Wedding Wednesday: Your Best Recommendations: Hostess Gifts, Wedding Day Heels, Jewelry and More

A couple of weeks ago, I spent some time on Instagram stories crowd-sourcing wedding questions I had and had so many requests to share the results. Since oftentimes I feel like I’m sharing my recommendations with y’all it was so fun to get your insight on different wedding-related items I need to be shopping for. Y’all came back with so many ideas that putting these graphics together took longer than anticipated and I wasn’t even able to get to all of them just yet. I’m eager to get to a couple of categories I asked and haven’t yet covered soon which includes Welcome Box Ideas and Bridesmaid Gifts. I’ve done my best to compile these responses for the graphics I did have a chance to get to along with different ideas I’ve come up with for the categories but have a feeling I’ll be coming back to stories in need of additional ideas before the big day comes! Thank y’all for playing along and sharing your insight with me, and hopefully, this helps all the other brides in the same boat as they begin to narrow down smaller details in preparation for their wedding day. 

Links to the items shown can be found beneath the graphic and links to follower-suggested items are right above them. I know I was hoping to feel like I weighed all of my options before making a decision and feel like I’m on the right track to ordering a few things now that I have all of these suggestions in front of me. 

Wedding Heel Recommendations —

So many of you were adamant that I wear heels for the ceremony and change into something flat and more comfortable for the reception. My future sister-in-law just did this for her wedding and I knew it would be something I’d want to copy. One of the big things I’ve been trying to keep in mind when deciding on items to purchase for the wedding is whether or not I’ll be able to re-wear or re-use an item bought for the occasion. Because of this, I’m definitely leaning toward a colored or metallic heel but was able to find so many white heel options that would be so pretty too!

Loeffler Randall // Bella Belle // Dolce Vita // Badgley Mischka // Anything with a block heel // Sam Edelman // Stuart Weitzman

From left to right by row:

Loeffler Randall Camilla Bow Heels in White // Loeffler Randall Camilla Bow Heels in Blue (available here too)

Row 1: Nine West Blue Block Heels // Pearl Flower Wrap Ankle Heels // Kate Spade Blue and White Block Heels // Dolce Vita Pearl Heels // Badgley Mischa Embellished Sandal

Row 2: Badgley Mischa Ankle Strap Sandals with Bow // Ciara Satin Sandals with Buttons // Sarah Flint Wedding Perfect Block Heel // Margaux City Sandals

Row 3: Gold Sonia Heels // Margaux Carmine Heel // Vicky Knot Sandalls // Margaux City Sandal in Blue // Tony Bianco Elsie Heels 

Row 4: Bella Belle Zoya Heels // Sam Edelman Yaro Block Heel Sandals // Alexandre Birman Ankle Tie Heels // Bow Block Heel Sandals

Wedding Day “Flats” —

While I know I want to change into something more comfortable than the full-blown heel I’ll wear for the ceremony I’m not sure what that shoe will be. Given that it will be far I have to consider the temperature but many of you suggested sandals. I think no matter what I opt for I’ll be breaking in both my ceremony and reception shoes ahead of time. 

Loeffler Randall // Bella Belle // Jack Roger's Monogrammed Sandals // Veja Sneakers

Veja Sneakers // Ted Baker Taliy Sneaker

 Loeffler Randall Lookalike Sandals // Loeffler Randall Blue Bow Sandals

Debra Mid Heel // Jack Roger's I Do Sandals // Vanilla Halie Pearls Sandals 

Hannah Flat // Jimmy Choo Amari Flat // Sabina Bow Flat

Clarita Bow Platform Sneaker // Bella Belle Zora Shoes // Kate Spade Sneakers

Wedding Day Earrings (Bride) — 

Next time I’m home I have a feeling I’ll be looking through my mom’s jewelry box to see if there is a pair of earrings that may be my something borrowed for the wedding day. In case there’s not I’ve been eyeing styles with sapphires (to match my engagement ring) and pearls (because I like the way they brighten my face). I know not everyone gravitates toward that gemstone so I was sure to include other potential wedding day earring options below as well. I have a feeling I’ll opt for some kind of stud which is mainly what you’ll see pulled in the graphic below, but lots of the websites y’all recommended have a variety of earring styles. 

Jennifer Behr // Olive & Piper // Kendra Scott // Vivian Drew // Nicola Bathie 

From left to right by row:

Row 1: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Row 2: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 

Row 3: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Bridesmaid’s Earrings — 

I think once I decide on my earrings it may be easier for me to ultimately choose earrings for my bridesmaids which I am hoping to gift them at the bridesmaid’s luncheon. I am also leaning toward some sort of pearl material for these and am a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there. Y’all even suggested some brands that I hadn’t heard of before, many of which offer custom designs specifically for your bridal party.

 Susan Shaw // Lisi Lerch // Canvas Style // Susan Standeffer // Vivian Drew // Sidebar Designs // Made by Mary // Gorjana // Anna Cate // SJ Bailey // Nadri at Bloomingles // J.Crew 

From left to right by row:

Row 1: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Row 2: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Row 3: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Row 4: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Hostess Gift Ideas — 

Hostess gifts can be tricky. Depending on the number of hosts you have you want it to be something useful that they may not already have without breaking the bank! I ordered these to pair with cocktail napkins for my sweet friends who have organized a stock-the-bar party for us, but know I’ll need something nicer for the hostesses of my bridesmaid’s luncheon. There are so many different price points in the graphic below that hopefully you’ll be able to find something that works for the party and price point or at least get an idea to go off of! One suggestion I loved that isn’t an item that could be included in the graphic is a donation to a charity in the hostesses' names. Since the people generous enough to host an event for you may already have what they want this is such a thoughtful and impactful way to make sure the money that would be spent on this gift goes to a wonderful cause. 

Monogrammed Tissue Box Cover // Magnolia Ornament // Pretty Olive Oil Bottle // Monogram Platter // Bauble Stocking // Pair together: Gourmet Jam & Appetizer Knife // Monogrammed Wreath Sash // Personalized Toiletry Bag // Entertaining Angels Coffee Table Book // Vietri Bud Vase // Monogrammed Cocktail Napkins // Blessing Beads // Lafco Soap // Pair of Rechargeable Lamps (split them up to make two gifts!) // Acrylic Cocktail Napkin Holder // Red Clay Spices (great to split up to give different hosts) // Le Creuset Ramekin pair with Pretty Salt Spoon // Monogrammed Stationary // Weezie Hostess Kitchen Towel // Pair together: Glass Candle Holder and Cute Colored Taper Candles (love these too) // Nest Candle // Ceramic Painted Picture Frame // Lucy Grimes Vase Wraps 

Other tips y’all shared with me! 

Create a cute itinerary for family/bridesmaids for the weekend of with all times laid out and print it for them but also send it in a text so they always have it handy and won’t be reaching out with questions.

Have fun and don’t stress. It will all come together!

Enjoy it, you only get it one time and then it’s over!

Turn over everything to a planner the month out so you can have fun.

Don’t get lost in the trends/social media. Do what feels like you, not what you think people want.

Don’t sweat the small stuff!

Don’t feel the need to do a thank you gift/party favor at the wedding, allocate those funds for something else.

No one will know anything went wrong but you! 

I’ll be sharing the other categories I mentioned and asked y’all for advice on in a Wedding Wednesday post soon!