12 Creative Bridesmaid Invitation Ideas

Your girls are important to you, and so is your wedding. You need girls by your side who you love and trust to help you plan. Weddings aren't all work though -- let them know just how fun your wedding day will be by asking them to join your bridal party in a creative way.

1. Scavenger hunt

Source: Scavenger Hunt

For the girls who love puzzles. There are a couple of ways you can do this one. For a memory-based hunt, leave clues in your favorite or significant places to lead her around your city. At the end, meet her with a gift basket (or one of these great tote bags!) and ask her to be your bridesmaid. This one will take a lot of planning, so it might be best to save it for your Maid of Honor. Or, make the scavenger hunt wedding themed and have a list of specific items rather than clues, and have the girls team up to complete it together.

2. Be my “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”

Source: Something Blue

For the more sentimental type, write a sweet letter to your girls, like this one:

Tradition says there are 4 things a bride needs on her wedding day: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. I’m not sure about all that, but I do know:

our friendship is old,

our dresses will be new,

I may borrow your shoes,

and I’m blue without you!

Be my bridesmaid?

3. Custom shoes

Source: Sandals, Gold Shoe

While the converse-and-wedding-dress shoe trend may be fading, writing a note on the bottom of the bride or groom’s shoes isn’t. Extend this to your bridesmaids by giving them a pair of shoes you know they’ll love. These can be flats, tennis shoes, or stilettos. If you have enough planned for your wedding, you can give all the girls matching shoes they can wear to the wedding and/or reception. Write a note on the bottom asking them to be your ‘maids!

4. Send her flowers

Source: Floral Arrangement

Who says you can’t send your friend flowers? Most girls love getting flowers. Send her a gorgeous arrangement; just don’t forget to sign the card!

5. Ask with food

Source: Bridesmaid Cookies

You can’t go wrong with food. There are also tons of options for asking someone to be your bridesmaid that involve food. Take her out to dinner. Order delivery and binge-watch all the romantic comedies on Netflix. Decorate fudge or cookies together (ask her to be your bridesmaid in icing – who could say no to that?!) Maybe she loves a strange food combo, like Michael from Princess Diaries loves skittles on pizza. Instead of “Sorry”, write “Bridesmaid?”

6. Coffee

Source: Bridesmaid Mug, Polka Dot Personalized Mug

Arrange to meet up with her for coffee, but arrive early and order for her. Have the barista write “will you be my bridesmaid?” on her cup. You may need to be a little crafty with this one if she doesn’t notice right away. You could ask “Oh, did I grab your cup on accident? What’s the name?” For the eco-friendly coffee lover, or just for a more permanent gift, get a personalized coffee mug and have the barista use that for her coffee.

7. Personalized (wine) bottle label

Source: Personalized Wine Bottle Label

Get a bottle of her favorite wine, champagne, or other drink an put a personalized label on it. You can order a bottle with the label or make your own.

Want to do more than a bottle of wine? Check out these personalized wine-themed gifts!

8. Video invitation

Source: Video Invitation

For your long distance girls: you can still make the invitation more personal and exciting than a phone call or text. There are tons of cute videos going around the internet where someone makes signs instead of talking to share a story, reveal a pregnancy, or any other reason! You have complete control over this one, so make it as sappy or funny as you want. Maybe your invitation will go viral!

9. Are you having a destination wedding?

Source: Passport Cover

Give her a passport cover with a note inside! Bonus points if the note is on paper that looks like a passport page and is stamped with wherever you’re going (even if it doesn’t require a passport to get there).

10. Use your dog

Source: Dog Invitation

Do your girls love dogs? Or maybe your fiancé proposed to you by putting a ring on a puppy’s collar. A dog is probably the most adorable way to ask anyone anything. So why not your bridesmaids? Hang a sign around your dog’s neck, or just let him lay there and look cute with a sign next to him, if he doesn’t like things around his neck. Can he fetch a newspaper? Have him deliver a rolled up note to your girl.

11. Custom nail polish label

Source: Personalized Nail Polish, Maid Up Kit

Put together your own make-up kit (hint: use your wedding colors!) with nail polish and remover, a nail trimming set, eye liner and shadow, lip liner and lip stick, mascara, blush, foundation, highlighter or any combination of these! If possible, create a custom label for the containers.

12. Scratch off card

Source: Scratch Off Card

You’ve won the lottery with your fiancé, so let your girls share some of your luck with a super cute scratch-off invitation.

There are hundreds of ways to ask someone you care about to be your bridesmaid. The hard part is choosing which way to ask! What’s your favorite?

Elizabeth graduated from The University of Findlay with a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing. She now resides in Portland, Oregon where she is employed in the real estate business and is particularly enjoying the local cuisine. As a writer, Elizabeth believes in a quote from one of her favorite TV shows: "We have only two jobs on this Earth. The first: to learn. The second: to cope." A deep desire to learn struck Elizabeth when she was young, and now she hopes to help you cope by sharing information, and helping you apply the knowledge. Weddings and event planning can be overwhelming; sometimes it's okay to take a little advice from a stranger on the internet.

4 Ways To Wow Your Bridesmaids With "Totes Adorable" Bags

Tote bags are the absolute best kind of bags. All the storage space of a beach bag with all the style of a purse? And they’re so versatile. You can actually use one as a beach bag one day and then as a purse the next. Sign me up!

I don’t know who had the idea to start using tote bags as gift baskets, but they must be a genius. You can stuff them full of presents and give them as bridesmaid invitations or bridesmaid thank-you gifts, travel bags, morning-of bags – so many options!

Source: Gold Metallic Tote, Canvas and Leather Tote

Will you be my bridesmaid?

Give your best girls everything they’ll need to be your best bridesmaids. If you’re unsure what to include, start with a sweet letter explaining why you chose them to be your bridesmaid and then use that letter to come up with ideas. Have you known her since high school? Frame that super embarrassing photo of the two of you from your yearbook. Work friends? How about an essential oil diffuser and bottle of oil for her desk? Siblings? Get matching anklets.

Here are some general ideas, too:

• A small bag of coffee or a gift card to her favorite coffee shop
• A bottle of wine—or whatever her booze of choice is!
• Candles
• Jewelry
• A nice picture frame with a note inside that says “insert picture of us from my wedding here”
• Her favorite candy or snack
• If your wedding has a theme, don’t forget to include a related item or two! If you know all the details already, make sure there's a note with the date and location of the wedding.

If you’re worried about your potential for being a bridezilla, throw in a gift that will help everyone: a “tame the bride” gift, so to speak. What makes you happy? Put your favorite candy, a picture of you and your fiancé, a favorite CD, a scented candle, or even a bottle of alcohol. Attach a card that says “open in an emergency!” If (when) you start to freak out, whichever bridesmaid is closest can whip out her emergency kit and everything will be peachy again in no time at all.

Hand-deliver the gift bags to each girl or invite everyone out to brunch or dinner so you can all celebrate together.

Source: Silver Dipped Tote, Brunch, Personalized Floral Design Tote

If a formal outing isn't quite your style, opt for a sleepover! Start the night by giving the girls their beautiful, personalized tote bags, which should be full of all the ingredients needed for your best girls’ night yet:

• Face masks
• Eye covers and ear plugs
• Nail polish
• temporary tattoos
• a mixtape (even better if you make a different, personalized one for each girl!)
• Popcorn and toppings
• Your favorite candy from when you were kids
• Alcohol
• Hot chocolate
• Cards
• Games
• Give your girls a few minutes to gush and be excited for you and then turn on your party playlist and let the festivities begin!

Thank you for carrying my emotional baggage – here’s a tote bag to make it easier on you

Your bridesmaids, mother, mother-in-law, and others worked tirelessly to not only make your wedding day extra special, but made sure the entire planning process went as smoothly as possible. Even though they already know you love them, make sure to thank them with an extra-thoughtful gift full of proof of your friendship and gratitude.

• Coffee
• Alcohol
• A small photo album with pictures from the wedding planning process
• Jewelry
• A locket keychain
• A small shadowbox for their bouquet (if you're really on top of things, have someone collect their bouquets or corsages at the end of the reception for you so you can put the flowers in the boxes yourself. Just be sure your girls know they'll get the flowers back soon!) 
• For an extra special gift, throw in an IOU as a promise to meet up for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine when you return from your honeymoon
• Of course, you can't forget the letter telling them how much you appreciate them and everything they do for you

Morning-of kits

Another perfect use for a tote bag is to help you keep track of all your things while you are getting ready the morning of your wedding.

This would be a great time to give your bridesmaids their thank-you bags, too! Along with the bag, throw in some things they may need to get through the day:

• Personalized coffee mug (don't forget to provide the coffee, too!)
• A protein or energy bar
• Matching jewelry for everyone to wear that day
• Flip flops if it's hot, or a cardigan if it's cold
• A small bottle of perfume
• For the “thank you” part, follow the same guidelines from above—gifts should be thoughtful, unique, and should remind your bridal party why they were asked to be bridesmaids.

Spread the love on your honeymoon

Don’t let your bridesmaids have all the fun – get a bag (or two) for yourself! They’re a great size for a carry on bag for a flight, and some are even small enough to count as a personal item.

Source: Gray Weekender Tote, Blue Travel Tote, Canvas and Faux Leather Women's Weekend Bag

Taking a road trip? I put all of my road trip necessities in tote bags. The rectangular, somewhat stiff bottom paired with the soft sides allows tote bags to fit just about perfectly on the floor behind the front seats. Keep all your snacks, games, and travel guides within your reach, but out of the way. Not to mention, when the bags are empty, they take up next to no space, but don’t create the trash that plastic or paper bags do.

There’s no bad reason to buy a tote bag, we know that. But having a great reason is so much more fun – and so is sharing that reason! Besides, when it’s done being used as a gift bag,  a tote bag can go on to lead a very useful and varied life, being used as anything from an overnight bag to a grocery bag to a diaper bag, and it will carry the memories from your wedding with it everywhere. What’s your favorite use for your personalized tote bag, and where or why did you get the bag? Comment below!

Elizabeth graduated from The University of Findlay with a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing. She now resides in Portland, Oregon where she is employed in the real estate business and is particularly enjoying the local cuisine. As a writer, Elizabeth believes in a quote from one of her favorite TV shows: "We have only two jobs on this Earth. The first: to learn. The second: to cope." A deep desire to learn struck Elizabeth when she was young, and now she hopes to help you cope by sharing information, and helping you apply the knowledge. Weddings and event planning can be overwhelming; sometimes it's okay to take a little advice from a stranger on the internet.

Ultimate Bridesmaid Gift Guide

Your bridesmaids are your closest friends, so you know what kinds of things they love, but it can still be difficult to decide what to get them as a gift for helping you down the aisle. You want to thank them for standing by your side through dress fittings, showers, planning every last little detail, and finally as you exchange your vows - something that they will treasure for years and hopefully use quite a bit. We've collected some fun, affordable bridesmaids gift ideas that your ladies will love to help make the process a little bit easier.

Are your girls always on the go? If she is constantly jetting off to somewhere new - whether for fun or business - chances are she would love a passport holder personalized with her name or initials. If her travel destinations are a little closer to home - think the beach or the gym - she might enjoy one of these super cute embroidered tote bags.

Personalized Nappa Leather USA Passport Holder / Personalized Chevron Buckle Tote Bag / Personalized Hand Bags and Shopping Totes

Is she more inclined to spend the night at home relaxing or pampering herself with spa treatments? A plush or satin embroidered robe is likely to have her overjoyed! As a bonus, you will get to take advantage of all your ladies in adorable robes as you all get ready on the morning of your big day - making for perfect pictures to remember it by.

Embroidered White Plush Spa Robe / Personalized Solid Color Satin Knee Length Bridesmaids Robe / Personalized Floral Satin Bridesmaids Kimono Robe

Wine lovers everywhere are rejoicing over customized wine troughs (printed with initial, names, or a custom line of text). When it isn't being used to keep her favorite wines cool, it doubles as a decorative storage solution in the home. Engraved glassware is always a hit, and can be paired with a bottle of their favorite wine for an extra personal touch.

Custom Printed Rustic Wood Trough Wine Chiller / 4 Pc. Personalized 19 Oz. White Wine Glass Set / 4 Pc. Monogrammed 21 Oz. Stemless Wine Glass Set / 4 Pc. Monogrammed 16 Oz. Stemless Red Wine Glass Set

If she loves entertaining in her home, another fun gift is a unique accessory for entertaining. Gift your girls with a beautiful serving tray or cheese board, or an engraved recipe book or tablet stand. Wood candle holders are perfect for storing silverware once the candles are removed, and a wine trough doubles as a book, mail, or magazine holder. These are gifts that just keep giving, as they are used over and over in her home. 

Personalized Rustic Wood Serving Tray / Personalized Stained Rustic Wood Stand / Personalized Gourmet 5 Piece Cheese Board Set with Utensils / Custom Engraved Rustic Wood Holder (shown holding both candles and silverware) / Custom Initial Rustic Wood Wine Trough (shown holding magazines)

Product Spotlight: Custom Embroidered Silk Bridesmaids Robes

Finding the perfect gift for your bridesmaids can be tough, but these personalized bridesmaids robes may just be the perfect solution. Not only do these stylish robes give you the chance to pamper your best girls - they also come in an assortment of colors in both solid and floral designs. Choose an assortment of colors to suit each of your ladies' styles, or a single color to keep all of your maids matching as you get ready. No matter the combination, you are sure to end up with beautiful pictures of your morning prep on your big day. 

Use the included satin tie as a bow on the gift box you present each robe in for a pretty presentation to wow your girls.

Have either a single block initial or full first name embroidered in your choice of thread colors for a truly unique bridesmaid gift. 

The Perfect Bridesmaid Gift...A Survival Kit

Personalized Bridesmaid Clutch with Survival Kit

The perfect bridesmaid gift for you to give to your bridesmaids is a survival kit. What is a survival kit you ask? Bridesmaid survival kits are cosmetic bag or small purse filled with the essentials that all ladies need for emergency situations. Most survival kits come with band aids, bobby pins, towelette, sewing kit, breath mints and of course a pack of Kleenex. This is perfect for all those little things that can and will go wrong on an important day. A personalized clutch is a great gift for your bridesmaids and they can use the survival kit for more than just your wedding celebration but for all kinds of special occasions that will come up during her life.

It would also be a fun idea to make your own survival kits if you are the DIY kind of gal. You can buy an inexpensive cosmetic bag or use a personalized bag and add all the essentials to the bags. If you really want to have some fun, make up some survival kits for the groomsmen as well. Here are a few more items other than the ones listed above you may want to add or consider adding to an already made up survival kit:

Personalized Lime Green Quilted Cosmetic Bag

For the Bridesmaids

• Lip Gloss
• Stain Remover Wipes
• Nail File
• Aspirin
• Tampon
• Safety Pins
• Trail Size Hair Spray
• Deodorant

Custom Printed 8 x 5 x 10 Frosted Gift Bags

For the Groomsmen

• Antacid
• Satin Remover Wipes
• Aspirin
• Trail Size Shaving Cream
• Disposable Razor
• Black Socks
• Safety Pins
• Chap Stick
• Deodorant

The above items can also be added to your wedding welcome bags that you are leaving for you hotel guests. This is a fun and inexpensive way to make your guests, bridesmaids and groomsmen feel appreciated and loved. Good Luck!