Being surrounded by your closest friends as you step into your married life is one of the most rewarding parts of the wedding planning process. Asking your support system to be your bridesmaids shows them how important they are to you, and having a crew of helpers makes all the wedding planning (and celebrating!) so much more fun.
Your bridesmaid proposals can be an excuse to spoil the ones you love just a little bit—and can set the tone for your bridal party and wedding vision. There is no right or wrong way to pop the question to your friends, the most important thing is to go for something that feels like you.
That said, if you need some inspiration for creative, sweet, silly, and heartfelt ways to ask your friends to stand by your side at the altar, this article has you covered. We’ll also share some etiquette and budgeting tips to help the bridesmaid proposal planning go smoothly.
So, from gift boxes to cards, here are some of our favorite bridesmaid proposal ideas.
CREATIVE BRIDESMAID PROPOSAL IDEAS
Go above and beyond a phone call or email with these fun, playful ways to ask your bridesmaids to be a member of your wedding squad.
- This one's a classic: Write a heartfelt message to each person in a stylish "Will You Be My Bridesmaid" card and include a favorite photo of the two of you. We’ve got more ideas for sweet messages to write in your proposal cards in the next section.
- Create a personalized gift box for each person (more on this is also below) filled with some sweet treats and goodies, along with a handwritten note letting them know how much their relationship means to you.
- Fill a balloon with confetti and a note with a safety pin inside to “pop!” the question; surprise them by delivering the balloon in person.
- If everyone in your squad lives locally, invite them over for pizza night or a dinner party and then raise a toast—pop the question to them with personalized champagne glasses and bottles of bubbly.
- Set up a one-on-one coffee date with each person and ask the barista ahead of time to write "Will you be my bridesmaid?" on the cup instead of your friend's name.
- Give each person a special dress hanger that's been personalized with their name or bridesmaid robes, for them to use on the wedding day.
- Invite all of your bridesmaids to a fun, creative activity—think wine and painting, pottery, or flower arranging—and pop the question there! This works best if your bridesmaids all live in your area, but many businesses also host online workshops that you can arrange for long-distance BFFs.
- Treat your pals to mani-pedis at the nail salon and gift them with a bottle of Essie's "Bachelorette Bash" polish, along with a card explaining they'll all need to wear the color on the wedding day.
- Create a custom puzzle with a photo of you and your friend. Minted offers tons of fun (and easy!) photo puzzle designs that can be customized with text like “Be my bridesmaid?” and your wedding date.
- Gift your bridesmaids-to-be tote bags or makeup pouches personalized with their names. Bonus points if you choose a design in your wedding colors for them to pack all of their essentials in for your big day!
- Write a thoughtful message in a "Will You Be My Bridesmaid" card.
- You can never go wrong with flowers! Pick out bouquets you know each of your bridesmaids-to-be will love, and have them hand-delivered to their homes.
- Gift bridesmaid socks to your squad.
BRIDESMAID PROPOSAL CARDS: WHAT TO WRITE INSIDE
Asking your besties to be in your bridal party via a bridesmaid proposal card is a tried-and-true way to let them know how much their friendship means to you and get them excited for what's to come. Deliver the card in person if you can or send it in the mail with a gift box or small gift (a mini bottle of champagne or a sweet treat, if you have the budget).
Not sure what to write in the bridesmaid proposal card? Remember to keep things personal, and the words will come to you—but here are some ideas to get the creative juices flowing.
- “It’s my turn to pop the question.”
- “Help me keep my shit together.”
- “I’ll only be a happy bride if my best friend is by my side.”
- “I need your help to hold my dress up while I pee.”
- “I can’t say “I do” without you.”
- “Plan with me, stand with me, cry with me, laugh with me. Will you be my bridesmaid?”
- “My “I do” would not be the same without you.”
- “Welcome to my bride tribe.”
- “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and you.”
- “I got my rock, now I need my flock.”
- “I’ve got my guy, now I need my girls.”
- “Without you, it wouldn't be a bridal party.”
- “Will you help make the best day ever even better by being my bridesmaid?”
- “Half of the groomsmen are single. Be my bridesmaid?”
- “Obviously you’ll be my bridesmaid. So let’s make it official!”
- “By luck we became sisters; by love we became friends. I couldn’t imagine getting married without you by my side!”
- My wedding day wouldn’t be complete without you standing beside me. Be my bridesmaid?”
- “I found my mister, but I still need my sister! Will you be my bridesmaid?”
- “As I prepare for the day that I will be a bride, it would mean the world to me to have you by my side!”
- “A toast to us being lifelong friends. Will you be my bridesmaid?”
- “I need my squad to slay on my wedding day. Will you be my bridesmaid?”
- “You’re not just a friend, but a sister to me. I would be so grateful if you would be my bridesmaid and create lifelong memories.”
- “I am so grateful for your friendship. Will you help me create a day full of love and joy by being my bridesmaid?”
- “I trust you to keep me in check if I’m being a bridezilla. Will you be my bridesmaid?”
- “You’ve always been my biggest hypewoman – I can’t imagine getting married without you cheering me on as my bridesmaid!”
WHAT TO PUT IN A BRIDESMAID PROPOSAL BOX
Treat your besties to a box full of thoughtful goodies that they can use before the wedding as well as on the big day. We’ve grouped together fun gifts by theme in the proposal boxes below, but know this: you can always curate a box full of each of your bridesmaid’s absolute favorite things, regardless of your wedding theme. That way, you’re sure to build a thoughtful gift full of things they’ll love—and will actually use!
THEME: LET'S CELEBRATE!
- "Will You Be My Bridesmaid" card with a handwritten note
- A framed "Heart Snapshot Mix" photo gift of favorite pictures of the two of you
- Mini bottle of champagne
- Customized wine glasses or tumblers
- Glassine envelope filled with confetti or a DIY confetti popper
- Mini disco balls or light catchers
- Heart-shaped or customized “bridesmaid” sunglasses
- Fun “bridesmaid” t-shirts or sweatshirts
THEME: PREPPED & PAMPERED
- Nail polish or press-on nail kits
- Face masks and under eye patches
- Lip gloss
- Bath salts or fizzy bath bombs
- Floral-print robe (that she can also wear for getting-ready photos on the wedding day)
- Cute monogrammed slippers
- Matching or personalized claw clips
- Dried floral arrangements
- Sweet treats like champagne gummy candies or chocolates
THEME: RUSTIC
- Personalized tin mugs
- Matching or personalized beanies
- Cozy socks
- Spiked hot cocoa kits
- Vintage compact mirrors
- Personalized burlap or linen tote bags
- Matching flannel shirts
THEME: LUXE
- Personalized tin mugs
- Personalized jewelry (initial necklaces, stud earrings in the shape of a rope knot, lockets, signet rings, etc.)
- Jewelry dish personalized with their initials
- Box or bottle of matchsticks and a candle
- Mini bottle of their favorite perfume
- Cozy wrap or chic silk scarf
- French macaron cookies
- Silk scrunchies or hair ties
- Forever roses
THEME: BOHEMIAN
- Personalized beaded or friendship bracelets
- Mini succulents or cacti
- Custom candle with “will you be my bridesmaid?”, your wedding details, or even their zodiac sign
- Customized cold brew or matcha latte glass
- Affirmation, tarot, or conversation-starter card decks
- A box of their favorite type of tea
- Customized macrame or leather key chains
- Monogrammed journals
THEME: DESTINATION WEDDING
- Personalized passport covers or luggage tags
- Matching bucket hats embroidered with their names, initials, “babe,” or “bridesmaid”
- Matching sarongs or swimsuit coverups
- Small gifts inspired by your wedding destination (woven beach bags for beach destinations, berets for a Parisian wedding, mini bottles of olive oil for an Italian wedding, etc.)
- Airplane cocktail kit
- Silk eye mask
- Polaroid cameras and film
THEME: OUTDOORSY
- Personalized fanny packs
- Fun-in-the-sun essentials kit (mini sunscreen, hair ties, cute band-aids, etc.)
- Small art print of your favorite places to spend time together
- Personalized reusable water bottle
- Custom stickers for their water bottles
- Locally-made granola or honey
BRIDESMAID PROPOSAL ETIQUETTE & FAQ
When should you propose to your bridesmaids?
Typically, you want to pop the question two to three months after you get engaged. Asking your friends to be your bridesmaids early also gives them plenty of time to block off time (and potentially save money) for all of your bridal events, including your engagement party, bachelorette party, bridal shower, and more.
Do you need to propose to your bridesmaids at the same time?
It is totally up to you whether you prefer an intimate moment one-on-one with each of them or you want to do it altogether. Aim to ask everyone in as short of a period as possible. This could look like stacking up your week with a few friend dates or arranging for gift boxes to be delivered on the same day. That way, everyone can celebrate together as a group and no one feels left out when your bridesmaids share your perfectly-curated proposal on social media.
How much should you spend on your bridesmaid proposals?
It is totally up to your budget and what you’re comfortable with. There are plenty of ways to put together a thoughtful proposal on a budget and there are plenty of ways to really spoil your bridesmaids-to-be!
When deciding how much to spend, keep a few things in mind…
1. Set a budget for your bridesmaids proposals. When coming up with this number, keep in mind how many bridesmaids you plan to ask, as this will help determine how much you can spend on each person’s proposal gift. You may be able to spend more money on each gift if you’re asking a smaller group of friends than if you plan to have a squad 15-bridesmaids deep.
2. Keep an eye on overall costs. Remember that it is traditional to give your bridesmaids a thank-you gift on your wedding day. So think about what might be a higher priority for you. If you’d like to lavish them with a special gift to show your gratitude for all of their support, you may want to set aside more money for the thank-you gift and less for the proposal.
3. Don’t feel pressured to spend more than you’re comfortable with. Putting together an Instagram-worthy bridesmaid proposal can be super fun, but if you’re trying to keep your wedding to a tight budget, don’t feel like you have to go all out. Remember that a cute card with a heartfelt message will mean just as much to your bridesmaids as a box full of goodies.
Should you get your maid of honor a special proposal gift?
When planning bridesmaid proposals, many brides opt to spend a little bit more on a special gift for their maid or matron (or man!) of honor. Being your right-hand girl or guy while wedding planning is a big commitment, so spending a little bit more on their proposal is a nice way to show appreciation up front for all of their support!
That said, even if you don’t have room in your proposal budget to spend more, you’ll likely want to give your MOH a gift or card that is slightly different from the rest of your bridesmaid crew. Whether it is a card that specifically asks them to be your maid of honor, or a box full of customized MOH goodies, do what you can to spoil your BFF!
Where to buy bridesmaid proposal gifts?
Minted offers a great selection of bridesmaid gifts, including bridesmaid proposal boxes and customizable photo art, bags, and puzzles for you to lavish your bridesmaids with.
