I’m a bridesmaid in two weddings this year. While I’m far from living out 27 Dresses in real life, being a bridesmaid is having a big impact on my budget. From selecting a gift for the engagement party to buying the dress you’ll walk down the aisle in, wedding-related expenses can really add up.
Sharon Naylor’s Bridesmaid on a Budget: How to Be a Brilliant Bridesmaid without Breaking the Bank is my new handbook for wedding season. Naylor is a wedding expert who offers practical advice to the bridesmaid who wants to cut costs without coming off like a cheapskate. She starts Bridesmaid on a Budget by listing some sobering stats about the cost of being a in a wedding party. Ladies, did you know that the average cost of being in a wedding is from $1,069 to $1,269?!
The book provides an overview of a bridesmaid’s many costs and responsibilities, so it would be the perfect read for someone who has never been in a wedding. As a frugally-minded, experienced bridesmaid I was aware of many of the suggestions for cutting costs, but I still found Naylor’s tips to be very helpful. I also love that the book provides advice about communicating with the bride and other bridesmaids about wedding related expenses. Talking about money can be awkward, but Bridesmaid on a Budget makes preparing for and having those conversations less awkward.
Along with a great list of resources, the appendices have helpful tools for tracking contact information, deadlines and expenses. Naylor understands that being a bridesmaid isn’t always easy and Bridesmaid on a Budget helps to ease the financial concerns that make being in a wedding stressful. With so many helpful tips, this book will have a place on my bookshelf for a long time to come.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book, but all opinions are my own.
