How to Be a Bridesmaid on a Budget

This shop for how to be a bridesmaid on a budget has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WardrobeSolutions  #CollectiveBias
Weddings are expensive regardless if you’re the person planning one or the person standing in one. This year I’ve been through both scenarios- I was a bridesmaid in my best friend’s wedding all while in the process of planning and saving for my own upcoming wedding.  My best advice when it comes to weddings is to set a budget beforehand, but don’t actually add up how much you’ve spent once it’s all said and done because your bank account may just cry!  Okay, that sounds a bit dramatic, but it could happen!  If anything, think of it as breaking even when it comes to being a bridesmaid!  You’re a bridesmaid for your friend, she’s a bridesmaid for you.  Both times will eventually come!  Thankfully it is possible to plan a wedding and stand in a wedding while on a budget.  Today let’s talk about the latter and go over some tips for being a bridesmaid on a budget!

1. Set a budget

First and foremost, you will need to set a budget.  Think about how much you know you can spend. Costs go further than just buying your dress and shoes.  Don’t forget to consider the cost for things like hair and makeup, travel (flights, hotels, gas money) for you and your date if you live out of state or if it’s a destination wedding, gifts, shower and bachelorette expenses, the list goes on.  Once you have your budget set, you can start saving.

2. Make travel arrangements in advance

Whether you’re a bridesmaid in a destination wedding or a local wedding you will need a hotel room at, book your travel arrangements as early as possible.  This will give you the best deals on airfare and you’ll get first dibs on hotel selections.  Most hotels have a lenient cancellation policy, so if you do happen to stumble across a room at a better rate, you can always cancel your previous booking and grab the better option.

3. Shop the registry early

Most people wait until the last few weeks leading up to the wedding before they start shopping the wedding registry for gifts.  If you’re a bridesmaid on a budget, it’s a good idea to shop the registry early, that way you have your choice on the gift you want to give at a price range that fits your budget before everything is picked over.

4. Split costs with the wedding party

Splitting costs with other bridesmaids and groomsmen can be a total money saver.  If you’re traveling from the same area, consider carpooling if possible.  Sharing hotel rooms is also a great way to cut the cost in half.  When it comes to wedding and shower gifts, you could also have the entire wedding party pitch in rather than giving an individual gift.  Not only will you be saving money, but by everyone pitching in, you’ll be able to give the bride or groom a bigger, more expensive gift off of their registry that they may not receive otherwise.

5. Save on alterations

Most bridesmaid dresses need alterations done.  Sometimes it’s a very detailed process and sometimes it’s as simple as a hem.  A simple hem alone can run you $100+ dollars for a dress you’ll most likely only wear once, making alterations not very budget friendly.  Instead, considering DIY’ing what you can.  If your dress just needs to be hemmed, consider doing it yourself with Scotch™ Essentials for an easy, no sew solution. Scotch™ Essentials Permanent Hem Bonding Strips work great for taking out length of a dress.  The strips allow you to instantly bond fabric without sewing or ironing and they work on most fabrics (except silk).  You can even wash your clothes with the permanent bonding strips since they’re made to hold through a cold water wash and a low temperature dry cycle.

How to DIY hem a dress with Scotch Permanent Hem Bonding Strips:

Step 1: Place the dress inside out.
Step 2: Measure and fold the hem into the fabric.
Step 3: Moisten your fingers before touching to prevent the adhesive from sticking to you.
Step 4: Peel the strip backing off, then position the strip at the new hem crease.
Step 5: Fold the fabric on the hemline and rub firmly to put it in place.
Before you get your dress hemmed, you usually need to know what type of shoes you’re going to be wearing.  This means that the dress is hemmed to fit with that specific shoe, and usually that shoe only. If you’re wearing heels for the wedding, but wish to re-wear the dress later on with flats, the dress is going to be too long.  Scotch™ Essentials Adjustable Hem Tape is a great solution for hemming bridesmaid dresses in this case.  There’s no ironing or sewing required with the hem tape, and you’ll never be limited on how you adjust your hem for heels or flats!
If the only issue with your dress is that it’s a bit loose up top, it may just need a simple fix.  That’s where the Scotch™ Essentials Wardrobe Tape Strips come in handy!  The strips are great for securing necklines, gaps, and even jewelry!  I recommend giving these a try before spending money on alterations!
The Scotch™ Essentials can be found at Target in the closet section by the sewing machines and kits, and right now (until 9/2/16) you can save  $1.00 on any Scotch™ Essentials product.  If you’re a Target Cartwheel shopper, you can save 20% from 7/10-7/16!

Will you be standing in a wedding anytime soon?  Share your tips for being a bridesmaid on a budget so we can all save some money!

Looking for more wedding tips? Check out these posts!