GRAB GELATO & GO

Finding gifts that travel easily, are useful, and will wow your bridesmaids are hard to come by.

I had a destination wedding in St. John USVI where I searched for weeks for the perfect beachy gifts for my girls. I needed to stay within my budget and had a goal to make these gifts as practical as possible. In the end, it was worth it and they loved them.

(Gift ideas for mom & dad at the end!)

Here are my secrets:

1. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick Balm

Color: Nude Lingerie

Not only was this lipstick GORGEOUS, but YSL offered FREE engraving on the lipstick cap. I had each bridesmaids names engraved, so it was a beautiful touch. Easy, lightweight, and useful for the wedding day.

Price: $43. I bought these during the Holidays, so they were on sale for $29.95 each.

2. Custom Canvas Tote Bag – Etsy – canvaseventco

This bag was a winner in my option. This Etsy shop allowed custom locations and coordinates on the canvas bag. I picked “St. John USVI” plus the coordinates of my reception venue (which was a super fun bar on the water). My girls used this as their beach bag for the trip. I am still using mine in my day to day life. I bought extra (because they were such an amazing price) for other women in my family.

I bought the larger bag size (16×15 inches), but they have a 9×11, too.

Price: $7 each + $4 shipping.

3. Personalized Turkish Beach Towel – Etsy ArastaCrafts

These towels were perfect for the beach! They felt thick but weren’t heavy. I had each girl’s name embroidered on the towel. The Black and Tan stripes matched the canvas bag perfectly.

Price: $12.95 each

4. Wedding Day Necklace- Etsy – ChicInGold

On the Etsy page, these necklaces are called “Small Freshwater Pearl Necklace.” These are BEAUTIFUL. They’re dainty yet noticeable, and match everything. I had my bridesmaids wear it on the wedding day. (I actually wore one at my Bridal Shower without them knowing, so they got a glimpse beforehand.) This will be a staple necklace even after the wedding.

Price: $27.95 each

5. Straw Clutch Bag – Amazon -Kajaia

I bought a pack of 6 of these. I needed to put the lipstick and necklace in something, and I wanted my girls to have a pouch for their canvas beach bag. They felt nice and were big enough to use as a wallet. They came in 2 different colors-one was a lighter straw color than the other. I liked both colors!

Price: $19.99/6 pack

6. Silk Scarf – Amazon- Fonyve

I needed an easy way tell the bags apart. So, I bought each girl their own silk scarf design to tie around the bag handle. I figured they could use them as a bandana at the beach, or keep it as a design for their bag. Super cute!

7. Getting Ready Robe – Etsy- SeptemberAndGraceINC

I really wanted everyone to have a robe that they could also use as a beach cover up. Turns out, there aren’t many that I thought could be used as both that were affordable. I went with a more predictable robe, but it was cute, and could definitely be used as a cover up. They were easy to pack, matched the beach theme well, and felt silky on.

Color: Dusty Blue

Price: $21 each

8. Matron of Honor Gift: Freshwater Pearl Bracelet- Etsy – MrsQCreation

I wanted my MOH to have something extra. I thought this bracelet matched the necklace well and could be worn day to day! It was beautiful and she loved it.

Price: $15.90

9. Mother of the Bride Gift: Photo Lining Purse – Etsy – Meshkadesign

I LOVED this gift for my mom. It was gorgeous, useful, and made me emotional. I picked a photo of us from when I was around 2 and it was printed in the lining of the bag. On the side opposite the picture, I had “I love you, Mom. 1.7.23” written in the lining. Instant tears! The outside is a combination of lace and sparkle.

Price: $59 + $8 shipping

10. Father of the Bride Gift: Custom Yeti Tumbler

I wanted a very practical gift for my dad. He loves his Yeti cups and it was easy to travel with. Yeti’s website has a lot of design options to choose from. I could have picked a beachy design to go with my beach wedding, but that isn’t really him. I picked the design of Yosemite from their National Parks Collection. My dad finds it fascinating that people can climb these rocks, so I wrote him a note telling him how he has shown me true perseverance like the rock climbers. I loved this gift.

Color: Navy

Price: $38