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From childhood besties and college roomies to present-day confidants and future family members, your bridesmaids likely represent all of your life’s chapters. So finding a fitting gift to suit everyone is no small order.

To solve this gift-giving riddle, we enlisted the help of three experts: etiquette professional Elaine Swann, author and self-described professional bridesmaid Jen Glantz, and wedding planner Jove Meyer. All three warned against giving dust-collecting trinkets and uninspired doodads. Instead, Swann suggested prioritizing useful items that will still be relevant after the wedding bells chime. Do factor wedding-party gifts into your overall budget—especially if you have more than a few attendants. Here we list the very best items for your very best friends—with nary a “Team Bride” tank in sight.

Rifle Paper Co. (from $6 per card at the time of publication) Crane Personalized Notes and Cards (from $2 per card at the time of publication)

All three experts we spoke with emphasized that, above all, your gift should convey appreciation—and a heartfelt note is an excellent way to do just that. The Rifle Paper Co. thank-you-note offerings feel almost as special as an IRL bouquet, with gilded details and tangles of blooms. If your wedding aesthetic is slightly more formal, heritage stationery company Crane is a trusted choice endorsed by Wirecutter senior editor Courtney Schley. If you’re writing dozens of notes, a monogrammed set will feel more personal, and you could add printing or edging to reflect your wedding colors. For something a little less formal than Crane’s offerings, we also love (and recommend) Joy Creative Shop’s extra-colorful sets, which have bigger monograms in brighter colors.

L.L.Bean Boat and Tote ($35 for the medium bag at the time of publication)

A durable and attractive tote from L.L. Bean is always a welcome gift—just resist the urge to emblazon it with your wedding hashtag. One of our standouts from testing, this bag is made of a heavyweight canvas, so it maintains its shape even when empty. But we think this tote makes a nicer gift when it’s brimming with snacks, magazines, or even a bouquet of fresh flowers. Choose your bridesmaid’s go-to color for the contrast-tone handles, and then add an embroidered name or initials for no extra cost. Or, if you can be clever in fewer than 10 characters, some of your bridesmaids might appreciate an ironic inscription instead.

Lush Bath Bombs (from $6 each at the time of publication) Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask ($18 at the time of publication)

After months of wedding details, a weekend of travel, and one memorable night of backing it up and throwing them down, your loyal wedding attendants will be ready to recharge. Help them get started with a long, luxurious bath and some shuteye. Our favorite bath bomb from Lush will make their soak all the more soothing. Unlike other versions, the Lush bomb detonates as soon as it hits the water, releasing the yummiest scents and prettiest color explosions. Our top-pick sleep mask, the Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask, has roomy, comfortable eye pockets that fully block light, no matter how early the day-after flight is. Complete their pampering pack by adding a favorite snack and a soothing eye mask.

Shutterfly Photo Gallery Magnets (about $7 for four magnets at the time of publication)

Your bridesmaids have seen you through more than just a wedding. Remind them of those other special moments with magnets featuring beloved memories. Shutterfly makes that easy: Upload four photos directly, or pull them from social media accounts. In less than a week, the site will mail them printed on sturdy magnets. If you have the magnets shipped to you, the 2-by-2-inch squares are small enough that you can get creative in your wrapping. Consider tucking them into a heartfelt card, bundling them in a pretty scarf, or tucking them amid the pages of a great book.

Custom Converse All Stars (from about $80, depending on style, at the time of publication)

After teetering through your ceremony and photos in heels, your bridesmaids will appreciate lacing up something more comfortable for the dance floor. A custom pair of sneakers gives off major Father of the Bride vibes, in the best way. One of our top picks for white sneakers, these are also super customizable. Choose your bridesmaids’ favorite colors and prints for the body of the shoe, and then handpick the tinier elements, like the eyelets, laces, and rubber. The back heel stripe can fit up to six embroidered letters. A classic choice would be a bridesmaid’s initials, but an old nickname would work well too.

Coatt Morse Coded Bracelet (about $40 at the time of publication)

Swann recalls that one of the best bridesmaid gifts she received was a pair of earrings that worked on the big day and for years after. With that in mind, we think these dainty Morse Coded Bracelets are simple, special, and sartorially versatile. Wirecutter editor Catherine Kast gave these to her very pleased bridal party in 2013, and she reports that her own is still holding up all these years later. At first glance, the bracelet just looks like a series of metal beads. But for the ham radio aficionado, the long-short initials make it secretly personal. Customize it further with six different silk colors and dots and dashes forged in sterling silver or gold fill.

Tony’s Chocolonely custom chocolate bar (about $8 per bar at the time of publication)

Most custom candy is cute on the outside and … waxy and nearly inedible on the inside. That’s not the case with Tony’s Chocolonely bars, which are among our preferred chocolate bars, thanks to their superior flavor quality and the company’s ethical labor commitment. Happily, the bars become all the more gift-like with a simple customized wrapper. Upload your image, and then select colors, fonts, stickers, and photos for your wrappers. A group shot from the bachelorette party is one cute idea, or select a favorite snap of each bridesmaid from the start of your friendship. Shipping is $10 for any order up to $85; we think the price is well worth it, considering that these are both totally personal and entirely delicious.

Min & Mon Charms (from $30 at the time of publication)

Remember the Little Miss books? These leather purse charms from New York City–based accessories company Min & Mon are the IRL version. You’ll have a blast figuring out which one is best for each of your bridesmaids. Maybe octopus twins for your maid of honor (with whom you’re practically joined at the hip) or a boots-wearing bird for your Louboutin-loving pal? We feel fairly confident your bridesmaids won’t have one of these whimsical little creatures, and these charms will take up almost no room in a suitcase. Even if some attendants aren’t the purse-wearing type, they’ll smile when they see one of these hanging from a carry-on or car mirror.

Atlas Coffee Club ($50 for three months at the time of publication)

Chances are good your bridesmaids’ coffee orders vary as wildly as their opinions on the dress you’re having them wear. Wirecutter tested and enjoyed several coffee subscriptions, and the best one for the wanderlusting bridal party is from Atlas Coffee Club. Each month’s delivery hails from a different country, and since the company works directly with local farmers, those beans are also more uniquely produced (for instance, one bag that editor Ben Keough particularly liked involved using anaerobic fermentation.) Give a three-month subscription, and bridesmaids can select the roast and grind preferences to suit their individual tastes.

Natori Shangri-La Robe (about $94 at the time of publication)

As cute as those de rigueur little satin robes are, Glantz warns that your pals likely don’t need another one (they’re often given to bridesmaids on the wedding day for getting-ready photos). Instead, consider a luxurious, full-length robe that your attendants can wear in the comfort of their own home for years to come. Natori’s Shangri-La is one of our top-rated robes from testing. The jersey knit feels as light and soft as your cherished college T-shirt, yet it holds up better (our testers report that even after years of wearing this robe, it remains just as soft as the day they received it). The Shangri-La is available in more than a dozen colors and in sizes XS to 2X.

Dagne Dover Ace Fanny Pack ($95 at the time of publication)

An attractive and durable fanny pack is an excellent tool for day-of organizing, and it will also offer years of style and utility to any lucky bridesmaid. One standout from our testing is the Dagne Dover Ace Fanny Pack. On the big day, your attendants can use it to store phones, extra hair pins, and emergency sewing kits. Later on, they’ll appreciate the built-in card pocket, key clip, and elastic loop that’s just the right size for lip balm or gloss. The pack comes in several versatile colors, and thanks to the adjustable straps, it can be worn ’90s-style (around the hips) or in a cool-kid cross-body style.

Tusk Siam Passport Cover (about $50 at the time of publication)

Swann said travel-related gifts are good bets for your attendants, since they’ll likely be traveling for work, pleasure, or even their next wedding in the near future. This two-tone leather passport cover is a thoughtful gift, with bright colors that not only elevate the grind of crossing through customs but conveniently stand out in the dark recesses of a carry-on. Gifts editor Hannah Morrill has used this cover for several years and reports that it remains just as supple and clean-looking as it did on its maiden voyage. If your own wedding will take place abroad, consider giving this one well in advance of takeoff.

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend.

This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.

Dorie Chevlen is a staff writer from Youngstown, Ohio, now living in Los Angeles. She has worked as a copy editor, fact checker, and sandwich maker, but this is probably her favorite gig. Her writing has also been published in Science, Slate, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. She has been called—both flatteringly and not—“a lot.”

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