Be in a wedding without breaking the bank
Being asked to be in a bridal party is a huge honor and one that you probably don鈥檛 want to have to turn down because you can鈥檛 afford it.
鈥淚鈥檝e been in two weddings and have attended seven. When you鈥檙e asked to be part of a wedding, you just think about that one day, but you don鈥檛 really take into consideration the engagement party or the bridal shower, and the bachelorette party,鈥� NerdWallet鈥檚 Jessica Lindquist says. 鈥淚 split the hotel with some of the other bridesmaids, so that was one way I was able to cut down on costs so I could attend all of those events.鈥�
Here are five ways you, too, can accept a bridal party invitation without having to stress out over the cost.
1. Trim expenses on your hair, makeup, nails and outfit if you鈥檙e asked to be a bridesmaid.聽Check whether anyone you know is skilled with hair or makeup and if so, ask him or her to do it for you. Another option is to have a professional do either your hair or makeup and do the other one yourself. Also, skip the pricey mani and pedis 鈥� DIY them!
For your bridesmaid dress, offer to assist the bride in picking one she likes but that is also affordable for you. Help the bride put together a style board beforehand so you鈥檒l know her tastes and can do some of the research ahead of time. Plan bridal dress shopping days around upcoming sales for major retailers, so you鈥檒l have more affordable options to choose from.
Once you鈥檝e bought the bridesmaid dress, bring it to a trusted tailor who won鈥檛 overcharge you for alterations. Chances are you won鈥檛 be wearing it much after the wedding, so don鈥檛 splurge on getting it fitted at the dress shop.
If you鈥檙e going to be a groomsman, save money on your clothing by wearing a suit you already own 鈥� or if you must don black tie, search for a good price on renting a tux.
2. Get involved with the bachelorette or bachelor party聽planning so you can have a say in how much it ends up costing. You might think this is aggressive, but Gail Blachly, another Nerd, says addressing expenses head-on can be beneficial.
鈥淗ave those open discussions with the bride or the groom to say, 鈥楬ow much do you think I need to set aside?鈥� Because they鈥檙e open to having those discussions, too,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e in the process, they鈥檙e making their own budgets; they understand that it鈥檚 a need-to-know fact.鈥�
3. Make a gift plan.聽If you feel comfortable splitting bridal shower or bachelorette/bachelor party presents with the rest of the wedding party, do so. If not, aim to spend 20% of your gift budget on the shower, 20% on the bachelorette/bachelor and 60% on the wedding.
4. Use your聽聽or loyalty program points聽to help cover聽costs. Since it can take some time to earn enough points, start saving as soon as possible.
5. Set a savings goal and work to meet it.聽As soon as you agree to be in the bridal party, talk with the bride or groom to estimate how much it鈥檒l cost you and use that as your savings goal.
You might think you can鈥檛 afford to be a bridesmaid or groomsman, but don鈥檛 say no right away. With a little planning and resourcefulness, you can afford more than you realize. The next time you鈥檙e asked to join a bridal party, follow these suggestions so the experience leaves you with fond memories and sound finances.
Heather Yamada-Hosley is a content strategist at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email:聽heather@nerdwallet.com. Twitter:聽.
