Can you afford to be a bridesmaid? Via Shutterstock.
This summer my sisters and I are the only bridesmaids for my cousin’s wedding. While it can be hard to save as a wedding guest, it seems nearly impossible as a bridesmaid! Since I’m on a budget (and really who isn’t?) I’ve been looking for ways to save while still being a helpful and supportive bridesmaid. Here are my tips for how to save when you’re part of the bridal party.
10 tips to save as a bridesmaid
1. Split the Wedding Gift – Usually, the most expensive gifts on the registry are the bride’s “wish list” gifts. That means that these are the gifts she’s really hoping for. Instead of all of the bridesmaids buying one small gift, chip in on one or two (depending on how many bridesmaids) of the most expensive gifts. Not only will you ultimately spend less money, but the bride will end up with an amazing gift.
2. Save on Your Dress – The website Little Borrowed Dresses is an easy way to score a super cheap bridesmaid dress. You can rent a bridesmaid dress for as little as $50. That’s a great deal since bridesmaids dresses can cost over $300! If you have to buy the dress be sure to look for coupons and sales at local retailers.
3. Alter Your Dress Elsewhere – Instead of paying high prices to have your dress altered at the dress shop, bring it to your local tailor instead. The prices will be much less and your dress will still look beautiful. Remember, you’ll only be wearing this dress for one day, so you don’t want to invest too much money into it. Even better, if you have a friend or family member with sewing skills they might be willing to do it for free. Don’t forget, getting the best discount means using whatever resources you have available.
4. Go Paperless – Instead of buying pricey invitations for the shower and bachelorette, go paperless and use email invitations. Don’t worry, electronic invitations can be just as beautiful as paper invitations but for a much better price….free! The website paperlesspost.com allows you to create custom electronic invitations complete with photos for free.
5. Limit Travel – One easy way to save as a bridesmaid is to double up on events. By holding the shower and the bachelorette party during the same weekend you can cut your travel costs in half. Sweet deal!
6. Skip the Hair & Makeup – Instead of paying for professionally styled hair and makeup, do it yourself! There are tons of tutorials online that can teach you these skills. Just pick a style and get to watching! Make sure to practice beforehand, so you aren’t panicking on the big day.
7. Book Early – As soon as you know the dates of the wedding, bachelorette party, and shower book your travel! The earlier you book, the cheaper the price will be. Also, check and see if any of the other bridesmaids would be interested in staying together or carpooling. These are simple ways to drastically cut down travel costs.
8. Set a Budget and Stick to It – Creating a solid plan for wedding spending will keep you on track…and (hopefully) prevent overspending. Make a list of how much you can afford to spend on gifts, the shower, bachelorette party, dress etc. so you know exactly how much you need to save.
9. Donate the Dress – Even though you’re only wearing that dress for one day that doesn’t have to be its only use. Donate the dress to charity and save on your taxes. The Princess Project and Donate My Dress are two examples of charities that are always looking for dress donations.
10. Be Honest About Finances- Between planning the bachelorette and shower, buying a dress, shoes, accessories, and gifts being in a bridal party can get pretty expensive. Being upfront with the bride about your finances and having this conversation early will make it clear what can and can’t be done on your budget. Even though you care about the bride you shouldn’t let her talk you into spending money you don’t have.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
I got married the first time 22 years ago. I’ll be getting married a second time next summer. I am amazed at how much the expectations have changed when it comes to how elaborate these things are supposed to be. My bridal shower for the first wedding was at my mother’s house and featured sandwiches from the local deli and a sheet cake from the local bakery. It probably cost even at today’s prices less than $250. Why do showers have to be held at country clubs and catering halls with people traveling for them and cost as much as weddings did 25 years ago? Everyone is short on funds in this economy. It’s time to stop spending huge money on fantasy princess weddings and be realistic. It’s a wedding, not a coronation.
@Jennifer What a wonderful perspective! Expectations around weddings certainly have changed. I’d love to hear what you spend money on for your first wedding 22 years ago. What a wake up call it would be to a lot of brides today! There is a lot of pressure, as well as expectations, that I believe many brides have a hard time saying no to. For some, they may not even realize that they can have a low-key, frugal wedding. It’s easy to get wrapped up in what everybody else is doing, what you see on TV, what you see in magazines, what you hear about online.
But please do email me the story of your first wedding. I’m at julia at bargainbabe dot com. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Showers given by the bridesmaids should be determined by the bridesmaids, not the bride. If the bride has a relative that is interested in footing the bill for an elaborate shower then they can pay for the shower at a country club.
If the bride is agreeable, maybe she can pick out an elegant cocktail dress at a local retailer that can be used again for other occasions.
If you find that the cost of the dress and other expenses are going way out of your budget, bow out before the dress is ordered.
@msmyke What is a polite way to bow out of being a bridesmaid? I’ve never heard of one. I’ve had the good fortune to only be a bridesmaid twice!
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