11 best bridal party gifts that will last long after the wedding

Show your support with a memorable gift that’s not cufflinks or novelty socks

Simple, understated and quality products are sure to impress (iStock/The Independent)

As anyone that has ever been remotely involved in planning a wedding can attest, it takes a whole heap of people to make the perfect day come to fruition. From family to friends, best men, ushers and bridesmaids, there’s a seemingly never-ending list of people that need thanking for their help and support.

Let’s be totally honest, there is a lot of naff stuff out there being touted as the perfect “thank you” gift. They’re full of cliches, often unwanted and we’d guess, never get used again. Weddings are expensive enough without wasting money on unnecessary junk.

So with this in mind, we’ve attempted to round up gifts that we think the recipients will genuinely love, long after the big day is over.

Step away from anything novelty – we’re looking at you socks, ties and cufflinks. Keep things chic and remember, this is your chance to really thank your loved ones for all they’ve contributed, so try to find something that will suit their individual personalities.

There’s no right or wrong time to give out your gifts – some people like to save it for the speeches, others will utilise the rehearsal dinner, or you could hand them over on the morning of the wedding.

Do whatever feels right for you and your party. Typically you’d buy a gift for the mother and father of the bride and groom, your maid of honour and bridesmaids, as well as the best man and ushers if you’re having them. Of course, this will depend on your budget. Whatever you decide, these gifts are a great opportunity to show them just how much the support they’ve given you in the run-up to the wedding has been appreciated.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

Tielle personalised spa waffle robe: £40, Tielle

Tielle make some of the best bedding in the word – fact. So good in fact, you’ll find their linens, towels and duvets in the world’s most stylish hotels – including The Savoy, Claridges and The Pig hotels. The robes are no exception and we think their spa waffle robe is excellent value. Make it really special by personalising with up to three initials on the chest, or alternatively a maximum of 16 characters along the back. Be a true friend and get her initials – no one wants to wear a gown emblazoned with “bridesmaid” after the day itself. If you must make it about you, you can select one of nine font colours (from chic black through to hot pink), so pick one to tie into your colour scheme and gift them early on in the day for the perfect “getting ready photo op”. We love this waffle quality, which is light enough to wrap up in during the warmer months, as well as keeping you toasty in winter.

Buy now

Fortnum & Mason’s exclusive men’s grooming kit: £150, Fortnum & Mason

The ushers will have had to be very well behaved to deserve this luxury grooming kit so maybe save it for your generous dad or even as a little treat for the groom himself on the morning of your wedding. A guaranteed way to ensure they’re looking their best on the big day (after all the photos will last a lifetime), the kit contains full-size products from some of the most luxurious names in men’s grooming. We’re big fans of Margate-based brand Haeckels and this kit contains two products, including the vegan exfoliating sea block which smells divine (don’t look at us if it goes missing) and a beard oil. British brand Floris have popped in a lightweight facial moisturiser that cools signs of redness (ideal if they overdid it the night before) and its signature No. 89 scent which smells of lavender, neroli and cedarwood. Tom Dixon’s shower gel is a unisex foaming cleanser with a fresh grassy scent and to complete the kit there’s an old-school shaving brush, bowl and cream. And once the contents are all used up, they’ll still have the stylish Ally Capellino Washbag to take on their travels. We’re told the contents are actually worth £220, so you’re really getting a lot of bang for your buck here.

Buy now

Biscuiteers thank you luxe biscuit tin: £45, Biscuiteers

Men and women, young and old – everyone loves a good biscuit, so get the kettle on and prepare to hand over this crowd-pleasing treat. The luxe tin contains 18 iced biscuits, which make it a great option for gifting to couples – perhaps thanking the in-laws or your own parents. The biscuits themselves are chocolate flavoured, spelling out a great big thank you in individual letters and you can even add on a bottle of fizz if you’re feeling particularly generous. The contents aren’t likely to stick around long, although the keepsake box can always be used to store photos of your big day if they’re the sentimental type.

Buy now

Gingko Mi square pocket Bluetooth speaker: £39.95, Prezzybox

Gift this pocket Bluetooth speaker to one of your music-loving ushers and you can guarantee the after-party will continue, long after the band’s packed up. Despite its diminutive frame, we were pretty impressed by the sound quality. The batteries will last for about 3-6 hours, depending on the volume and we think the stylish American walnut finish looks way more expensive than it really is. It’s a thoughtful gift that’s ideal for taking on holiday or to the park – so will get plenty of use after the big day.

Buy now

Prezzybox personalised hand care set: £27.99, Prezzybox

If you’ve been up until midnight the weeks before your wedding, frantically writing place names for the table, or creating a DIY photo booth out of sticky back plastic – we’d hasten a bet that someone was there by your side. Say thank you to your bride tribe with this thoughtful hand care set containing hand wash and cream. It can be personalised with two messages (maximum of 30 characters for the first, 15 for the second) so there should be room for names, a message or a date. There are twelve printed labels to choose from – including botanical, terrazzo and constellations – one for every wedding colour scheme going. Of course, this is only a good present if the contents are up to scratch. Luckily it past that test with flying colours – developed in England, it contains aloe, coconut oils and shea butter and smells of fig and pomegranate. A daily reminder of your thanks.

Buy now

Harvey Nichols the daddy hamper: £85, Harvey Nichols

Look, we know he’s the hardest person in your life to buy for. He’s been around the planet a few times and you’ve exhausted every dad gift ever created. Well, Harvey Nichols have come to the rescue, filling your father of the bride present-shaped hole with the daddy of all hampers. The black wicker fabric lined hamper includes plenty of booze – a bottle of champers and a full-bodied red from the south of France, as well as a packet of premium Bombay mix which will ward off hunger pains whilst he’s waiting for you to get ready. In terms of sweet treats, 12 dark chocolate champagne truffles and a gold tin of salted caramel buttery biscuits should do the trick, with a box of strong Assam teabags (none of this loose leaf nonsense) completing the line-up.

Buy Now

Maison Ves #thank you black fig and vanilla candle: £65, Maison Ves

Get the message across loud and clear with this luxurious candle inspired by the social media generation. Smelling of juicy fig, elegant cherry blossom and sweet vanilla, the glass jar will go down a treat with millennials as it’s emblazoned with #thankyou #xoxo #ioweyou #simplythebest and more words of appreciation. The burn time is 100 hours, which hopefully exceeds the time they’ve put into your wedding day.

Buy now

Ede & Ravenscroft navy and pink geometric printed silk pocket square: £50, Ede & Ravenscroft

Although you might have hired the suits, it’s always nice to give them a little something they can keep too. This chic silk square is the perfect special occasion accessory and unlike cufflinks, it doesn’t need a special shirt in order to wear. Where better to source once than Ede & Ravenscroft – London’s oldest tailors and proud owners of three royal warrants. Not only will they all look the part for your photos, it will also come in useful next time they’re a wedding guest. Crafted from pure silk and designed here in the UK, it features a go-with-anything navy and pink geometric pattern, although E&R have one for every colour scheme under the sun.

Buy now

Kodak smile instant print digital camera: £99.99, Amazon

If you’re anything like us you’ve got millions of photos saved to your phone’s camera roll, but barely any printed out. The Kodak smile camera will make sure their best snaps see the light of day (yep, even the ones from the hen and stag partys). Available in five fun colours (pick one that best suits their personality), it has a 10-megapixel LCD screen and built-in preview feature to ensure they only print the good ones. Complete with selfie-timer, flash (essential for the after-party) and editing functions, it comes with a starter pack of sticky-backed photo paper. Where better to get snap happy then at your wedding reception.

Buy Now

The Whisky Exchange personalised whiskey: From £69.95-£112, The Whiskey Exchange

There are plenty of companies offering personalised booze labels, however buying from The Whiskey Exchange guarantees that the liquid is every bit as special as the bottle. There are nine beautiful designs to choose from which can be personalised with your own thank you message (two lines, up to 20 characters on each). Ranging from the sweet and smoky 10-year-old Islay single-malt through to the super special 25-year-old lowland with notes of toffee and caramel, all of these single-cask whiskies are limited editions, available in very low quantities. In short, even if you know nothing about whisky, you simply can’t go wrong with this gift and the whiskey connoisseur in your wedding party – whether that’s his dad, your best man or your maid of honour – is sure to be delighted.

Buy Now

Bloom & Wild flower subscription: From £20, Bloom & Wild

Flowers always go down well but depending on where you’re tying the knot, a fresh bunch might not always be suitable. Perhaps it’s a destination do, or the recipient is spending the night at a hotel – better instead to gift them a letterbox subscription from Bloom & Wild. You can choose from a predetermined amount of months, or treat them to flowers on an ongoing basis. Either way, you’ll be able to download and print a gift certificate so they have something tangible to open. As the flowers are delivered through the letterbox, you don’t need to worry about someone being in to receive and we love the act of arranging a bunch for ourselves. They tend to last a while too as the stems are delivered before they’ve fully bloomed.

Buy Now

The verdict: Bridal party gifts

We’ve awarded our best buy to the Tielle personalised spa waffle robe. From bridesmaids, mother of the bride or even the groomsman, we can’t think of anyone that wouldn’t be totally smitten with this luxurious, personalised waffle robe.