Frugal Tricks to Keep Costs Down as a Bridesmaid | brokeGIRLrich
On Monday I wrote about the bridesmaid budget I set for my best friend’s wedding. To stay within that budget and maximize my final wedding gift amount, I used a few frugal tricks.
The Dress
David’s Bridal is pretty popular for a reason and if your bride picks a dress from one of their lines, you’re in luck. Personally, I used a $20 coupon this time to knock the dress cost down to just under $100. However, I’ve used even better tricks in the past – eBay and dress reselling sites. David’s Bridal is super specific about their dresses (ie “Sleeveless Illusion Neckline Dress with Satin Belt in Marine”). You can toss that term into an eBay search engine or on sites like PreOwnedWeddingDresses, BridesmaidTrade and Tradesy.
Hair & Makeup
If your bride leaves your style up to you, you can pick a really simple look, practice it with YouTube videos and embellish it with a cheap, shiny hair clip from somewhere like Claire’s. You can do the same thing with your makeup. The key to these tricks though is practice. If you haven’t managed to get it right by a few days before the wedding, you should bite the bullet and pay the hairstylist and makeup artist, rather than destroying your friend’s pictures and looking like a circus clown.Remember, skin care is paramount to flawless makeup. Check out these Boots No 7 skincare reviews and see for yourself. Another easy way to sparkle in those pictures is to brighten up your smile, whitening your teeth, especially with at home kits, can make a big difference in pictures.
The Shoes
Do everything you can to just reuse the shoes you’ve got. If your bride is adamant you all have the same shoe, beg her to go the Payless route. They constantly have coupons. If she just requires you to get a shoe you don’t actually have, but not the exact type, see if you have gift cards to any store that might sell shoes. I lucked out with the last wedding – I need a pair of tan flats and had nearly forgotten I had a Macy’s gift card. I was able to use that to get them.
Gifts
If you’re hitting up a bachelorette party, you can use Victoria’s Secret free panty coupons if you’re an Angels reward member. It’s free to join, though it is signing up for a credit card, so consider that carefully if you’re not always responsible about paying yours off. For the bridal shower, pitch in with the other girls – this way you can buy one of the bride’s bigger budget items but spend way less than you would’ve purchasing a gift alone. For the wedding, if your budget has already been stretched too thin for you to make out another check, look into sites like Etsy where you can pick up an adorable personalized item like stationary or a first Christmas ornament for around $30.
Wedding dresses don’t have to be expensive. I was at a wedding this weekend and learned that the bridesmaid dresses were bought from Target’s wedding selection. They looked nice!
The Green Swan recently posted…The Path to a Million: A Millennial’s Guide
I had no idea Target had a wedding selection!
I do a lot of the above. I’m in a wedding next year and we’re going to David’s Bridal. I never considered searching for the dress on Ebay though so thanks for that tidbit!
Latoya @ Femme Frugality recently posted…Eloping in DC: the East Coast’s Vegas
This is so important. I know firsthand how it feels to be burned, by a fellow bridesmaid no less, on outrageous wedding costs. It’s necessary to be clear about your budget as a bridesmaid and stick to it. Things like bachelorette parties and showers are unexpected costs bridesmaids have to front. Brides, don’t put your besties through unneeded stress. Be vocal about your expectations so no one feels like they have to break the bank to make you happy, or ask parents to help them out.
Totally, a good friend will understand your economic limitations anyway.
Your resourcefulness in finding budget-friendly options for bridesmaid expenses is commendable. From dress shopping on eBay to DIY hair and makeup, your tips show how to participate in weddings without breaking the bank. Thanks for sharing these practical strategies!