SavvySugar

What's the Most You Have Spent as a Bridesmaid?

SavvySugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:23:13 -0700

It's more than acceptable to turn down some wedding-related events because of financial strain, but during a busy wedding season, costs can add up even if you are bowing out of events here and there. Arriving as a guest can be expensive in its own right, but the title of bridesmaid comes with several additional costs that, according to The Knot, can easily amount to $1,000 or more.

Keep in mind, especially as an out-of-town bridesmaid, that just because you receive an invitation to a sampling of showers doesn't mean the bride expects you to be there. There are happy mediums to be found in managing the many events and your budget, so pick which are most important for you to attend and don't look back!

To see all of our wedding season coverage, check out IDoSugar.

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I'm Asking: Who Should Pay For Bridesmaids' Expenses?

SavvySugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:17 -0700

The money I've spent as a bridesmaid is some of the most guiltless spending I've done. It was all for my closest friends or family and supporting them on their wedding days. These efforts came back full circle when they stood by me on my wedding day, and there weren't any money issues standing between us behind the scenes.

For every wedding where I was a bridesmaid, we all paid for our own clothes, shoes, makeup, hair, and travel expenses, but I've heard of other groups of friends that have done things differently. Do you think the bride should be responsible for her bridesmaids' wedding-related expenses, or should the bridesmaids pay their own way?

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What Would You Do? Broke Bridesmaid

SavvySugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:26:04 -0700

Imagine that you're a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of your closest friends, and you've been selected to spearhead the bachelorette party. Organized is your middle name, and you've been planning the weekend practically since your friend was engaged, all the while including the other girls on emails and asking for feedback every step of the way.

It's a month from the big bachelorette weekend, and you get a call from one of the bridesmaids who you don't know very well. She asks if she can pay you in installments of $50 per week, after the weekend has come and gone, instead of handing over her portion of the expenses at the start of the weekend. If you were the in-charge bridesmaid, how would you handle this situation? This is a true story - it happened to my friend who is planning a bachelorette- so to see how my she handled it just read more.

She told the bridesmaid that her proposal was absolutely not an option. Instead, she suggested the girl put a portion of the weekend on her credit card and pay the rest in cash upon arrival just like everyone else. I think that the situation was handled well, though I know my friend was totally shocked by the request from someone she doesn't know well to essentially lend her money for the weekend. The bride has been engaged for a year, so there wasn't much of an excuse why she couldn't save $30 per month for the bachelorette party, other than the fact that she's notoriously bad with money.

Would you have handled things differently, or do you think this was the best solution?

To see all of our wedding season coverage, check out IDoSugar.

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Take a Charitable Note From Taylor Swift

SavvySugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:30:07 -0700

Famous or not, most women own at least one dress that hangs uselessly in our closets. Take a note from Taylor Swift and turn the seemingly good-for-nothing dress into a good act; the 19-year old singer donated her long cream and gold Jessica McClintock gown to DonateMyDress.org. I certainly don't have any prom dresses in my possession any longer, but I have a selection of worn-once bridesmaids dresses that could use a better home. You, too? Take the opportunity to do some charitable Spring cleaning.

DonateMyDress organizes donation drives across the country to collect dresses for girls who can't afford to buy something for their high school proms. Thinking back to those big June dances, I appreciate how fortunate I was to have a family that could afford extras like a prom dress. Not everyone is so lucky, so take a second to locate donation drives in your area and round up your best condition dresses that you're never going to wear again. Remember, hold onto any receipt you get for making the donation for next year's taxes and consider taking a picture.

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Brilliant or Baffling: Bride Finds Sponsor For Wedding on eBay

SavvySugar — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:15:59 -0700

A brainstorming session that started out as a bake sale quickly turned into a bidding war for a bridesmaid job in a Virginia Beach wedding. Bride-to-be Kelly Gray was considering ways to raise extra money for her upcoming nuptials when her existing bridesmaid said, "We need to auction something (on eBay). There's Dr. Pepper cans and Cheetos bags for sale, so let's just go ahead and do a bridesmaid."

Kelly wasn't hopeful that the eBay plot would yield any results, but she ended up with dozens of bids. The winner was the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group which won with their final $5,700 bid and voluntarily upped it to $10,000. They'll also provide the beverages for the wedding.

Who will stand in as a bridesmaid remains to be determined, but the company's spokesman said they're thinking about having a contest or asking a celebrity. Kelly is very grateful and said, "I don’t want it to be extravagant, but now I can get that wonderful D.J. who has the lights; I can do that. Now I’m thinking of a honeymoon."

I'm Asking: What Were the Last 5 Things You Spent Money On?

SavvySugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:16:00 -0800

Many of us are trying to be better with money in 2009, and in order to do so we need to pay attention to where our money goes. A fun exercise I like to play when I need to check in with my spending is thinking of the last five things I spent money on. No expense is too small to be accounted for, so let's play, shall we? Here are the last five things that had me reaching for my wallet - share your last five in the comments!

Cab ride
Sunday dinner on my road trip
Updo for a wedding (I was a bridesmaid)
Coffee
January rent!

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Surviving a Pricey Wedding Season, Part II

SavvySugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:28:45 -0700

Is your Summer calendar full of weddings and all of the events surrounding them? Are you trying not to make anymore female friends so that you don't have to add another one to the list? Just kidding. But wedding season can make you realize how many people you actually know, and how much money it will take for you to attend the Summer lovefest. Here are some of my survival tips.

Only attend the events that you can afford! If you really can't manage to pay for a bachelorette party / bridal shower / plane tickets to fly to a destination, simply don't go. The wedding is not optional if you're a close friend or in the wedding party, but brides will likely understand if you can't attend one of the other events because of money issues. Be honest with the bride and don't make up some lame excuse - she'll likely be understanding, thank you for your candor, and focus on the time you will have together.
Save on shoes: If you don't already have shoes that go with your bridesmaids dresses, try and buy a pair in a neutral color that will go with many shades of dress. And if the bride insists that everyone get matching shoes and presents an unreasonably priced pair, there's always room for suggestions. Try and hunt down a pair that looks similar and costs less - a bride has so many decisions to make, it's likely she didn't exhaust her bridal party footwear search and will be open to alternatives.

I have two more tips for wedding guests and bridesmaids alike, so just read more

Wedding gifts: Some people are naturally gifted in a crafty way and can create an inexpensive gift that's better and more thoughtful than anything on a registry. For the rest of us, there's the beautiful thing that is collective gifts. If you can't bear to give your friends a cookbook holder and mixing bowls, why not pitch in on one of the bigger ticket items with some other girls? The bride will appreciate that you all took the time to pick out a gift together and won't think anything of the fact that the card is signed by more than one person.
Swap dresses: If you have girlfriends who are the same size, suggest sharing dresses throughout wedding season to make your wardrobes stretch. Just make sure to respect something borrowed and take good care so you don't find yourself shelling out money to replace a damaged dress!

Check out all of our wedding season coverage at IDoSugar.

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Surviving a Pricey Wedding Season, Part I

SavvySugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:03:04 -0700

Memorial Day weekend suggests that Summer is just around the corner and is also the unofficial kickoff to an eventful wedding season. I've suggested plenty of budgeting tips for brides to be, but this edition is all about budgeting for your friends' big days. Looking ahead at the rest of 2008 has got me slightly stressed because of the many bachelorette parties and weddings that I'll be attending, and every event will require plane tickets, hotel stays, new apparel, and gifts. I know through good planning I'll be able to enjoy my Summer of witnessing wedding love and be the best bridesmaid and guest possible.

First and foremost, try and take the bitter out of the equation. Yes, weddings can be insanely expensive as a bridesmaid or guest, and I know that costs add up. But don't make your friends feel badly for all deciding to get married at the same time - it isn't a plot against you or your bank account. Like any relationship, friendships involve give and take, and your newlywed friends will be there when it's your turn or have been there for you already. Your friends will sense your bitterness and will prove that bitterness goes both ways. This is a time to make good memories, not to be talking behind each other's backs about so and so's ridiculously expensive tastes.

That doesn't mean that you should let the bride kick you around and be insensitive to her friends or unrealistic about her needs and wants. Some brides are highly demanding, but if you go into the situation with a good attitude, you're more likely to win her over with some of your lower-cost suggestions. Whether you're in the bridal party or you're a guest at the wedding, the bride-to-be has included you because you're her friend, and it's not part of some evil plot to make you go broke. Keep that in mind when the bitter-bug starts creeping.

Stay tuned for some of my tips for surviving a busy wedding season, and check out all our wedding coverage at IDoSugar.

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The Best Way to Organize Bachelorette Party Funds

SavvySugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:04:32 -0700

If you think splitting a dinner bill with a large group can be difficult, multiply that frustration by a million when trying to collect funds for a bachelorette weekend. Even if everyone involved says they want to give the bride the most memorable weekend possible, it's likely that some of those attending will have different ideas about how much money it takes to make that happen.

In order to avoid arguments over money with other bridesmaids or friends of the bride that will be celebrating the bachelorette, it's important that one or two people are designated as spearheading the event. While the maid of honor is a natural selection, there's not always a MOH to call on and perhaps the bachelorette is one time it's acceptable for the other bridesmaids to handle some of the heavier planning. For my tips on how to organize funds for the weekend, just read more.

The best and most organized way to handle the group's funds it to designate one person as the bank for the weekend. This can be the same person who spearheaded the weekend, but it doesn't have to be. Everyone attending should be told a set amount of cash to bring for the weekend, which will be handed to the bank person upon gathering. At the end of the weekend, whatever money is left will be divided equally among everyone.

This set amount should ideally be figured out a couple months before the bachelorette party, and whatever that amount includes should be clearly laid out in an email to everyone. For example, if the amount is $500, let them know it includes the hotel room, dinner with one drink, etc. If there are any parts of the weekend that won't be covered by the set amount, that should also be mentioned so nobody has any money surprises.

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Ten Money Saving Tips For Your Wedding

SavvySugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:06:51 -0700

Because everything you need for your perfect wedding can add up quickly, it's important that you come up with ways to save in some areas so that you stay within budget. It's really amazing how many small details go into making a wedding memorable for everyone attending, from the bridesmaids' luncheon to the aisle decor and dessert, every aspect of the event requires thoughtful attention. Creating a wedding that makes all of your guests comfortable and happy to be there is the goal, not to mention throwing a fabulous party in honor of your new marriage! I've gathered a list of party tricks that will help you save money on the big day, and you'd be surprised how cutting back here and there can save big in the end. Find out useful ways to save when you read more

The Bridal Guide published a list of their top 75 tips for saving money in their May /June issue, but that's a ton of tips to sort through. Big lists like this usually lend themselves to skimming because processing all of the ideas at once can be a little overwhelming, but I've chosen what I think are the best saving tips from their list. Hopefully you can use a few that will save you more than a few bucks.

Book one location for your ceremony and reception to avoid multiple site fees and having to provide transportation between venues.
Cut out the champagne and let guests toast with whatever drink is in their hand.
If you're a stickler for tradition and can't live without a wedding cake, choose buttercream or cream cheese instead of expensive fondant.
To save on flowers, use lush greenery in your centerpieces.
Buy in-season flowers wholesale and then pay a florist to do simple arrangements (or you're crafty, then you could DIY!).
Hire a student quartet from a local music school to play during cocktail hour or during your ceremony.
Instead of paying extra for your invitations to arrive assembled, gather friends and set up an assembly line.
If a photographer whose work you love is out of budget, ask if you can wait until after the wedding to order proofs and albums. Save up, or use some of your gift money later.
If fancy wheels are a must have for you, a limousine will be cheaper than a stretch SUV. And if you don't mind taking your own ride you could hire a private chauffeur to drive your car, which would be much cheaper than hiring a limo.
Do you have a relative who never puts his video camera away at family occasions? See if a professional videographer will edit amateur footage - it will cost a fraction of the price for having the professional shoot the wedding.

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

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