Not Maid of Money: The High Cost of Being a Bridesmaid

NOT MAID OF MONEY THE HIGH COST OF BEING A BRIDE$ MAID When a dear friend gets engaged, it's a cause for celebration. But if you're such a dear friend that you're called upon to be part of the wedding party, the honor may have a heavier financial impact than you'd expect. Here's an estimate of some of the costs a bridesmaid can incur. Estimated Cost Breakdown ENGAGEMENT GIFT HAIR, MANICURE & MAKEUP SHOWER GIFT JEWELRY $100 $50 $50 WEDDING GIFT $60 $100 SHOES $75 2.9% 2.9% 5.9% 2.9% 3.5% LINGERIE $50 4.4% TRAVEL TO SHOWER 2.9% $50 2.9% 17.7% $300 ALTERATIONS $150 8.9% SHOWER CONTRIBUTION (DECORATIONS, FAVORS, ETC.) DRESS 2.9% $50 TOTAL COST $1,695 17.7% 17.7% TRAVEL TO BACHELORETTE PARTY $300 $300 3.5% TRAVEL TO WEDDING $60 BACHELORETTE PARTY CONTRIBUTION (TAXIS, ENTERTAINMENT, DRINKS FOR THE BRIDE) Bridal Best Practices Having happy maids will make your wedding day go smoother. Heaping excessive costs on your friends and loved ones will leave some cringing at the altar. Here are some tips to lighten the burden on their pocketbook. P PLANE T TICKET $300 Be reasonable about the bridesmaid dress and the accessories. Unless you're going to foot the bill, choosing a $300 frock is going to make some waves (especially if your maids are students, unemployed or serving in multiple weddings this year). A no-cost alternative is letting everyone wear a LBD (little black dress) they already own. Cookie cutter uniformity is on the wane: jewelry and shoes don't have to match anymore. Make sure your Maid of Honor understands what the other maids can afford vis-a-vis the shower and bachelorette, so that the richer maids don't make plans that will bankrupt those who are on a budget. If your maids are all from out of town, don't ask people to fly in twice. Make sure the shower and bachelorette party occur on the same weekend. $75 Bridesmaids’ Best Practices Avoid money-related wedding drama by being proactive about managing your bridesmaid costs. Here are some tips to help keep things under control. Gifts are a nice gesture, but not compulsory. If you're tapped out by the time the wedding rolls around, get creative. Print out some photos of the shower and bachelorette party for a handmade scrapbook. Or pool your resources with other budget-minded maids to get something from the registry. Be upfront with the bride about your budget from the start. Standing by her side at a destination wedding in Hawaii might sound nice, but make sure you can afford the airfare before you accept. Work with the other bridesmaids to consolidate your dress orders into one single order. You'll save on shipping, and possibly on the cost of the dress. Expand the bachelorette guest list to help defray the shared costs. Plan an in-home shower instead of a catered affair. Traveling solo? See if other bridesmaids or wedding guests want to split a hotel room. mintcom Source: Weddingchannel.com $150 %24 %24 %24 %24 %24 00I$ %24 $50 %24 $50 %24 NININIJN %24 %24 %24 %24 %24 %24 %24 %24 %24 %24 %24