But what should you give them? Wedding consultant Catherine J. Walton of Weddings by the Sea in Cape May says that the new trend is gift cards to each person’s favorite store or pasttime. “The list of options is endless,” she says, “And this way, everyone gets what they really want.” Another idea is to give them something inspired by the wedding’s location. Mandy Christman Moore married her longtime love, Wesley, in a seaside wedding at the Sea Bright Beach Club. She gave her bridal party matching starfish necklaces from Shutters in Fair Haven because she wanted everything about her wedding to have a beachy feel. Even the ties her husband gave his groomsman had starfish on them.

And with so many New Jersey weddings happening by the Shore and couples opting for a more casual blazers and khaki look, fun ties are a good idea. Vineyard Vines (vineyardvines.com) has numerous beach-themed ties. And if you’re looking for something on the fancier side, they also offer bow ties, cummerbunds, and pocket squares.

Maybe you like the idea of jewelry, but want the pieces to be completely original. For more than five years, Pennington jewelry artist Elizabeth Hanies of Elizabeth B. Design (609-647-0829; elizabethbdesign.com) has been helping brides choose individual pieces that bridesmaids can take home and wear again. She’s even created completely different designs based on the bridesmaid’s coloring and style. “I do quite a bit of work for bridal parties,” says Haines. “I work with the brides on colors, styles, necklines…almost exclusively one-of-a-kind designs. It’s my favorite design work to do.” 

Amy Tierney of Berkeley Heights gave the eight women in her bridal party pearl necklaces that matched the color of their dresses, which she ordered from turqbridal.com. “I wanted to give them something special from me to have for the wedding, specifically as a huge thank you,” she says.

Hillsdale newlywed Jacqueline Moran Fiore looked to her wedding’s winter theme for the inspiration behind her bridesmaid’s gifts. “Since my wedding had colors of ice blue, silver, and winter white, I chose to give my bridesmaids sparkly crystal jewelry set in silver that matched their ice-blue dresses.”