Happy Tuesday everyone! For those of you already off for Thanksgiving, yay for you! Now get to reading lots of blogs and do lots of wedding planning. And for those of you still at work today, we all know that you’re kind of only half there, so the same goes for you- lots of blogs and lots of planning! :)
This week’s {Tuesday Tips} comes from an awesome reader who is also one of my fab Twitter friends, Erin….
Be Committed
So, whether you’ve been a bridesmaid or not, we all know it’s a huge undertaking that comes with a list of responsibilities. Having experienced being both a bride and a bridesmaid, I feel like there are two things every maid should be: committed and involved, and here’s why…
Being a bridesmaid requires the commitment of your time and checkbook throughout the entire engagement. Don’t get me wrong, I know the feeling when your friend pops the question, ‘Will you be my bridesmaid?’ It’s exciting! You feel honored to know that you mean so much to your her BUT, before jumping the gun and hopping on the bridesmaid bandwagon, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities you are signing up for.
As an attendant there are a handful of pre-wedding functions you are expected to attend (think showers, bachelorette parties, bridesmaid luncheons, etc.), so make sure you will be able to commit some time outside of the wedding weekend to fulfill your bridal party duties. Just remember, your bride asked you to be a part of her big day because you are important to her. She wants you to be present and celebrate with her at the events leading up to the wedding day.
In addition to the time commitment, be ready to shell out some cash! We all know being a maid isn’t cheap and depending on your current financial status and ability to save over the planning period, it could cause a little (or a lot of) stress on your bank account. Make sure you have a good understanding of all of the upcoming expenses in order to properly budget. Let’s start with all these pre-wedding events. It’s likely that you will be invited to a few bridal showers which require not only your attendance, but a gift. Now it is totally up to you to decide the amount of money you spend on the present, my thinking has always been, ‘It’s the thought that counts.’ So, do what you can afford in this area. But, regardless of the dollar amount, add this to your list!
Next is the bachelorette party. This is when you can see your costs start to soar. For starters, ask yourself if there will be any travel expenses. Does your bride plan on jetting off to Vegas for a weekend of fun or will your group be staying in town to celebrate? In addition to costs like beverages, food, hotel/transportation (if needed) and entertainment, don’t forget most bachelorette parties incorporate a lingerie shower, as well.
Then, wedding day attire. Not only will you be expected to pay for your dress and alterations but also the accessories (shoes and jewelry). Day-of, you’ll be responsible for any beauty services which could include hair and make-up and maybe even a mani/pedi. Knowing your bride and her personal style should be a good indication of what kind of decisions she’ll make when it comes to the outfit you’ll be sporting. But if you aren’t sure, just ask her in what price range she is hoping to find the bridesmaid dresses.
Occasionally, you might get a pleasant surprise and the bride will offer to pay for the bridal party’s hotel rooms, or beauty services and maybe even gift the bridal party their jewelry but…you never know, so I wouldn’t bank on it.
Similar to the bachelorette party, don’t forget the wedding weekend expenses. Will travel be required? Hotel rooms? Plane tickets? Will you need to take time off of work to attend the bridal luncheon or other wedding day festivities? New outfits for the luncheon and rehearsal dinner?
So many things to take into consideration! So just remember that when signing on to being a bridesmaid you’re committing to more than just lookin’ pretty on the wedding day.
Ah yes, being committed to your bridesmaid duties are SUPER important! Time is the biggest one for me- since I work in the wedding industry (aka weekends and 24-7), it would be really difficult for me to be able to attend all of the festivities, and I wouldn’t expect them all to be scheduled around my crazy schedule! Just a few weeks ago I was able to finish a wedding setup, run to my friend’s bachelorette dinner/party, and then make it back for the wedding tear down. But that was a special case, because the wedding was like 10 minutes from the restaurant!
A big thanks to Erin for this {Tuesday Tips} post! Be sure to check out some of the work that Erin is involved in with The Engagement Party and The Not Wedding! Now tell us…how have you all handled the commitments involved in being a bridesmaid?
Lauren
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