by  (see more from this contributor)

Being a bridesmaid is one expensive honor. But ideally, the bride and her bridesmaid will work together to make the wedding a budget-friendly affair. Here's a rundown of how much you can expect to spend on various bridesmaid essentials, with money-saving tactics to ease the pain. (Don't panic! The numbers are high estimates.)

The Dress

What you spend on the bridesmaid dress could be your major expense -- if you don't have to travel too far to the wedding. You'll want to put aside about $300, which is generally what the average bridesmaid dress costs. But remember to account for alterations, which may tack on an extra $50 or more.

Ways to Save:

  • Two-piece bridesmaid dresses are very hot. Why? No alterations. You can mix and match sizes, just as you might when shopping for a bikini, which makes for a more accurate fit. Nicole Miller offers a variety of two-piece looks.
  • Many bridal salons will give discounts on bridesmaid dresses if the bride gets her gown there too -- make sure your bride asks the salon about this.
  • Ready-to-wear dresses (e.g., you all go to BCBG or J. Crew and pick a cute dress off the rack) may save you cash because you probably won't need alterations. Also, you can take the dress home the same day, which means less hassle for everyone.
  • If the bride leaves it up to you to decide what to wear, bargain hunt at sample sales, end-of-season sales, and off-price stores. Or consider borrowing a dress or wearing something you already own.

PAGE 1 2 3 4 5 6 next