It’s always an honor to be asked by a friend or loved one to play a role in their special day. You get to be there for all the moments from the bridal shower to the moment they say, “I Do!” If it’s your first time being in a wedding party, it’s important to plan ahead and stay organized. Follow these tips to ensure that you not only survive your upcoming wedding season but that you thrive through it as well. ✨

Make A Budget

Make sure you have an idea of your monthly expenses as you’re going to need to budget a few extra things to cover the costs of being in the wedding party. 💰Be aware of the additional costs of: dresses and shoes for each event, gifts and cards for each celebration, accessories for the day of the wedding, makeup and hairstyling costs, and a possible hotel stay. As a bridesmaid, you will have to go to an engagement party, a bridal shower, bachelorette party, the rehearsal dinner and the wedding itself. Ask around and see if you’re expected to pitch in to plan and pay for the bridal shower as it is typically thrown by the bride’s wedding party. The more costs you can anticipate, the more you can tuck away ahead of time and be prepared.  

Plan Ahead

Give yourself plenty of time to arrange all things wedding. As soon as you get asked to be in the wedding, take stock of the things you already have, and the things you will need. Then you can plan out your purchases in a manner that’s more affordable. If you’re looking for extra ways to cut costs, consider shopping secondhand for the clothing you might need to buy. Now it’s so simple to search through an online consignment store for the brands you already know you love. Whether you’re looking for something stylish for the bachelorette party or slightly more formal for the rehearsal dinner, stocking up on thrifted brands like Free People or Torrid is a great way to prepare for the upcoming wedding season. 👗Not only are their clothes trendy but they can easily be dressed up or down for any occasion!

Planning ahead ensures that you’re doing whatever possible to save the most money. Make sure you’re one of the first to buy from the registry so you can stick to gifts within your budget. This also enables you to buy a hotel room while there are still rooms available in the wedding block, which is usually a cheaper room rate.

Organize Groups

One of the best ways to save money is to group yourself with other people. You could see if anyone wants to go in on a present and split the costs. The more people you go in with on the gift, the nicer the gift will be, and the more money you'll save. 🙌Another way you can cut spending is to arrange carpooling with people nearby that are traveling to the same wedding events as you. You could take that a step further by possibly sharing a room with them, too. Depending on the room layouts and the bed options to choose from, you could get a decent-sized group together to reduce hotel costs even more. 

No matter what ways you choose to plan or save, by following some of these tips you’re sure to lower your stress about making it through the wedding season. By planning early on you can get a lot of the details worked out ahead of time, letting you focus on enjoying yourself the rest of the wedding season. 🎉