The classic chick flick movie 27 dresses ahh how every girl loves that movie! One of the best chick flicks that we all know about being a bridesmaid in lots of friends weddings. That has basically been my life this past year and I have really embraced it. I have been a bridesmaid 3 times in the last 3 months and have gone to 2 other weddings as well. Yes, 2016 and also 2017 is THE year that all of my friends are getting married. I am at that age now, 26 so it just makes sense. I haven’t had a free weekend since January except like 3 times. Between engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties and then the wedding itself, you can see how it can be soo busy. All of the time my parents or coworkers will say “OMG there is always a wedding happening in your life.” Yes this is true, and you are thinking how in the world do you budget and what are some tips/etiquette as a bridesmaid? Like do you have to give a gift for EVERY event you are invited to?? I personally love weddings and interned at a wedding planning company when I was in college. I have put some of my tips together below and shared some of my favorite experiences I have had with all of these events. I also did a previous post about etiquette here.

• Budget: For me being in 3 weddings in 3 months got a little expensive. Between hosting a shower, attending bachelorette parties, buying the bridesmaid dress and getting a gift it can be several hundred to several thousand dollars. It is good to try to budget this out months ahead when you first get asked to be a bridesmaid. One of the first expenses is typically the dress which can give you a little bit of a break before you have all of the other expenses. I use a budgeting app where I budget my expenses out into different categories and that helped out a lot.
• Gifts: Despite popular belief you don’t have to bring a gift to every event you are invited to. I always try to give a little something cute and creative that I made for the shower and then add something from their registry. There is no certain cost you have to spend on a gift. I typically spend $75-$100, but if you are making the present that is even more thoughtful and can be less expensive. A lot of the times popular registry places like Bed, Bath and Beyond always have coupons as well. If you are going to the shower I just bring my wedding gift there and go with one main gift. I don’t do a separate big gift for the shower and for the wedding. This is personal preference and if you prefer to give more than by all means do.
• Responsibilities: As a bridesmaid you have some responsibilities of course to assist with for the bride. First off would be standing by her side at her wedding and being there for her from the time the rehearsal starts to the time the wedding ends. Those are the 2 no exception events that you of course have to attend. Also please be on time, you don’t want to stress the bride out any more by everyone waiting for you. There is the bridal shower that either you and the other bridesmaids with the maid of honor might host, or it might be a family friend or relative that is hosting it. That is a preference that you will need to discuss with the maid of honor, but regardless on who hosts it you should still try to make it. If you are hosting it you should talk to the other bridesmaids and all try to split the costs so it doesn’t end up costing more for one person. I hosted a spring bridal shower for one of my friends a couple of months ago and all of the bridesmaids helped contribute which was nice. A bachelorette party is another event that you and the other bridesmaids will want to plan if the bride wishes to have. This can be as simple as a big sleepover or a weekend in Vegas. You will want to all contribute and pay for the brides necessities during that bachelorette time whether it is her hotel room, food or a fun shot at the bar. Asking the bride for any little task she might need help on throughout her wedding prep whether that is helping her drop off bags for hotel guests or running an errand, it is always nice to ask. At some rehearsal dinners they open the mic for the bridal party to give a speech, at this time a few happy thoughts to the newly wed couple are nice too. If any of you know me personally you know I love to karaoke, at my friends wedding I decided to do a fun little speech and actually sang a little song. It was unexpected and I think put a little fun laughter in the room.
• It is her day: If you don’t like the dress the bride picks out or your hair/makeup, please don’t voice your opinions. This is the bride’s day and whatever she likes goes. All eyes are going to be on her so if something is not quite your style, don’t worry about it. Trends these days have been where the bride might pick out different colors for the bridesmaids dresses, different styles and you might even get to pick out your own style. Don’t stress out the bride any more by not liking something. With that being said, also please don’t ask the bride if you can invite a guest if she didn’t address an “and guest” on your wedding invitation. This is rude and if you didn’t know weddings are very expensive too, so trying to bring someone without it being addressed should not happen. Regardless you are going to be with the bridal party the whole day together getting ready and having so much fun. If you are dating/married to someone or you do have a plus one then great, the more the merrier!
• Have fun and take a breath! You will remember these days forever and it is something to cherish with your best friends. A wedding is the one day that seems like an eternity spent planning and prepping, but at the end of the day when you are with the bride and dancing the night away it all seems worth it in the end. You are here to stand by her side and give her your special attention and support on her special day and from that moment forward!