It is expensive enough being a college student, but add the cost of being a bridesmaid to that, and your tuition will not be the only thing you will be struggling to pay.
The average age to marry, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, was 27.4 for women and 29.5 for men in 2017. A lot of college students are starting to see engagement photos blowing up their Facebook feed.
Marriages are exciting, and it is an important time to gather with friends and family to celebrate the love you share with someone. However, if you are planning to get married in your early 20s, it is unreasonable to expect the full blow-out destination bachelorette party from your bridesmaids, especially those still in college.
According to a survey conducted by Zillow, the average destination bachelorette party costs $1,106, and the average bachelor party was $1,532. If you were to go to nine of these in your lifetime, you would have spent about 34 percent of what it would cost for a down payment on a median-priced home.
The physical cost of being a bridesmaid does not stop at the bachelorette party, however. Often the bride will also want the wedding party’s hair and makeup professionally done for the big day. This is especially true if the bride wants an onsite stylist to come, who often requires a minimum number of clients to make the trip. This can add an additional cost of $75-$150 just for hair and makeup. Add that $200 dress you will wear once but had to buy, and you have one expensive look for the day.
It is not just the money but also the time that is necessary to plan such extravagant trips. Full-time college students on average will spend about 15 hours a week in classes alone. This does not include studying, homework, extracurriculars, work or social activities.
Adding onto this full schedule, the responsibilities of planning a bridal shower, bachelorette party and helping the bride with any wedding planning or issues that arise really adds up.
Weddings are expensive, and this is not to say that you cannot enjoy the day with friends and family on a budget. What the bride and groom want to spend of their own money on the wedding is their choice. It is selfish and rude, however, to expect the very best and most expensive things from your bridal party. Whether they are in their early twenties or not, it is important to remember that you cannot just say it and have it be so. If your bridesmaids are in their early twenties, chances are they do not have established careers and incomes yet to afford such extravagance. You do not need to go to the Bahamas to enjoy your bachelorette party, it is more important about who you are celebrating with than the location or price tag of the event.
