Getting married isn’t just pricey for the happy couple! Obviously, they foot the majority of the bill for the festivities, but guests, and especially bridesmaids, can have a pretty seriously expense on their hands too. Even if you’re not in the strongest financial situation, it’s difficult to turn down the honor of being bridesmaid for one of your dearest friends, but it can be a real panic trying to get the requirements to fit your budget. There are three main expenses, the look, the gift, and the big day itself – here’s how to keep those within your budget.
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The look
Many brides will contribute towards the cost of their bridesmaid’s dresses, hair, and makeup if there is a certain look they want to be achieved for the big day. For more laid-back weddings, these costs sometimes have to be picked up by the bridesmaid herself. The dress is by far the biggest cost, and depending on your budget you might want to consider going second-hand (let’s call it vintage) to help your money go further. As for hair and makeup, if the bride is happy for you to do your own, it could save you a whole lot of cash. Speak to her about her expectations for your style, and spend some time practicing with the equipment and makeup you have available to ensure you can get the look just right, without the extra cost.
The gift
Some brides and grooms insist that their wedding party do not bring gifts as their presence is more than enough, but others like a treat of two, and who can blame them? Wedding gifts aren’t cheap, though. There are some great tips for carefully budgeting a special event on the internet – why not split the cost of a larger gift with some friends to save money? Or spend a while on the lead-up to the wedding shopping around for their dream gift in the sale?
The big day
From the cost of accommodation to keeping your vodka and tonic topped up, the big day doesn’t come without its own costs. If the wedding location is far from home, you’re going to have to pay for somewhere to sleep for the night; it’s an unavoidable cost. Remember, there will be other people in your position – you could split the cost of the room between yourself and some other bridesmaids if you’re going without partners, which can significantly keep the costs down. As for the drinks, short of finding a kind man to keep your glass topped up, it’s a cost you might just have to bear. Drinking tap water occasionally throughout the night will help to keep you hydrated, stop things getting messy, and it will also help to slow your drinking down too, keeping the costs a bit lower.
This is one of your best buddy’s biggest days, so you don’t want to have to skimp on the big stuff – budgeting carefully and saving where you can is the key to having the best time, without having to worry about the finances.
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