Here’s a friendlier take on the text:
Planning a Bridesmaid Budget
This past weekend, I had the honor of standing by one of my high school best friends as she said ‘I do’. It was the absolute dream wedding, with beautiful weather, a stunning bride and an incredible venue.
Thinking back, it’s pretty amazing how our friendship has grown since our high school band geek days, and being able to support her on this special day was pretty amazing. But, as any seasoned bridesmaid knows, it’s not exactly a cheap role to take on. The dress, the parties, the travel and gifts… it can really stack up!
So what’s a budget-savvy bridesmaid to do? Well, when my friend got engaged about 16 months prior to the wedding, I estimated my potential expenses and set aside a $1000 budget.
Online sources suggested the average cost of being a bridesmaid was higher, about $1,695, but I needed to be realistic for my own financial state. So, I prepped to cover all bridesmaid-related costs within my budget, leaving the rest for a gift to the newlyweds.
Here’s how I broke down my expenses:
– Bridesmaid Dress: $99.99 (thanks to a $20 coupon from the bride!)
– Bridal Shower Contribution: $65 (for food, decorations and a gift)
– Hotel: $136.85
– Bachelorette Party: $130.50 (for 2 hotel nights, a pole dancing class and a fun dinner)
– Wedding Hair: $90
– Shoes: $62
This left me with $320.71 for a wedding gift.
I then parked the remaining money in a savings account (and made an extra $4.57 while at it!). A friendly note, I forgot to account for a few smaller cash expenses, say about $30-40, but I think that was negligible.
I made a point to not include personal expenses, like food or drinks I got from wanting to, not needing to. Also, I splurged on an additional personalized Christmas ornament as a bonus gift, but I didn’t count that in this budget.
I’m thrilled with the outcome! The bride-to-be was considerate in choosing moderately-priced events and items, and this strategy might very well be my new go-to. If there’s a more lavish wedding in the future, I’d just have to adjust the gift accordingly.
Do note though, if the wedding requires a flight, I’d count that separately and maintain the base $1000 budget.
Lastly, everyone’s financial situation is different, just stick to what works for you. It wasn’t too long ago when I would’ve struggled with even a $1000 budget, but thankfully, I’ve found a system that works.
Let’s chat – what’re your usual expenses as a bridesmaid? What’s your idea of a good wedding gift amount? I’d love to hear from you!