How To Help Your Bridesmaids Afford To Be In Your Wedding

Want to help your bridesmaids afford to be in your wedding? First of all, what a thoughtful thing to research! And second, you’re in the right place.

We all know that throwing a wedding can be really expensive. Costs just add up. However, being in a wedding can also be an undertaking. There’s quite a lot to pay for when you’re in a wedding. For example, there’s the bridesmaid dress. There’s also the bridal shower, bachelorette party, wedding gift, travel, and general costs like hair and makeup for the wedding. Wow.

The thing is, not everyone can afford to be in most weddings. Some people are on limited budgets, for a variety of reasons. And, some people don’t want to spend a lot just to stand with their friends and family. The easiest solution, if you’re faced with this issue, is to help your bridesmaids afford to be in your wedding. This may take a bit of sacrifice and creativity on your part, so the choice is yours on how you want to proceed.

How To Help Your Bridesmaids Afford To Be In Your Wedding

This post is going to share with you tips to help your bridesmaids afford to be in your wedding. Not every tip is for every bride. Some brides will see certain tips and know they aren’t going to use them. I encourage everyone to pick and choose what works for them. Remember, you can choose your bridesmaids for any reason, and if they choose not to participate for their reasons, it’s okay to still have them at your wedding and in your life. There’s always a compromise. 

Let’s get into it.

HELP YOUR BRIDESMAIDS AFFORD THEIR OUTFIT FOR YOUR WEDDING

One of the most common bridesmaid expenses is the outfit they will wear to a wedding. And when brides choose the dress, some bridesmaids may find that they can’t afford what was chosen for them.

The solution here is to let each bridesmaid pick her own dress, if you’re looking for ways for bridesmaids to afford to be in your wedding. You could also choose a dress that’s in everyone’s budget. Just ask the girls what they can afford to pay. As a last resort, you could offer to pay for the dresses for everyone, but this is an expense that can add up quickly for you. 

If you want your bridesmaids to wear certain shoes, accessories, or jewelry with their dresses, to make it easier for them, you could gift them what you want them to wear. This can double as your bridesmaid gift to them, as well as make their outfit a bit more affordable.

HELP YOUR BRIDESMAIDS AFFORD YOUR BRIDAL SHOWER

When it comes to bridal showers, the costs can sometimes add up for bridesmaids, but only in some situations.

If your wedding party is hosting your bridal shower, they may incur expenses like a venue fee, food and drink costs, decorations, and small gifts for guests. Depending on how extravagant the location is, these costs can be very expensive.

In order to help your bridesmaids afford to be in your wedding, including throwing you a bridal shower, you have some options. You could ask a family member to host the shower for you, letting your bridesmaids off the hook. The shower could also be fairly simple and at someone’s home, during the day, with just appetizers and light drinks. Just let your bridesmaids know that the shower doesn’t have to be over the top, and they will feel more empowered to keep the costs low.

HELP YOUR BRIDESMAIDS AFFORD YOUR BACHELORETTE PARTY

I don’t know about you, but where I come from bachelorette parties can be super expensive.

The main reason for this is because they often entail a weekend away. Airfare may be involved. Hotels are a must. There are dinners out, and usually a splurge on an event or excursion, or both. There may even be custom shirts, bathing suits, or dresses, which are all added expenses. Wow.

If you want to help your bridesmaid afford to be in your wedding, keep your bachelorette party reasonable. Just have a one-night party, close to home. Choose a location where you can bring and store food, and limit the entertainment or big excursions overall. I mean, the most important thing is that you get to have fun with your friends, not that you all have a wild experience. 

Want low-key bachelorette party options? Check out this post. 

HELP YOUR BRIDESMAIDS AFFORD TRANSPORTATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOUR WEDDING

Okay, let’s talk about the wedding logistics themselves.

Getting to, staying near, and leaving a wedding can be incredibly expensive when travel is involved. The first line to help your bridesmaids afford to be in your wedding is to choose a wedding location that is close to where people live.

You can also offer to pay for transportation or accommodations for everyone, if you have the budget for it. For example, you can rent a large hotel suite and maybe all of your wedding party stays in it with you the night before your wedding. Or you could pre-pay for any parking fees your bridesmaids may incur as well as make sure they have transportation to and from your wedding.

If you’re not in a position to pay for things, and are getting married out of town, look up reasonable hotel room rates, or have a hotel room rate for your guests (as noted in this post). You can also arrange for certain meals to be provided, especially on your actual wedding day.

HELP YOUR BRIDESMAIDS AFFORD TO BE IN YOUR WEDDING OVERALL

Let’s talk about helping your bridesmaids be in your wedding, overall. This includes all the little things that can also add up when you’re in a wedding.

For starters, to help your bridesmaids afford to be in your wedding, you can pay for their hair and makeup on your wedding day. The services don’t have to be done by a professional, you could even ask a friend or family member to help out. Ideally, your bridesmaids, if they are money-conscious, wouldn’t have to pay at all to “look pretty” for your wedding.

Additionally, you can let your bridesmaids know that they don’t have to get you a bridal shower, wedding, or group gift. Just absolve them from gifts altogether.

Remember, it’s okay to talk to your bridesmaids about money. Just address it. Offer to pay, when and where you can. And, finally, keep things low-key. The most important part of pre-wedding events, and all the time leading up to the wedding, is that you’re with your friends on this journey.

THOUGHTS ON WAYS TO HELP YOUR BRIDESMAIDS AFFORD TO BE IN YOUR WEDDING

Friends, there are so many ways to help your bridesmaids afford to be in your wedding. Maybe it’s one big expense that you make sure they don’t have to pay for. Or, it’s the sum of many, many expenses that you intentionally keep affordable. Either way, being a bridesmaid does not have to be a financial burden if it works for everyone involved. You’re an awesome friend for even reading this far! Happy wedding planning! 

More On Bridesmaids From Hummingbird Wedding Advice 

Should Bridesmaids Dresses Match Each Other?

13 Questions To Ask Your Bridesmaids (To See How Involved They Will Be)

How To Be A Bridesmaid & A Bride At The Same Time

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