Additional Coverage:
- I bailed on my sister-in-law’s destination bachelorette party. If she wanted me there, she should’ve paid for my trip. (businessinsider.com)
Being a bridesmaid can be expensive, as one woman found out when her brother got engaged. She was excited to be part of the wedding, but the costs quickly added up.
A shower across the country meant airfare and gifts. Then came the bachelorette party, planned for Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
With flights and a pricey hotel room share, the tab was looking to be over $1,100 before activities, meals, or incidentals. The author, a freelancer, found this far exceeded her budget, especially with the wedding itself still to come.
The bachelorette trip was ultimately scaled back drastically after several bridesmaids, including the author, dropped out due to the cost. While the bride was understanding, the author’s brother was not happy with her decision. She felt that given their open communication about finances, her brother and his fiancée, who have a higher dual income, could have offered to cover her expenses if they truly wanted her there.
Even without the bachelorette party, the wedding expenses piled up: dress, alterations, hair, makeup, travel, pet care – totaling over $2,000. Now engaged herself, the author plans to take a different approach.
She aims to minimize travel costs for her wedding party by keeping pre-wedding events close to the main celebration and being mindful of her bridesmaids’ budgets. She believes weddings should be joyful occasions, not financial stressors.