Choosing the Best Bridesmaid Robes: Gifting Tips & Styling Ideas

The best bridesmaid robes are comfortable and flattering heirlooms that your bridesmaids and wedding party can wear and appreciate long after your wedding. We've made choosing bridesmaid robes everyone will actually want to wear afterwards a breeze, while doubling as a great way to thank them for being part of your special day - or the events leading up to it.

Keep reading to learn how to choose the best bridesmaid robes, along with gifting advice, sizing advice, and tips for designing your own bridesmaid robes that you and your wedding party will love.

 

What should my bridesmaids get ready in?

Sure, your bridesmaids could get ready in their street clothes, but matching robes, or even kimonos, are more practical -- and much more fun.

You don’t want to risk a bridesmaid messing up her hair or makeup by pulling a t-shirt over her head. The best robes at this point during the day can even bring a dose of spa-like tranquility to the stress and excitement leading up to the ceremony.

And of course, bridesmaid robes are indispensable for those Instagrammable pre-wedding photos. Street clothes can often look too casual in candid photographs, especially if your bridesmaids don’t coordinate their outfits. Matching robes make it obvious you're preparing for a wedding, not a night on the town. If you want picture perfect pre-wedding photos, bridal party robes are a must.

What should I get my bridesmaids as gifts?

The best bridesmaid gifts are practical and personal. Bridal robes fit both criteria and nice, comfortable robes never go out of style. And in the age of COVID-19, stylish loungewear is more important than ever. Even in a post-pandemic world, a lightweight robe or kimono is perfect to wear in a hotel room or AirBnB.

Think of your bridesmaid gifts as heirlooms that will remind your wedding party how much you appreciate them. Years from now, your bridesmaids can wear their robes for lazy mornings at home, for travel, or any time they need a bit of pampering.

Some brides customize their bridal robes with the name of each bridesmaid, or a special saying to make them more personal. However, keep in mind that you want these robes to be wearable long after your wedding day. Would you pack a robe emblazoned with “bridesmaid” to a work conference?

 

Are bridesmaids robes worth it?

As with any wedding expense, it depends on your budget and priorities. How important is that perfect photo of you and your bridesmaids lounging on a hotel bed with a bottle of champagne and gorgeous matching robes? For some brides, it’s essential. For others, not so much.

Either way, you will have to give your bridesmaids something to thank them for all the time, money, and effort they put into your wedding party. If you’re strapped for bridesmaid gift ideas, robes are always a practical and thoughtful option.

Wedding party robes or kimonos won’t make or break your wedding, but they will make it more special for you and your bridesmaids. Pretty robes will help everybody to look and feel more confident, while the matching outfits create a sense of cohesion and belonging. Nothing sets a celebratory tone for your wedding like a set of fun, coordinated robes -- although a bottle of champagne or two doesn’t hurt!

What are tips for designing and sizing bridesmaids robes?

Here are our favorite bridal party robe ideas for designing the perfect robes or kimonos for your bridesmaids and for you.

Matching Robes

Matching colors for bridesmaids are standard for wedding party robes. If you want those picture-perfect pre-wedding photos, identical bridesmaid robes are the best way to go. You may have bridesmaid robe ideas that mirror your wedding theme or colors, but it’s important to consider future wearability.

Many brides opt for robes in neutral colors or patterns that are easier to wear outside of a wedding party. You know everyone best, so choose robes or kimonos that match their style.

Mix & Match Prints

For more casual or bohemian weddings, you might want to consider some fun kimono ideas for mixing and matching. Customizable robes and kimonos make it easy to mix-and-match. You might choose a single pattern for all of your bridesmaids, but modify the colors slightly to give each bridesmaid a unique robe that fits her style and coloring.

Dressing your bridesmaids in different shades of the same color will create a fun ombre effect that looks great in photographs. Another mix and match option is to choose a different pattern for each bridesmaid, and use a common color palette to tie the party together.

Maid of Honor & Bride

Whatever the rest of the party is wearing, you might consider choosing a subtly different robe to distinguish the maid of honor. Lots of brides also pick out different robes for their mom and future mother-in-law as well, especially if they will be getting ready along with the wedding party. Robes are a great way to make these special women in your life feel honored and included.

No matter what everyone else is wearing, the bride’s robe should stand out. A stranger glancing at your pre-wedding photos should be able to tell right away who is getting married.

A white or mostly white robe is an obvious choice for a bride. If the bridesmaids are wearing a floral print with a pink background, the bride could choose that same print with a white background. Another option is to invert the colors of the bride’s robe. For example, if the bridesmaids are wearing green robes with a pink floral motif, the bride might choose a pink robe with a green floral motif.

Sizing Tips

As you are ordering bridesmaid robes, remember that one size doesn’t always fit all. If you have diverse body types in your group, make sure your robe sizes reflect that. Double-check the sizing guidelines before ordering your robes to make sure your bridesmaids won’t need leggings to keep their bottoms under wraps.

We offer two sizes in both robes and kimonos with the fits for each being nearly identical. The S/M size is for those who wear a 0-14 and the L/XL size is for those who wear a 16-26 (in Women's sizing).

Who pays for bridesmaid robes?

The bride should pay for robes or kimonos. Bridesmaid robes are a thank you gift for being part of your wedding. If cost is an issue, remember that you will have to budget for bridesmaid gifts anyway.

There are robes online to fit any price point, though good quality, customizable options, and ethical manufacturing add value and practicality. Work with your budget, but remember that wedding party robes are supposed to be a gift. Choose robes that your wedding party will be happy to receive.

How much should I spend on bridesmaid gifts?

Brides often wonder how much to spend on bridesmaid gifts. As a general rule, plan on spending at least $150 on each bridesmaid. By the time the wedding rolls around, your group has probably spent far more than that on dresses, shoes, and travel costs. In 2019, The Spruce estimated the average bridesmaid spent at least $1,000 for the honor of being in a wedding party.

A bridesmaid gift isn’t expected to cover these costs, but it should be generous enough to acknowledge the money (not to mention time!) spent to support your wedding. Be realistic about how much being in your wedding party costs, and plan your gifts accordingly.

A small gift may be appropriate for a small gathering in your backyard, but a large destination wedding calls for more expensive gifts.

What are other good wedding party gifts?

Now that we’ve covered our best bridesmaid robe ideas, let’s consider some other ideas for bridesmaid gifts. The morning of the wedding is a great time to give your bridesmaids a gift basket, with or without a robe to go with it.

Starting the day by opening a gift is a great bonding experience, and it sets a fun, celebratory tone for your wedding. So what could you put in those gift baskets??

Hair Scarves

Whether you’re planning a tropical destination wedding or bachelorette party, or just want to add some fun matching accessories, our customizable wedding hair scarves are the easy choice for both apparel and gifts. Design them to match your robes or kimonos, or create a set perfect for a separate occasion or photos.

Makeup Bags

A makeup bag is a fun and easy way to incorporate colors and themes from your wedding. If you want to personalize your makeup bags, you can get them printed with your bridesmaid’s names, or with the date of your wedding.

Custom Engraved Cocktail Glasses

This is a no-brainer if you’re sharing a celebratory toast before getting ready. Depending on the tone of your wedding, skip the cans and offer up custom champagne flutes, Irish coffee mugs, shot glasses, or even flasks might be appropriate. Custom pint glasses are even perfect for groomsmen too and can bring gifting for the whole wedding party feel consistent.

Experiences

If your wedding party has travelled for a destination wedding, consider giving them a fun experience to share before flying home. Guided tours, outdoor adventures, tickets to local festivals, gift certificates to a special restaurant -- the ideas are endless! Just make sure you warn them to plan an extra day when making travel arrangements.

Customized Masks

Face masks aren’t going away any time soon. Depending where your wedding is located, your bridesmaids might need to wear face masks, at least for travel. Our collection of wedding face masks are also easy to customize with your wedding colors, the date, or a special saying.

Ready to design the perfect bridesmaid robes and kimonos?

Now that you’ve seen our favorite bridal party robe ideas, you might be ready to design custom robes or kimonos for your wedding party. Our customization process makes it easy to design custom robes that your bridesmaids can treasure for years to come.

Design Your Bridesmaid Robes

Still have questions?

Contact our sales and support team to help. Contact us here. 

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