What are the Duties of a Bridesmaid and Expenses Involved

NOTE: You may also need to budget for aso-ebi, if you are also attending the traditional wedding (This is optional, as not every bride does the aso-ebi, some white weddings are held far apart from the trad. For my non-Nigeria readers, aso-ebi is a uniformed fabric a bride picks for her friends to purchase to make their special wedding guest outfits. Some Nigerian brides fix the date of both their traditional and white wedding in one weekend, and that means their bridesmaids will also be there).

MORE WEDDING FASHION IDEAS:

• 5 Stunning Ankara Styles From Celebrity Weddings
• Celebrity Lace Aso-ebi Styles from Mo Abudu’s Daughter’s Wedding
• Celebrity Aso-ebi Styles from TV Girl Tomike’s Wedding
• 100 Latest Aso-ebi Styles in Nigeria

What Should the Bride Should Pay For (EXPENSES LIST)

The bridesmaid should not pay for everything. The bride should cover some costs for each bridesmaid. Here are some bridesmaid cost that a bride should pay for.  Note that some brides do more – these are just the standard bridesmaid costs the bride is responsible for

1. Bouquet of flowers for the bridesmaid
2. A ‘thank you’ gift for each bridesmaid, as a gesture to appreciate their accepting to be one of the bridesmaids
3. Hair and Makeup, if the bride prefers any particular hairdresser or makeup artist (that may be more expensive than a regular vendor, then the bride should cover the cost).  If there’s no preference or options, the bridesmaid should pay. Therefore, if you’re a bride reading this, you know when you’re asking for too much;
4. Uniformed Accessories: If the bride wants all her bridesmaids to wear uniformed accessories, then she should buy them herself.
5. Transport to the worship house ceremony and wedding reception venue, on the wedding day.
6. Provision of Accommodation, if the Wedding in another State or Country: It’s of good taste for a bride to consider making it easier for her bridesmaids financially, by providing them with either a hotel accommodation or a stay with friends or relatives.  While we see many brides who have destination weddings abroad let their bridesmaids pay for international flight and hotel bills, in addition to the regular bridesmaid expenses, we see many brides in Nigeria arranging accommodation (and sometimes, transportation also) for their bridesmaids.  It’s a good thing for others to emulate being considerate of bridesmaids’ huge expenses and financial load. Brides should add this kind of cost to their wedding budget so that they will not forget.

• SEE ALSO: Beautiful Wedding Hairstyles for Brides and Bridesmaids
• 100 Latest Aso-Ebi Styles for Female Wedding Guests

Money-Saving Tips for Bridesmaids on a Budget

Being a bridesmaid is an expensive adventure.  While the list of above bridesmaid expenses may look scary to most people, you may get lucky – some brides choose to help make it easy for their not-so-rich friends by taking care of some of the above costs. If you’re a bridesmaid on a budget, there are things you can do to cut down expenses, and they include:

• Budget and Start Early to Save Towards the Bridesmaid Expenses: Cut down your regular monthly expenses to make available extra cash you can save up towards the bridesmaid expenses. Start early to save, and put down some amount of money every month.
• Set a Budget for Your Bridesmaid Role and Find Ways to Cut Cost, so you can stay within that budget.
• Cut-and-Sew your own bridesmaid dress, if possible: Sewing your own bridesmaid dress (instead of buying an expensive ready-made dress).
• Share Accommodation: Look for relatives who live in the same town as the wedding, and ask to stay with them.  Alternatively, share a hotel room with other bridesmaids and split the cost.
• Save on transportation costs by searching early for car owners who can accommodate you.
• Be Handy – DIY: Do your own makeup and style your own hair. Do your makeup yourself. Tie your Gele headtie by yourself – instead of paying a professional gele artist.
• Negotiate: Let the bride know when she suggests a dress or accessory that is way out of your reach, and negotiate a cheaper alternative.

Bridesmaids Etiquette You Need to Know

1. Be polite to everyone involved in the wedding, including the other bridesmaids, the groomsmen, the couple’s parents, and elderly relatives.
2. Be careful not to get drunk during the wedding – there’s no excuse to forget yourself and the reason why you’re there.
3. Donate your time: Above all, give the bride the gift of your time – be there when she needs you.
4. It’s okay to say ‘no’ if asked to be a bridesmaid (instead of agreeing and later complaining behind the bride, being a hindrance, not being helpful and not showing up when she needs you most). If you can’t afford the time or money to be a good bridesmaid, politely decline. The bride will respect you more if you decline and then help her in other ways.

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Recap: What Every Bridesmaid Should Know Before Saying “Yes’ to the Bride

If you’re a bride, now you know what to expect of your bridesmaids. And, if you’ve been asked to be someone’s bridesmaid, the above roles and responsibilities timeline will provide you a guideline to being the best bridesmaid ever. Being a good bridesmaid is all about standing up by your best friend on her big day, doing everything you can to ensure that she has the best wedding.  If you’ve been chosen to be the chief bridesmaid or maid of honour, in addition to the above, be sure to read our tips on the “chief bridesmaid/ maid of honour duties”.

• SEE ALSO: Wedding Day Emergency Kit for Brides

SUMMARY: In this post, I have covered a lot regarding what a bridesmaid should do and when both for the bride to know and for the bridesmaid to be in the know.  You also learned about the etiquette of a bridesmaid and the type of expenses associated with being a bridesmaid.  Because being a bridesmaid is an expensive business, I also touched on money-saving tips every Nigerian bridesmaid should know – to help you cut down cost when you agree to be a bridesmaid. I like to also call it ‘how to be a bridesmaid without going broke’ (because being a bridesmaid is an expensive business).  That’s all from us on what every bridesmaid should know before they say “yes’ to the bride.

If you’ve enjoyed those tips, please help us share this article on social media, to help those who need it find it (hit the social sharing buttons below). By the way, if you are a bride, make sure all your bridesmaids read this – it will save you a lot of headaches. If you’re about to be a bridesmaid, send this post to the bride.

I want to hear from you – what are your thoughts about what a bridesmaid should really do for a bride. Is there anything you think brides often expect from bridesmaids, that is unrealistic?  Also, have you experienced where the bride and some bridesmaids quarreled during the wedding planning period?  Comment below to tell me in the comments section down below, let’s get the discussion going.

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