how much should bridesmaids pay?

Question

i'm in charge of throwing the bacholorett party. with my ideas the price for us five girls can range from 70-100 dollars. some of these girls do not have good jobs, or are very young. how much would you expect to pay to help with the party. i'm already going to pay for decorations and invetaions by myself, so i was wanting the girls to pay for hotel and dinner...we will all split everything..

i have given them exactly a month in advance, i started today, the party is next month on the 9th

Answer 1

Those numbers sound pretty reasonable, especially if you can give them a month's notice (or more) so they can save a bit and not have to scrape to pay for the party and their own finances. Talk to them, tell them what you think, and ask if they can afford it. It sounds like you're putting in plenty of time and money already, so it's only fair they contribute a fair amount. They accepted her invitation to be bridesmaids, so they should already know there are going to be financial contributions involved. Good luck!

Answer 2

first off, i think it is VERY reasonable to ask other people to pay. you planned the thing, the least they can do it give you some cash.

second, while 70-100 dollars sounds like a lot, it really isn't in the long run. it is a couple of meals at the steak house you miss that month, i suggest they get a few tacos to eat instead.

third, currently i am not working so it is only my husband bring home the cash and i know we can afford 100 dollars. it is for a friend and parties like this do not happen everyday. one day you will get married and they will do it for you and those other guests. when people agree to be bridesmaids or want to go to a party like this, they should expect to cough up some dough, they should not drink/party on your buck.

number 4, a month seems the perfect time to tell/ask them in advance. if they work, that is two paychecks and $35 from a paycheck does not sound that bad.

of course i do not know all the details on these girls, i am giving a generic answer. but i hope everyone has fun. :) Good luck.

Answer 3

Whats the plan? It depends on where you live and what everyone can afford. My bridesmaids were very poor and my sister worked long and hard until she found something that we could do a whole evening for about $20. You wouldn't be able to have a drink in NYC for $20. We went to a great restaurant and had appetizers at BOGO free. Then went to a bar where guys bought us drinks, then back to the house for drinks.

For my cousin's bachlorette party--her friends are poor and she is not a drinker. We are doing a sleep-over with popcorn, chocolate and sappy chick movies that men won't watch.

To me, $70 is a tad bit on the high side but not if I were really close to the bride. If I were in college though, I could not have afforded it. I had paychecks less than that! But if 5 of us threw in $70 bucks where I live, you could have a limo drive you around and drink champagne all night long.

I'd ask them before you decide. You can always do a different hotel--or if one of them works in a hotel, you can get discount on the rate. Ask them if they think $70 is too much and if so, cut back on the plan.

And definitely invite more people to lower costs. All her female friends should be invited--sister in laws too--even if they aren't bridesmaids.

After all, you don't want to be paying a couple hundred extra b/c they could only afford $45 each. The only way to make sure they can afford it is to ask them and have them pay you AHEAD of time.

Answer 4

Poll the girls separately and ask them what they think they could comfortably afford. Don't suggest an amount or let them know what the others said -- you don't want to make the girls on a budget feel embarrassed or cheap. The amount is the lowest figure that you are given. (E.g., if one says she can afford $100, three say they can afford $50, and one says she can afford $25, you go with $25). Then plan an event that you can do for $125. If that means you stay at home, make margaritas, fry homemade tacos, and scoop big bowls of bean dip and guacamole, then do it, don't apologize for it, and enjoy. The best parties and best memories are those that happened as a result of creative thinking.

Answer 5

I'm in college and only working part-time right now. If I were one of the girls I would be comfortable paying about $100. That is a lot of money; however, a bachelorette party is a special occasion. Sometimes we have to sacrifice in order to make a special occasion happen.

If I knew that I needed to contribute about a month or so before, I could budget accordingly.

Answer 6

Ok, while you might think it should be easy for the other girls to chip on the cost, you don't know their financial situation. They may be doing good to buy their dress for the wedding. When I was in college, one of my room mates got married. I was struggling to pay for the dress $160. Much less pay $100 for her bacholorett party. Lucky for us, all she wanted was a sleepover the night before the wedding. We watched movies and pigged out on junk food. Didn't cost me anything. Her MOH (her older sister) bought the food and knowing that the rest of us were still in college, didn't ask us to help.

I think you should ask each girl, separately, how much they can afford. If they can't come up with enough for ya'll to be able to afford it, they you need to make a change in plans.

Even with a months notice, a young girl, with hardly any income, isn't going to be able to come up with $100, on top of all the other wedding expense, for a party. You have to step in to their shoes for this one.

Answer 7

Well I am helping with a shower me and 4 others and we are each paying $100 each for limo, and then about $50 or so for dinner and then we still have to give her a gift, so pretty much I am speding $200 so I think people should expect to at least pay $100... if they can't afford it, then they shouldn't help... or maybe everyone can bring food so its like a pot luck, that way its not so expensive. Good Luck.

Answer 8

you shouldnt expect anyone to contribute. if youre the one throwing the party, then its on you to pay. if others contribute, great. but you shouldnt expect them to. especially if they dont all make good money. maybe you should forget the hotel or try a cheaper place for dinner where everyone goes dutch and splits the brides meal. or forget dinner and go out for drinks instead and then everyone can pay for what they drink and split what the bride has. between the bridal shower, the bacholorette party, the bridesmaid dresses and getting hair/nails done, and wedding presents, a girl can go broke! not to mention its not fair to have someone split the cost of an entire meal for 10 people if that person only has a $10 appetizer

Answer 9

I am getting married in September, and have been a maid of honor several times. Usually the bridesmaids split everything with the maid of honor, except for the invitations. Also, if there are other girls that aren't in the wedding party, they should split the cost too, everyone except the bride to be.

Answer 10

It amazes me how weddings make people overextend their finances. It is interesting that about 30 years ago no one ever heard of a bachelorette party and they were not routine. Even today some girls opt to not have them . I think its sad to put these girls in debt for one of many events having to do with the wedding ( shower gifts, bridesmaid dresses and shoes and hair , wedding gifts etc) I urge you to have a discussion with everyone and maybe a vote. You can still ahve a fun time together without spending that amount I think. Main thing is to not let anyone get stressed about it, most of all YOU since you seem to be doing everything.