Broke Bridesmaid? What to Do If You Can't Afford to Be in Your Friend's Wedding Party

Weddings are wonderfully joyous occasions and being asked to be a member of a friend or relative's wedding party is a great honor. Let's face it, though, weddings are very expensive. The role of bridesmaid has it's own expenses from dress to shoes and beyond. Traditionally the bridesmaids contribute to the wedding shower and bachelorette party. This is all in addition to a wedding present for the happy couple. This can all add up to a nice chunk of change. If you are asked to be a bridesmaid in a loved one's wedding party and are a little bit financially strapped, you have some options to lessen the burden and fully enjoy the blessed occasion without going bankrupt.

Get A Part Time Job. You will usually have at least a year before the wedding takes place, so that is plenty of time to generate some extra income. Get a part time job and immediately open a new bank account where the wages will be deposited. Make this a separate account and do not dip into it for any other expenses besides the wedding. Hold a yard sale, walk dogs or babysit. Be creative and use your unique talents to raise money for the wedding expenses. If it is a priority for you to be a part of the wedding, pull out all the stops and work hard to raise the money.

Talk To The Bride And Be Honest. A really good friend will understand your situation and work with you to make it possible for you to be in the wedding party without undue stress about the financials. Get together with the other bridesmaids and discuss what budget is workable for all. There is a broad price range to choose from and with a little bit of research and savvy shopping, you should be able to satisfy the bride's wishes without breaking the bank. Chances are, you are not the only member of the wedding party on a budget, so dealing with the subject openly and honestly is beneficial for all.

If You Do Not For see Your Financial Situation To Improve Before The Wedding, Give The Bride Enough Time To Find A Replacement. Perhaps the timing is just completely off for you and you just won't be able to swing the expense without serious hardship. If that is the case, it is perfectly acceptable to decline the invitation graciously. The most important thing is to give the bride plenty of notice so she is not dealing with four groomsmen and only three female attendants a week before the big day.

I was inspired to write this article because of a recent experience of a friend of mine. She was asked to be a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding and subsequently was suffering from serious financial difficulties. The wedding was announced over a year in advance, leaving my friend ample time to take necessary actions regarding the situation. Though she asked for my advice and I continued to give it to her in the months leading up to the wedding, she chose to do nothing. Three weeks before her friend was due to get married, she broke the news that she would be unable to be a wedding attendant. Consequently the two are no longer speaking and my friend did not even attend the wedding as a guest. I found this to be a very sad turn of events. Had my friend been proactive from the beginning, their friendship could have been saved. Weddings are a wonderful time to be shared with good friends and family. Money, or lack of it, should not mar the joyous event and definitely should never cause the end of a loving and solid friendship.