OVER $1K TO BE A BRIDESMAID?
As a guy, I’ve never been a bridesmaid (of course.) So I was surprised when Main Street detailed the cost of being one as follows:
According to the Wedding Report, a bridesmaid can expect to spend an average of $1,009 on everything from dresses to traveling for a wedding.
And from another source:
The following estimates on what bridesmaids pay:
- Engagement gift – $50
- Shower gift – $50
- Wedding gift – $100-$150
- Travel to shower – $300
- Travel to bachelorette party – $300
- Travel to wedding – $300
- Dress – $150
- Alterations – $50
- Lingerie – $50
- Shoes – $75
- Jewelry – $60
- Hair and makeup – $100
All together the costs total $1,385
My thoughts:
- First of all, wow! Who knew it was so expensive? (Probably you ladies did.)
- Many of these expenses would be incurred anyway — if you went to the wedding but weren’t a bridesmaid, right? You’d still get them gifts, you’d still travel to the wedding, and so on. So you really only have from the dress on down as extra costs. These add up to $485 (which is still a lot, but not as impressive as almost $1,400.)
- Someone is giving way too many gifts. Really? Do you give $200 to $250 in wedding gifts to a couple? We don’t.
- Aren’t some of these overpriced? Hair and makeup $100? And why do you need to buy new jewelry? And what if you’re within driving distance to the wedding, shower, etc.? Then those costs go down big-time.
- Looks to me as if you’ll spend $400 to $500 extra to be a bridesmaid and another $500 to $750 to attend the wedding and related events. If you have a couple of these per year, the costs can really add up.
What’s your take on these expenses? Too high? Too low? Anyone out there had recent experience being a bridesmaid?