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Bridesmaid proposal boxes or gifts have become all the rage lately. Opinions on this seem to go two ways – either you think it’s cute or you think it’s overkill. While it certainly isn’t necessary to put together a custom box, it can be a sweet gesture if you have the time, made more meaningful by the fact you arranged it yourself!
Searching for bridesmaid proposal boxes online can seem daunting because to include all the items you want and to make it personal, it’s going to cost you. Don’t be discouraged by the high prices you see for pre-made boxes on sites like Etsy. Even if you don’t consider yourself crafty, you are absolutely capable of putting your own together! Not only will you save money, you’ll be proud of what you’ve accomplished.
Here’s some ideas on how to put together and what to include in your bridesmaid proposal boxes:
Making the Box
First things first, you need a box in which to put your gift(s).
This gift box set comes with ten 8″x 8″ x 4″ boxes that are perfect for this! They even come in different colors, including white, black, pink, red, and brown. Pick the one that matches the vibe and aesthetic of your wedding.
You can’t just put a bunch of things into an empty box. For an extra wow factor (and let’s face it, some cushion), add crinkle cut paper to the bottom of your boxes. One 2-pound bag goes a LONG way! Any you don’t use can be saved for future gifts.
You can deliver/send a plain box, but it’s fun to jazz it up a bit. If you have a die-cutting machine, you can easily cut out vinyl with your bridesmaids-to-be’s names to put on the box. Alternatively, you can use some simple letter stickers! *Pro-tip: If you like the look of custom vinyl but you don’t want to spend the money on a die-cutting machine, like a Cricut or a Cameo, check your local library’s maker space. Many libraries are now carrying these machines and are free of use! All you have to pay for is the vinyl (and your time). I used this rose gold vinyl which was super easy to weed and apply.
Lastly, I added a ribbon around the box that matched the color of the name. For me, that was this rose gold ribbon.
Adding the Gifts
Now that we have a box in which to put gifts, it’s time to solidify those gifts. Common items include personalized tumblers, ring pops, candles, and hair ties. My advice – don’t focus on what the norm is, focus on what is meaningful to you and/or your friends. If your friends are not the type of ladies who are going to use things with “bridesmaid” written all over it, then forget that stuff.
This is what I ended up doing for mine:
1. Cherry Blossom sheet masks (our wedding’s during cherry blossom season so it was fitting)
3. Custom-made tea tins – This was a bit of a project, but very up my alley (may or may not be fun for you). This involved the following:
a.) I purchased bulk tea tins and applied beautiful washi (Japanese paper) around the tins using mod podge. The washi is totally optional.
b.) I designed, printed, and cut the labels to fit on the tea tins. I’m going to see if I can sell the SVG file for my labels so if you wanted to make something like this, it’s easier.
c.) I filled them all with loose leaf tea and provided steeping bags. I tried to choose tea based on the recipient (i.e., I know one friend’s favorite is Earl Grey so she got that).
4. The last thing I included was a custom card with a handwritten note on the back. I designed the card face in Canva and then got each one printed at Office Depot for no more than $1/card.
There’s so many different things that you could consider adding to your friends’ boxes that are thoughtful –
- A small photo album showcasing your friendship, or a framed photo.
- Nail polish in your friend’s favorite color
- A heartfelt letter
- Delicious treats
- Face mask/hand sanitizer
Delivering the Package
If you are lucky to live by your bridesmaids, then hand delivery is the best option! No need to continue reading.
If you’re like me, where the majority of your bridesmaids live out of state, you’ll need to ship these. If you live in the US, the USPS medium flat rate box is the perfect size. There was a little extra space on the sides which I just filled with newspaper/plastic bags. To save money on the shipping, I highly recommend creating an account with Pirate Ship. It’s completely free and gets you commercial pricing. I don’t work for them and this is not an affiliate link, I just enjoyed my experience. One of my bridesmaids, who is also a bride, recommended it to me and I’m just passing on the advice to all of you!
So there you have it! Hope this gave you some ideas for your bridesmaid proposal boxes. And just remember, it doesn’t have to look designer or professional to be appreciated by your squad.
