll wear on the day.
A drink. Miniature spirits, a craft beer, a small bottle of whisky. Easy win.
Optional: a planning checklist or stag-do hint. Especially for the best man. Sets the tone that you're trusting them with a job, not just hanging on for their company.
Personalised Groomsmen Proposal Gift Ideas
Photo keyring with a memorable picture. Pick the rectangular shape — it lets you fit two photos, one on each side. A photo of you both at university or a stag-do classic on one side, and the wedding date or a daft caption on the other.
Personalised hip flask. Etched or engraved with their name, your wedding date, or an inside joke. A bit of a cliché at this point, but a cliché because it works.
Custom photo mug. "World's Best Future Best Man" printed under a photo of the two of you. Lands well over a pint and they'll use it every day.
Engraved pen or wallet. Subtle, properly grown-up, and useful for years after the wedding. Goes well with a card asking them to be your best man.
Personalised cufflinks. A bit traditional, but if they're wearing a suit on the day anyway, a pair of cufflinks engraved with their initials or your wedding date is a gift that becomes part of the actual outfit.
A small box of their favourite things. Their go-to crisps, their preferred whisky, a record they like. The rare gift that proves you actually pay attention to them as a person.
Bridesmaid Thank-You Gifts: Wedding Morning Ideas
This is the gift most people focus on — the proper thank-you, given on the morning of the wedding while everyone's getting ready, drinking fizz, and trying not to cry into their mascara.
Wedding Morning Practicals
These are gifts they can use that day, that morning, in the room with you:
Personalised dressing gowns or robes. "Bridesmaid" or their initial embroidered on a satin or waffle robe. Genuinely useful for getting-ready photos and the night before. Around £20–£35 each.
Slippers and pyjamas sets. Comfortable for the morning, photographable for the inevitable group selfie.
Personalised hangers. Wooden hangers engraved with each bridesmaid's name. Makes the dress photos look beautiful, and they keep the hanger afterwards.
Make-up bags or wash bags. Small, embroidered, useful for years afterwards. Brilliantly practical without being boring.
Hair accessories. Especially if your wedding has a specific look — a matching set of clips, slides, or pins works for the day and beyond.
Personalised Keepsakes They'll Keep Forever
These are the thank-you gifts that outlast the dress, the speeches and the dancing. They're the ones your bridesmaids will still have on their shelves in five years.
Photo book of your friendship. A small 20×20cm photo book filled with pictures of the two of you over the years — from primary school photos to the night before the hen do. Honestly, this one makes people cry. In the best way.
Personalised photo heart. A small acrylic block with a photo of the two of you and the wedding date subtly printed underneath. Sits on a desk, looks lovely, doesn't shout "WEDDING" every time they look at it.
Engraved jewellery box. A wooden or velvet-lined box with their name on the lid. Pairs perfectly with whatever jewellery you're giving them to wear on the day.
Photo mug with the bridal party. A group photo from the hen do or the engagement party, printed on a heart-handle or classic ceramic mug. Useful, personal, and they'll think of you every morning.
Custom-printed scarf or pashmina. Especially good for autumn or winter weddings — they can wear it on the day if it's chilly, and keep it forever.
Star map of your friendship date. A printed map of the night sky on a date that means something — the day you met, the day they accepted being your bridesmaid, your wedding day. Beautifully sentimental.
Personalised photo cushion. A picture of you both, or a group shot, on a soft cushion. Better than it sounds and far less twee than the description suggests.
The Wedding Morning Hamper
If you can't decide on one thing, do a hamper. A small basket or box, prettily wrapped, with five or six smaller items inside. The trick is variety — something to wear, something to eat, something personal, something practical.
A typical wedding-morning hamper for around £40–£60 per bridesmaid:
A personalised mug with a photo of the two of you
A small bottle of prosecco
A face mask and lip balm
Their wedding-day jewellery (necklace, earrings, or bracelet)
A handwritten card with what they mean to you
Optional: a small bag of mini chocolates or biscuits to nibble while getting ready
Groomsmen Thank-You Gifts: Day-of Ideas
Groomsmen thank-you gifts tend to be smaller boxes with fewer items, and they lean more practical. The good news: blokes are often easier to buy for than they get credit for, as long as you avoid generic novelty rubbish.
Practical Wedding Day Gifts
Engraved cufflinks. Worn on the day, kept forever, classic for a reason. Around £20–£50 each.
Personalised socks. Yes, really. "Groomsman" socks they wear on the day, often photographed during the suit-up shots. Dafter than they sound and weirdly popular.
Tie or pocket square. If you're providing the suit but not the accessories, a personalised tie clip or a quality pocket square in the wedding colours is a thoughtful touch.
Hip flask filled with their preferred spirit. Engraved on the front. Can be quietly enjoyed during the speeches.
Personalised bottle of beer or whisky. UK breweries and distilleries do custom labels for as little as £8–£15. Very giftable.
Watch box or wallet. Engraved on the inside with their name or your wedding date. Everyday useful, properly thoughtful.
Lasting Keepsake Ideas for Groomsmen
Photo keyring with the rectangular two-photo design. One side shows a photo of the two of you (uni mates, holiday, stag do), the other shows your wedding date. Brilliant little thing they'll actually use on their keys.
A photo mug with a daft caption. "Chief Speech-Writer." "Best Man (Self-Appointed)." "He Knows Where The Bodies Are Buried." If they're a daft mate, lean into it.
Engraved Swiss Army knife or multi-tool. Practical for years, a proper grown-up gift. Especially good for outdoorsy mates.
Customised photo block. A wooden or acrylic block with a photo of the wedding party on the day itself. Order them after the wedding as a follow-up gift, once you've got the photos back from the photographer.
A favourite bottle, framed. Their go-to spirit, mounted in a custom frame with the wedding date. A bit Pinterest, but stunning when done right.
Tickets to something. A football match for their team. A gig they've mentioned. A weekend away with their partner. Experience gifts are an underrated groomsman option, especially if you've got a smaller wedding party and the budget per person is higher.
Personalised Gifts That Work for Both Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
Some gifts cross the divide nicely — they suit anyone in the wedding party, regardless of role. These are particularly handy if you've got a mixed wedding party (bridespeople, groomspeople, gender-neutral wedding parties) or if you just want one ordering process to cover everyone.
Universal Wedding Party Gift Ideas
Personalised photo mug. Works for absolutely everyone. Pick a different photo for each person and you've got individualised gifts that all share the same format. Quick, easy, and brilliant value.
Personalised photo keyring. Heart-shaped for bridesmaids, rectangular for groomsmen, or pick whichever works for the person. Goes everywhere they go.
Engraved water bottle. Useful at the wedding and for years afterwards. Insulated metal options work for tea, coffee, or chilled water.
Personalised notebook. Their name on a leather or hardback cover. Good for a wedding party that includes thoughtful types — friends who journal, write, or work with notebooks for their job.
Custom-printed photo book of the friendship. Whether it's your bridesmaid or your groomsman, a photo book of your shared history is one of those gifts that doesn't care about gender norms.
If you've got a wedding party of six or eight, the easiest approach is to pick one product format — say, photo mugs — and order one for each person with a different photo. Same gift, completely individual, no stress about who got what.
Special Gifts for the Maid of Honour and Best Man
These two have done more than anyone else — written speeches, organised hen and stag dos, fielded panicky phone calls at midnight. They deserve something a bit more substantial than the rest of the wedding party.
Maid of Honour Gift Ideas
A personalised photo album of the friendship. Different from a photo book — a proper hardcover album with thicker pages, bigger format, and a longer story. From childhood photos to the wedding day.
If you want a steer on putting one of these together, our guide to wedding photo album ideas walks through formats, sizes, and the styles that suit different wedding aesthetics. It's pitched at the bride's own album, but the same principles apply if you're making one for your maid of honour.
Designer jewellery. A piece that costs slightly more than the bridesmaids' jewellery — same colour family or style, but a step up in quality.
A weekend away. A spa day, a hotel stay with her partner, a city break. Big budget, big gesture, big appreciation.
Custom artwork or print. A framed print of a meaningful place — the venue, where you grew up together, where the hen do happened. Properly thoughtful.
A handwritten letter. Sounds simple, but a letter detailing what she's meant to you, what you've been through together, and what you wish for her, is the gift most maids of honour cry over.
Best Man Gift Ideas
Engraved watch or watch winder. If your budget allows, a proper watch is the all-time classic best-man gift. If not, a beautiful wooden watch box engraved with his name and the wedding date.
A bottle of something good. Single malt, decent gin, vintage wine — something properly nice that he wouldn't buy himself. Around £40–£80.
A custom whisky stones set. Soapstone or steel cubes, engraved presentation box. Lovely with a bottle of the right whisky.
Personalised leather wallet or watch strap. Useful, classic, and properly grown-up.
A photo book of your friendship. A 30-page hardcover going through the highlights of your friendship — weddings, birthdays, holidays, daft pub nights. Sentimental in a way blokes don't often get to be.
Flower Girl and Page Boy Gifts
Smaller people, smaller budgets, but no less important. The trick with kids' wedding party gifts is to keep them age-appropriate — fun rather than precious.
Flower Girl Ideas
Personalised storybook with her name printed throughout
A small charm necklace or bracelet (age-appropriate metal, please)
Custom hair clips matching her wedding outfit
A personalised teddy bear with the wedding date embroidered on the foot
A photo keyring for her schoolbag with a photo of her at the wedding
A small jewellery box with her name on the lid
Page Boy Ideas
Personalised wooden toy car or train
A small backpack with his name embroidered on it
A picture book featuring weddings or families
Custom dinosaur figures or Lego sets
A small camera (a proper kids' one) so he can take photos at the wedding
A photo mug with a picture of him in his page-boy outfit — ordered after the day, sent a few weeks later as a follow-up gift
Aim for £10–£25 per child. Anything more is usually wasted on a four-year-old. The card and the moment matter more than the price tag.
Building a Brilliant Bridesmaid Box (Without Breaking the Bank)
If you're after the wedding-morning hamper or proposal-box approach, here's how to build one that feels considered rather than a random pile of bits.
The 5-Item Rule
A good bridesmaid box has roughly five items in five different categories. More than that and it starts to feel chaotic; fewer and it feels thin.
Something to wear. Robe, slippers, hair accessory, jewellery for the day.
Something personal. Photo gift, monogrammed item, handwritten card, charm with their initial.
Something edible or drinkable. Mini bottle, posh chocolate, wedding-themed biscuits.
Something self-care. Bath bomb, candle, lip balm, face mask.
Personalised satin robe with embroidered initial (£20)
Photo mug with a picture of the two of you (£8)
Mini bottle of prosecco or gin (£6)
Quality candle (£8)
Handwritten card (£3)
£60–£80 per bridesmaid
Designer-style robe (£30)
Personalised jewellery box (£15)
Photo book of your friendship, 20×20cm softcover (£15)
Quality bath and body set (£12)
Mini bottle of champagne (£8)
Handwritten letter, not just a card
Building a Great Groomsmen Box
Groomsmen boxes can be smaller and a bit more focused. Three or four items, all properly chosen, beats a sprawling box of stuff they'll lose.
Three Groomsmen Box Examples by Budget
Under £30 per groomsman
Personalised photo keyring with rectangular two-photo design (£5)
Mini bottle of his preferred spirit (£8)
Quality socks for the day (£8)
Personalised card or note (£3)
£40–£60 per groomsman
Engraved hip flask (£20)
Custom photo mug (£8)
Personalised socks for the wedding (£10)
Bottle of nice beer or craft spirit (£8)
Card with a personal note
£75–£100 per groomsman
Engraved cufflinks (£35)
Quality bottle of whisky or gin (£35)
Personalised leather wallet or watch box (£20)
Handwritten card detailing what they mean to you
Why Photo Gifts Win for Wedding Parties
If we're biased towards anything in this guide, it's photo gifts — because we make them, and because they genuinely do something other wedding party gifts can't. They make the gift specific to that person.
A bridesmaid robe is lovely, but every bridesmaid in the country has one. A bottle of gin is generous, but a thousand stag-do gifts are bottles of gin. A photo of the two of you, on a mug or a keyring or in a printed book — that's a gift that no one else can give them.
The Best Photo Gifts for Wedding Parties
Photo mugs. Daily-use, properly personal, daft if you want them to be. Brilliant for groomsmen who'll appreciate a captioned mug, or bridesmaids who'll cry at a sentimental one.
Photo keyrings. Pocket-sized memory of the friendship. Heart shape works beautifully for bridesmaids; rectangular fits two photos for groomsmen.
Photo hearts (acrylic blocks). A small, free-standing keepsake that doesn't shout about being a wedding gift. Sits on a desk, a shelf, a mantelpiece — wherever they want a small reminder of the friendship.
Photo books. The deepest version. A whole book of your shared history. Hardcover for special people, softcover for budget-friendly versions of the same emotional gut-punch.
MIXPIX® photo tiles. If you want to do something a bit different, a set of small photo tiles makes a brilliant hen-do gift — each bridesmaid gets a tile featuring her with the bride, and they all hang together as a wall display at the hen accommodation. Big group hit.
One thing worth knowing about photo gifts: the photo matters more than the product. A blurry, poorly-lit photo will look bad on anything. A sharp, well-composed photo of the two of you laughing in good light will look brilliant on a £5 keyring or a £30 photo book.
Spend a bit of time picking the right photo before you order. Modern smartphones from the last five or so years all take photos that print beautifully on the gift sizes covered in this guide.
What NOT to Give Your Wedding Party
A short list of mistakes we've seen people regret afterwards.
Generic "Bridesmaid" / "Groomsman"-branded tat. If it's screen-printed with the word "Bridesmaid" and nothing else, they will use it once. The personalised version of the same item costs about the same and lasts.
Matching gifts that ignore the actual person. Five identical robes for five very different women might feel cohesive on Pinterest, but in real life, your athletic bridesmaid doesn't want the same satin robe as your bookworm one.
Anything you bought because Pinterest said so. Pinterest has its place, but if you wouldn't buy this person any of these things outside a wedding context, don't do it now.
"Bride tribe" anything if your bridesmaids hate the phrase. Some people genuinely love it. Others find it cringe. Know your audience.
Cheap jewellery that looks cheap. Better to spend the same money on one thoughtful thing than three forgettable ones.
Anything edible without checking allergies. Particularly worth saying out loud. A nut-allergy bridesmaid does not want a box of nut-coated chocolates.
Last-minute panic buys. If you're ordering anything personalised, give yourself at least 2–3 weeks before the wedding. Some products take 5–7 days to print and 3–5 days to deliver, and you do not want to be sourcing replacement gifts at 9pm the night before.
Wedding Party Gifts on a Tight Budget
Not every wedding has £500 spare for thank-you gifts. Here's how to do it well on a smaller budget.
Under £15 per Person
It's genuinely possible. The trick is to lean fully into personalisation — cheap-and-personal beats expensive-and-generic every time.
A photo keyring with a picture of the two of you (£5)
A handwritten card detailing what they mean to you (£3)
A small bottle of fizz (£6)
All wrapped in a pretty bag with tissue paper (£1)
Total: roughly £15 per person, but it feels like much more because every single element is specific to them.
Under £25 per Person
Now you can add a personalised photo mug, which is the big upgrade in this bracket.
Personalised photo mug with a picture of the two of you (£8)
Personalised photo keyring (£5)
Mini bottle of prosecco (£6)
Posh chocolate bar (£3)
Handwritten card (£3)
Where to Save and Where to Spend
Save on: Generic items that aren't personal — candles, edible bits, drinks. These are background items in the gift box.
Spend on: The personalised, photo-based, name-on-it stuff. This is what they'll remember.
Save by: Buying drinks and treats from supermarkets rather than gift shops, which can charge double for the same thing in nicer wrapping.
Spend by: Investing the saved money into one really good personal item per person.
Beyond the Wedding: Anniversary Gifts and Follow-Ups
One of the loveliest things you can do is a small follow-up gift months after the wedding — a thank-you for being there, sent when no one's expecting it.
A photo mug printed with a picture of them at your wedding, sent two months later. A small photo book of the wedding day, sent at the one-year mark. A framed photo of the speeches. These don't have to be expensive — the surprise factor does most of the work.
This same logic works beautifully for the couple's own anniversary, by the way. If you're married yourself and looking for ideas, our first wedding anniversary gift guide runs through the paper-theme tradition and modern alternatives in detail. And our wedding photo book guide walks through how to put together a proper memory book of the day — useful both as your own keepsake and as a gift for parents and the wedding party.
A Final Word
The best bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts aren't necessarily the most expensive ones. They're the ones that look like you actually thought about the person. A photo of the two of you. A reference to a specific memory. Their actual name and not just "Bridesmaid" in a generic font.
Whatever you choose, take a few minutes to write a properly personal note to go with it. Your wedding party will keep that note long after the candle has burned out and the prosecco bottle has been recycled. The thing they'll come back to over the years is what you said and how you said it.
Have fun choosing. These are some of the more enjoyable purchases in the whole wedding-planning process — a chance to show the people you love most exactly how much they mean to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I spend on bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts?
UK averages in 2026 are around £20–£50 per bridesmaid, £25–£60 per groomsman, and a bit more (£40–£80) for maid of honour and best man. There's no rule — spend what feels right given your overall wedding budget. Personalised gifts often look more expensive than they are, so a thoughtful £20 gift can feel as generous as a generic £50 one.
When should I give my bridesmaids and groomsmen their gifts?
Most UK couples give them on the wedding morning while everyone's getting ready. It's emotional, photographs beautifully, and gives them something to enjoy on the day. Some couples also give a small proposal gift when they first ask the person to be in the wedding party. The rehearsal dinner is a third option, more common for larger weddings.
Do I have to give my bridesmaids gifts?
It's not a legal requirement, but it's become standard etiquette in the UK. Your bridesmaids have probably spent hundreds on hen do, dresses and accommodation — a small thank-you gift is a way of recognising that effort. Even a handwritten card and something tiny is enough.
What goes in a bridesmaid proposal box?
Typically four to five items: a card asking the question, a small personal keepsake (photo keyring, charm, candle), something edible or drinkable, a self-care item like a bath bomb or face mask, and optionally something useful for wedding planning. Total budget around £15–£35 per box.
Do groomsmen need to bring a gift to the wedding?
Not as part of being a groomsman, no. Some groomsmen do put together a joint gift for the couple — a hamper, a photo album of the stag do, or a contribution towards the honeymoon — but it's entirely optional. The fact that they're standing up there with you, having put time and money into the day, is the gift.
What's the most popular bridesmaid gift in the UK in 2026?
Personalised dressing gowns or robes for the wedding morning are still the single most popular bridesmaid gift in the UK. Beyond that, personalised jewellery, photo gifts and small wedding-morning hampers are all extremely common. The trend in 2026 is clearly towards genuinely personal, useful items rather than generic "bridesmaid"-branded products.
What can I give a groomsman who has everything?
Photo gifts almost always win in this situation — because no one can have a personalised photo of the two of you that they don't already have. A photo book of your friendship, a custom photo mug with an inside joke, or a personalised keyring with a meaningful photo all sidestep the "he has everything" problem completely. Experience gifts (concert tickets, a meal out, a weekend somewhere) are another good answer.
Should bridesmaids and groomsmen get the same gift?
They don't have to. Most couples give bridesmaids and groomsmen completely different gifts because the two halves of the wedding party tend to want different things. What matters is that the thought and budget feel roughly equal across both sides — not that the actual items are matching.
How far in advance should I order personalised wedding party gifts?
At least 3–4 weeks before the wedding. Personalised photo gifts typically take 2–7 working days to produce and another 3–5 working days for UK delivery. If you're ordering for a big wedding party, build in extra time for proofing and any reprints if a photo doesn't come out right.
What's the difference between a wedding party gift and a wedding favour?
Wedding favours are small thank-you gifts given to all guests — typically tiny items like sweets, mini bottles, or seed packets at each place setting. Wedding party gifts are bigger, more personal thank-yous given specifically to the bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, and other key roles. The two don't overlap — your bridesmaids should get a proper gift and a favour, not just one or the other.
Can I give a group gift to all my bridesmaids together?
You can, but most couples find individual gifts work better. Each bridesmaid has a different relationship with you, and a personalised individual gift acknowledges that. A group gift can feel like a tick-box exercise. The exception is something like a shared experience — a spa day, an afternoon tea — which can work brilliantly as a joint thank-you alongside small individual gifts.
What should I write in a bridesmaid or groomsman thank-you card?
Specifics. "Thank you for being amazing" is forgettable; "Thank you for the night you came round at 11pm with wine when I couldn't face the seating plan" is unforgettable. Pick one or two specific moments from your friendship and your wedding planning, and reference them directly. The card matters more than the gift.
