Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Ceremony & Reception Wedding Traditions & Rituals 38 Cute and Creative Ways to Ask Your Friends to Be Bridesmaids By Shira Savada Shira Savada Shira is the former real weddings editor for Martha Stewart Weddings. Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 19, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: The Grovers Now it's your turn to propose. 01 of 38 The Grovers You've said "yes," and you're headed down the aisle. Now, it's your turn to "pop" the question—that is, to your bridesmaids! Your best friends have been there through thick and thin, so it's only natural you'd want them standing by you on your big day. Asking your friends to be bridesmaids (or maid of honor ) is a big deal. These are the women who will be helping you plan, celebrate, and say "I do"—not to mention keeping you sane (and eliminating unnecessary stress) in the process. The bridal party members are basically the VIPs of the wedding, and they should be treated as such—starting with when you ask them to take on the role. How should you pop the question to your future 'maids? We think the way you ask someone to be part of your bridal party should be just as special as she is. Our unique ideas, including gifts, DIY projects, and playful plans, will help ensure you do just that. If you and your girls live close to each other—and to a beach—gather them up to pop the question in person. This bride used iron-on letters to customize bathing suits for her "Bride Tribe." You could follow in her footsteps, or customize simple T-shirts, tote bags, or anything else with a relatively flat surface. Your group will wear their new titles with pride. Rest assured, if you're not crafty at all, there are tons of other items you can buy and put together that are just as exceptional, not that your bridesmaids actually need a physical gift in order agree to be your attendants. Read on for other creative ways to ask this very important question. 02 of 38 Zip It Up Courtesy of Leatherology Snag one of these leather pouches with "bridesmaid" printed in gold and fill it with trinkets that nod to your friendship or a pretty nail polish she can wear on the big day. She'll be excited to show off her new title. Bridesmaid Medium Pouch, from $65, Leatherology . 03 of 38 Pin It On Courtesy of Etsy Bridesmaids should be beyond excited to be a part of the action. This gold enamel pin will let them show off their role. Lottie Shop "Will You Be My Bridesmaid Pin," $9, etsy.com . 04 of 38 A Box of Goodies Courtesy of Present Day This box is filled to the brim with essentials to pamper your girls—decadent chocolate, hand balm, tea, honey, and bath salts. But add some sentiment, too. A beautiful card with your heartfelt thoughts will do the trick. With contents like this, your bridesmaids will be feeling their best on your big day. Tea & Spa Bridesmaid Gift Box, $61, presentdaygifts.ca . 10 Creative Ways to Help Your Bridesmaids Bond 05 of 38 A Dinner Date Cameron Ingalls What's a better occasion to throw a dinner party than asking your nearest and dearest to be your bridesmaids? Even if it's just pizza and beer, adding a little décor (in this instance colored taper candles, tissue paper spheres on the table, and crepe paper flowers on the wall) makes it feel extra special. Lovelyfest Event Design helped this bride pull it all off in style. 06 of 38 Fun T-Shirts Courtesy of Target Give out these T-shirts with pageant-inspired sashes printed on them. Once they accept your proposal, they'll all be winners. While your group won't take home crowns, they'll all have a top to wear to the bachelorette party. Short Sleeve Bridesmaid Sash Graphic T-Shirt, $15, target.com . 07 of 38 Best Face Forward Courtesy of Herbivore You want your girls to look amazing on your big day, so why not make your ask with a set that includes hydrating mist, facial oil, moisturizing cream, and a brightening mask? Bonus points if you add a gift certificate for a facial from a local spa. Hydrate + Glow Natural Skincare Mini Collection, $39, herbivorebotanicals.com . 08 of 38 Get Nautical Mospens Studio Getting married by the water? Celebrate the setting with a card illustrated with coastal motifs that asks each friend to be your bridesmaid. Nautical Nantucket Bridal Party Card, $4, mospensstudio.com . Nautical Wedding Invitations Perfect for a Waterfront Celebration 09 of 38 Snacks to Attack Courtesy of Mouth Remember when you'd have slumber parties, make popcorn, and eat candy? Give her all that she needs to relive those days, then schedule a date night to do just that. The Bridesmaid, $63.50, mouth.com . 10 of 38 A Box of Necessities Courtesy of Makers + Goods Once they accept the role, each of your bridesmaids will have her own pre-wedding checklist to tackle, complete with tasks like planning your bachelorette party and organizing the bridal shower. Give each woman what she needs to do it with ease, plus a bit of R&R: a "you are loved" customized pencil set, leather luggage tag, soy travel candle, and bath soak set. Bridesmaid Box, $85, makersandgoods.com . The Bridal Party: Supporting Roles 101 11 of 38 Floating on Air J Wiley Photography One thing that's up in the air when you start planning is who will stand by your side on the big day. When it's time to ask your girls, gather them up and propose in style. These balloons add festive décor to any casual get-together, but you could also use the oversize inflatables to help you "pop the question" in a literal way. Fill them up with confetti and a handwritten note with the question at hand, give each girl a pin, and stand back to watch as the fun explodes. 12 of 38 Pretty Cookies Courtesy of Sweet Guilt by Angelica Here's a unique, fun, and delicious way to firm up your bridal party: Order customized cookies that ask the question for you. Bridal Party Cookie Set, from $38, sweetguilt.com . 13 of 38 A Secret Message Courtesy of 3 Eggs Design Everyone loves a scratch-off card, and your friends will be especially excited to see what's underneath this one. To make things especially fun, you could even add a few real lotto tickets, too. Be My Bridesmaid Scratch Off Card, $5, 3eggsdesign.com.au . 14 of 38 Be Prepared Courtesy of Pinch Provisions Set your bridesmaids up for success from the moment you pop the question. Inside this tiny pouch are 24 mini items that come the wedding day: a nail file, extra wedding bands, floss, earring backs, blotting tissues, double-sided tape, and blister balm. Pair the kit with a bottle of bubbly or their favorite wine so that your group can kick back and relax between now and the big day. Be My Bridesmaid Kit, $22, pinchprovisions.com . 4 Bridesmaid Gift Ideas That Give Back 15 of 38 Jump In Max & Friends Your bridesmaids are going to be planning several of your pre-wedding festivities and answering a lot of questions between now and the wedding day. The least you can do is organize a little fun in the sun as part of your bridesmaid proposals. Invite them to join you for an afternoon at the pool (better yet, rent a house that has one and make a weekend of it), with fun floats, some cocktails, and the music you listen to when getting ready for a night out. It'll be just like old times, and a fun way to kick things off. 16 of 38 Frame It Up Courtesy of Mark and Graham Put your favorite snapshot in a customized picture frame. Because we have a hunch so many of the photos you've taken together aren't printed out, you can pair it with a small album—or just a selection of prints they can swap in to the frame. Silver Plate Picture Frame, from $49, markandgraham.com . 17 of 38 Have a Laugh Courtesy of Foxblossom Co. Use puns to propose to your bridesmaids. You couldn't tie the knot without them? Give white gold-plated knot earrings. To have and to hold? That applies to their hair when it's time to dance the night away, so giving them a shimmery hair tie with their role written on it will help. Be My Bridesmaid Gift Box, $70, foxblossom.com . 20 Stylish Pieces of Jewelry to Gift Your Bridesmaids 18 of 38 Cheers to That Courtesy of Etsy Calligraphed champagne flutes are about as celebratory as it gets. Wrap these up with a bottle of pink bubbly for each of your bridesmaids if you can't pop the question in person. Party Flutes Personalized Champagne Flutes, $9.60 each, etsy.com . 19 of 38 A Pretty Card Courtesy of Seniman Calligraphy Send a floral card asking the question, but tuck it in to an equally pretty arrangement of fresh blooms in a color that suits each woman. A2 "Will You Be My Bridesmaid" Card, $19.95 for five, senimancalligraphy.com . 20 of 38 A Secret Message Courtesy of Etsy If your future bridesmaids are coffee lovers, invite each woman over for a cup of joe presented in a special mug. When they're finished the cup, they'll see the question at the bottom. The Letter Loft UK "Hidden Message Mug," $21.60, etsy.com . 9 Bridesmaid Dos and Don’ts 21 of 38 How Fortunate Abby Jiu Photography Lauryn Prattes Styling and Events hatched up these adorable cootie catchers. Show your love—and good fortune—for having such great friends, sisters, and relatives by creating a similar fortune teller for each woman. Just make sure that each answer ultimately reveals the "will you be my bridesmaid" question. 22 of 38 A Stylish Kit Courtesy of Target Show your love with a few heart-shaped goodies (like a mug and picture frame) paired with a trinket dish and sunglasses. But before you hand this over to your besties, pop a photo of yourselves inside the frame, add a small piece of jewelry to the dish, and write a card explaining why it would mean so much to you to have her by your side. Kate Aspen "Pink and Gold Will You Be My Bridesmaid Kit," $24, target.com . 23 of 38 A Pinch of This Courtesy of Belle & Union An essential ingredient necessary for the perfect wedding? The best bridesmaids ever. Give them these Kraft paper letterpressed cards, and you'll soon have everything you need. Bread & Butter Bridesmaid Card, $6, belleandunion.com . 24 DIY Bridesmaids' Gifts to Craft for Your Crew 24 of 38 Stylish Sipper Courtesy of Kate Spade Pop the question and help the enviornment by giving each woman a reusable tumbler that tells the world she's not only socially-responsible but totally there for her bride, too. "Hocus to My Pocus Bridesmaid Tumbler," $18, katespade.com . 25 of 38 Flower Power Christine Doneé Whether you tap a professional florist to help or just have a go at it yourself, organizing a flower arranging class is a fun activity for you and your future bridesmaids to do together. 26 of 38 Make Them Blush Courtesy of Lauren Ashley Studio The best gift boxes have a theme or some sort of common thread. Here, it's all black, white, and pink. We love the dried blooms, which have us thinking into the days post-wedding when she can dry her bridesmaid bouquet as a memento. Blushing Bridesmaid Mini Box, $90, laurenashleystudio.com . 24 Dried Flower Arrangements That Are Perfect for a Fall Wedding 27 of 38 A Pop of Color Courtesy of White Confetti Box Can't ask the question in person? Send a festive surprise in the mail. When popped open, confetti will burst into the air with great fanfare and your bridesmaid-to-be will be left to read the message you've customized, with her name and the question asking her to stand by your side on the big day. Bridesmaid Confetti Popper, $7, whiteconfettibox.com . 28 of 38 Go Metallic Courtesy of Etsy Let your bridesmaids know how precious they are to you with a card in the color of a precious metal. Bonus points if you add a silver something—a picture frame, a piece of jewelry she can wear on the wedding day, or a decorative box you can tuck this card into for a bigger reveal. DJP Designs Foiled "Will You Be My Bridesmaid" postcard, $2.84, etsy.com . 29 of 38 A Little R&R Courtesy of Esselle SF After you've asked her to be your bridesmaid, send along a curated playlist, a bottle of red wine, and a luxurious bath set. She'll relax and think about all the fun that's in store. Dual Bath Fizz Set, $44, essellesf.com . Your Bridesmaid and Groomsmen Etiquette Questions Answered 30 of 38 Like a Rock Christine Doneé Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but best friends are as special as diamonds. Fill gem-like containers with sweet treats paired with calligraphed tags to match. 31 of 38 Love Grows Courtesy of Urbanstems Your relationship with your best friend, sister, or cousin have evolved over the years. Celebrate that growth with an air plant in a girly ceramic planter. The Cathy, $50, urbanstems.com . 32 of 38 Eat It Up Courtesy of Maggie Louise Confections Finding your most flattering lipstick is like finding the friends who make you your best self. So, ask them to be your bridesmaid with this set of chocolates—yes, these are edible—in the form of lipsticks, lips, a jewel, and golden cubes. Mini Hello, Gorgeous!, $25, maggielouiseconfections.com . 16 Stylish Bridesmaids' Gifts Under $50 33 of 38 Pajama Time Courtesy of J.Crew Pretend you're still in middle school and host a slumber party. Invite your future bridesmaids and gift them a set of these cotton pajamas—which you can monogram with their initials. Vintage Short-Sleeve Pajama Set, from $85, jcrew.com . 34 of 38 Do It with Bubbly Ashleigh Jayne Angela Marie Events had Proper Prints write out, "Help me pop the cork and tie the knot. Will you be my bridesmaid?" on gold labels wrapped around bottles of Champagne. What's more festive than that? A gilded gathering for a bridesmaid-to-be luncheon! 21 Bottles of Bubbly to Sip on the Morning of Your Wedding 35 of 38 Learn Together Courtesy of Claire Thomas Pair popping the question to your bridesmaids with adding a new skill to your repertoire. One popular pick? Flower arranging. Each woman will go home with a beautiful arrangement. Bonus points if you already know what kind of flowers you want to use in your bouquets. It'll be a fun way to foreshadow the actual wedding. 36 of 38 Cute and Pink Courtesy of Etsy This rose gold card is pretty cute, but so is an album of photos of you and your bridesmaids over the years—particularly if you've known each other since you were babies. Why not give both? Starboard Press "Rose Gold Foil Will You Be My Bridesmaid Card," $4.50, etsy.com . 37 of 38 Sweet Treats Courtesy of Dō Ask your friends to be bridesmaids with cookie dough and they'll definitely say "I Dō." Bridesmaid Proposal Cookie Do 6-pack, $69, cookiedo.goldbelly.com . 38 of 38 Write a Note Courtesy of Rifle Paper Co. Easy does it! When asking your bridesmaids these cards boasting an illustrated bouquet say it all. Slip in a favorite snapshot to make it more special. Will You Be My Bridesmaid? card, $4.50 or $16/set of 8, riflepaperco.com . The Best Bridal Party Gift Ideas From Real Weddings Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit