How do you tell your mom she is the most amazing woman alive and thank her for guiding you through life and helping your dream wedding become a reality? While a single gift or thank you will never capture how much your mom means to you, remembering to include your mom (or other mother figures in your life) in your wedding gift giving will help them know how much they are loved and appreciated.

Your gift to your mom could be jewelry, a framed wedding day photo, a pampering experience at a spa, a special mother/daughter outing, or a ton of other personalized items that show how grateful you are to have her in your life. As long as it comes from the heart and is given with love, whatever great gift you select for your mom will certainly be treasured. 

In this article, we will cover how much you should spend on your mother of the bride gift, when you should give mom her gift, and fifteen uniquely thoughtful gift ideas to show your mom how much she means to you. 

Why a Mother of the Bride Gift?

Since many moms are quite involved in the wedding planning process from helping the bride shop for her dress, planning different aspects of the wedding, creating guest lists, and even covering some of the wedding expenses, it’s customary to thank her for her ongoing support and her time and commitment to making your wedding everything you hoped it would be. Whether you decide to give her a gift yourself, you and your significant other decide to give her a joint gift, or you each decide to give your mom a separate gift, they are all a great way to express how thankful you are for her. If your mother-in-law has been involved in the wedding planning and festivities, consider getting her a gift as well to say thank you and express your appreciation. 

How Much Should You Spend on Gifts?

The right price for the mother of the bride's gift varies. Just like any gift, it’s the thought that counts! If you find the perfect gift for your mom and it comes from the heart, she will love it either way whether it’s $50 or $500 (aren’t moms great!).  Remember, it’s the sentiment that matters the most, not the price tag.

When Should You Give the Gifts?

There is no set time that you need to give your mom her gift. The timing really depends on when you think it’s the best moment to thank her for everything she has done leading up to your special day and everything she will continue to do as your loving mom after your wedding. If you are getting her jewelry to wear on the wedding day, then it would be appropriate to find a moment before the big day to give her your gift. This could be at the rehearsal dinner or you could make a mother-daughter day out of it by planning a time to take her out to lunch and let her open her gift then. If her gift includes a photo of you two from your wedding day then you could give her a thank you gift upon receiving your wedding pictures.

What to Get for Mother of the Bride Gifts

Deciding what to get your mom as the perfect gift to show your love and appreciation doesn’t have to be tough. We compiled fifteen meaningful (and many local to Kalamazoo gift ideas) that will be sure to make your mom know how appreciated she is. 

1. Jewelry - Gift your mom a pair of earrings or necklace, either to match her wedding day dress or to wear anytime after the big day. This dainty pearl necklace from DarlingSentiments will look gorgeous on your mom and adds that special touch to everyday outfits. Plus, the meaning behind the three pearls serves as a reminder that the best things in life come in threes: friends, dreams and memories. 

2. Spa treatment - Treat your mom to a spa day either before the wedding to give her a beautiful glow or after your wedding as a way to relax from the wedding planning. Eve Salon and Spa offers a variety of massages and other spa treatments. 

3. At home spa basket - Instead of taking her to the spa, bring the spa to her! Put together a basket with cozy slippers, a silk robe, a face mask, hair mask, and top it off with a relaxing candle. We love these slippers from Olive and Ivy Boutique made from super soft chenille. 

4. Bottle or case of wine with a customized wine label - What better way to spend an evening together reminiscing on memories from your childhood that made you the bride you are today than over a bottle of wine. What makes this wine even better is that you can customize the label to show your mom exactly how much she means to you. Visit Tempo Vino Winery to design a custom label for $8.00 for the first label and $1.00 for each additional label of the same label. You can also get custom labels for $30 for your entire batch of wine. 

5. Create your own fragrance - Instead of just getting your mom a bottle of perfume, take it up a notch by creating your own fragrance for her. At Aroma Labs in Kalamazoo, you can do just that. Stop by their store to choose your blend and aroma preference. Don’t worry about picking scents that blend well together, their staff is very helpful and will steer you in the right direction. You can even have your mom join you on a mother-daughter trip and make perfumes together. 

6. Hairpin set - Consider how your mom is going to do her hair for the wedding day. If she’s opting for an up-do or partial up-do then a beautifully crafted hairpin set would look amazing on her. Earthly Delights at Amy Zane has a meticulously assorted glass and resin cabochon with antique gold and silver colored plated castings and findings hairpin set.

7. Framed wedding day photo - Now mom won’t ever forget how happy and beautiful you looked on your dream day (and where you get your good looks from). With a framed wedding photo of the two of you, like this one at EightSeasonsDesigne, you can choose your own messaging or pick from their wording options.

8. Satin sleep set - Your mom is going to need some well earned rest after the wedding day. Treat her to a satin sleep set, like this one at Lee and Birch, complete with a satin pillowcase, eye mask, and satin scrunchie. Satin pillowcases are very popular right now as they don’t damage your hair while you sleep like cotton pillowcases do and they reduce frizz.

9. Personalized jewelry dish - If your mom wears jewelry everyday then she likely needs a place to store all of those rings, bracelets, and earrings. Why not get her a personalized jewelry dish that she will look at every time she goes to pick out her accessories for the day. This one from The PaintedPress has the perfect touch of rustic beauty. 

10. A christmas ornament - Your mom will be reminded every year she puts her ornaments on the tree of your special day and the memories that come along with it. This sentimental ornament from SayItWithLovestudio is sure to flood her with the happiest of memories. 

11. An engraved Yeti - Give your mom something memorable to sip out of when she’s getting ready for your special day. This personalized, engraved Yeti from Engravelt is a practical gift that your mom can continue to use for years to come. 

12. A makeup bag or clutch - A practical gift to help mom stay organized on your wedding day is a makeup bag or clutch that she can put all her big day necessities in. You can even get her bag personalized with her initials, the date of your wedding, a cute MOB saying, or create your own heartfelt message. This one from SoutherKickLeather is the perfect size to put her makeup and some napkins in for when she tears up watching you walk down the aisle. 

13. A MOB gift box set - When you can’t decide which gift is the perfect one for your mom, don’t settle for just one gift. Instead get her a Mother of the Bride gift box set. This gift box set from ModParty includes a designed gift box, matchbox, candle tin, ring dish, compact mirror, lip balm, card, and even stickers. 

14. Handwritten note - Nothing compares to a handwritten note, card, or poem from you to your mom. This simple, yet very thoughtful gift is sure to bring tears to your mom’s eyes when she reads it. 

15. Stop by a local arts event in your community - You can find many unique gifts ranging from jewelry, ceramics, clothes, to paintings at art events in your area. In Kalamazoo, there are many amazing vendors that have booths at Art Hop throughout the year. Take a stroll through all of the booths to see if something catches your eye.