Bridesmaids on a Budget

If you are not the bride, and are going to act as a bridesmaid for someone else, you need to watch your own expenses of attending someone else’s wedding. While you feel honored and are excited about your friend’s wedding, you might find the expenses bogging you down. You might have to spend on your dress, shoes, hairstyle, manicure and travel to the wedding etc. Also, add bridal shower, girls’ party, gifts for the bride and some miscellaneous expenditure. In an estimate, it is an established fact that a bridesmaid might even spend somewhere close to a thousand dollars before the wedding.

However, it is not very wise to go on spending, if you cannot afford it. The best way to handle such a situation is by talking it out with the bride, whose emotions are already on the high.
Otherwise, you can spend wisely and still be a graceful bridesmaid, if your friend surely wants you in her bridal party.

You can start by saving on your dress. If the bride is open in her approach then she can allow you to wear a regular dress that you are comfortable wearing or one that is available on sale or at an economy price.
However, if the bride insists on a traditional formal gown, you can opt for a designer who does not charge exorbitantly. The trick is in ordering the gown immediately once you make up the mind and the discussions are over. You must avoid last minute rush to avoid spoiling your friend’s wedding. One way to economize on the dress is by preferring it shipped along with the dress of the bride if your designer is the same. You would not only avoid sales tax, but would also cut down shipping costs.

Alterations in a dress cost a lot, so be attentive in giving your accurate body measurements when ordering. The bridal shop seamstress would charge a lot more than a normal shop seamstress.

Shoes to match with the dress are also expensive. Use dyeable shoes that you can use later also. Else, try to get your previous bridesmaid shoes dyed with this dress, if it is possible. If the bride is not very particular about the color of your shoes, you can go for good black shoes. Alternatively, go for a cheaper option available at many stores.

To save on the makeup, let your own makeup and hair styling talents come to the fore and let all the bridesmaids come up with ideas for each other. In case the bride wants a proper hair style and a professionally done look, go hire students from a beauty school, who would be happy to have free subjects to try their hands on different hair styles and would not charge much either.