How to Save Your Bridesmaids Money

Every bride knows how much she is spending on her wedding, but not all realize how much her wedding is costing her bridesmaids. The expense involved in being part of a bridal party can be considerable, and the considerate bride will do her best to keep things affordable for her friends. These are some tips on how to save your bridesmaids money and make them happy.

Brides often think that the bridesmaid dresses, bridesmaid jewelry, and shoes are the biggest part of the bridesmaids’ budget. Actually, in many cases, this is not true. For many ladies, what really adds up to big bucks are the pre-wedding parties. Hosting even a small bridal shower can easily run into a couple of hundred dollars, not including a gift for the bride. The bride can ease the burden on her shower host by giving her a reasonably sized guest list of family and close friends, rather than a list of every woman she knows. If your hostess does not have room in her home for a party, try to find someone who would be willing to open up her house for the event so she does not have to pay to rent a space.

What tends to get even more expensive are bachelorette parties, particularly those which are destination weekends. By the time bridesmaids pay for airfare, hotels, meals in restaurants, drinks for the bride, and all the rest, the weekend in Vegas or Miami is going to cost each woman well over $500, and possibly over $1000! This is an awful lot to ask of your friends. Be conscious of your bridesmaids’ budgets, and don’t suggest a bachelorette weekend somewhere. Most will feel obligated to attend, as well as to chip in to pay the bride’s way. Let your friends know that you would be just as happy with a fun night out on the town with them where you live. You will still have lots of fun, and your bridesmaids won’t have to spend a fortune along the way.

There is no question that bridesmaids often resent having to purchase a bridesmaid dress. Not only do they tend to be costly, but quite often it is a style that the women know they will never wear again. The most budget-friendly option is to invite your attendants to wear dresses they already own. Another option is to choose a general color and style (pink strapless to the knee or navy one shoulder, for instance), and allow each bridesmaid to select her own dress within your guidelines. This is a great idea for two reasons: first of all, each woman has the freedom to shop around for a dress she can comfortably afford, and secondly, she can pick something she likes enough to use again one day. For those who absolutely want all of their attendants to match, save money by choosing a party dress instead of one from a bridesmaid line, which tend to be more costly.

All of the little extras can also add up for your bridesmaids. One thoughtful thing the bride can do is give her attendants gifts of bridesmaid jewelry so they do not need to purchase it themselves. Definitely plan to let them pick out their own shoes; many bridesmaids will already have a terrific pair of party shoes in their closet. Do not require elaborate hairstyles that will be very expensive, and hire a makeup artist or let the bridesmaids do their own. Lastly, whenever possible, find someone to host your bridesmaids for the wedding weekend to save them the hotel bill. While being in a wedding is a great honor, it need not come at a great cost to your friends.

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