A Guide To Wedding Party Traditions

Weddings provide ample opportunity to present gifts of jewelry.  There is a longstanding tradition of gifts of jewelry for the bride (not including the engagement and wedding ring).  Often the parents of the bride or her friends will give her a pair of earrings or a necklace to wear for the wedding. Diamonds are a favorite for these items, as are blue sapphires to keep with the tradition of including “something blue” for good luck.

Jewelry is also a perfect gift to thank bridesmaids for their roles in planning and participating in the wedding and the other festivities surrounding the special day.  It has become customary for the bride to present the bridesmaids with gifts as a sign of gratitude for the support and financial commitment that comes with their roles.  

Popular gifts for bridesmaids include pendants, bracelets, earrings, friendship rings or stack rings.  Thoughtful brides also make an attempt to gift jewels that can be worn on other occasions besides the wedding.

Typical gifts for groomsmen include a tie tack, a money clip, or a pair of cufflinks. These items are often intended for use on the day of the wedding, but also have longevity for use at other special occasions or in daily life. Some grooms may be very thoughtful and have the pieces engraved with the initials or first names of their groomsmen.

As we will explore next, jewelry sometimes plays a part in Wedding Customs and Superstitions | A Guide to Wedding Traditions as well.