Monday, August 20, 2012

Weddings are Expensive!

If I haven't mentioned it before, my sister in law is getting married.  In, like, two weeks.  She asked me to be one of her bridesmaids, and I was and am ecstatic to be a part of her wedding.  Over the years Nicole (yes, Eric's sister's name is also Nicole.  I know, kinda weird and creepy) and I have become very close, neither one of us having a sister.  I love her to death and she's marrying a great guy and none of us can wait for her to start having babies and giving my boys cousins!

The thing is, when I agreed to be a bridesmaid, I had NO idea what kind of cost that would entail.  People, we are poor.  No, really.  We are POOR.  Foodstamps poor.  No car, no cable, use the neighbor's Wifi poor. 


I believe Nicole has tried to make things as easy as possible for me.
The dress cost less than $200 when I was expecting $300 at the minimum, so I was able to pay for half of it when it was ordered.  And it's still a gorgeous dress, one that all of the girls were able to agree on.  My mother in law paid for the other half when we picked it up, so I owe her about $80 for that.  I'm also going to owe her another $50 or so for Matthew's tux rental.  Oh yeah, he's the ring bearer.  I am SO grateful for her help, but I hate owing people money, and avoid it whenever possible.  In this situation it's kind of unavoidable though.  I was able to get Eric a shirt and tie from Kohl's on clearance during a weekend when my discount and shopping passes would make the biggest dent in price, and I bought Luke's outfit on ThredUp, pants, vest, shirt, & tie, new with all the tags for $12-something.  Eric and Luke still need shoes, though.  Matt's are included with his rental, thankfully.

For the bridal shower the girls just asked me to make a spiked punch.  I already shared that with you here.  They took care of the rest and managed not to make me feel like a schmuck, for which I am also extremely grateful.

Shoes were stressing me out, too.  Since I'm the tallest I was trying to find a pair of flats I could wear that would be appropriate for the wedding, but something that I'd also be able to wear with jeans.  The maid of honor is going to be wearing flats as well, due to ankle problems, so I figured I'd totally be able to get away with a more casual shoe.  I even found a great pair of silvery sparkly flats for only 20 bucks!  I was all set to buy them, but Nicole came to the rescue and is letting me borrow the silver shoes she wore at her friend's wedding a few months ago.  I still want to buy those flats...

I realized that these shoes present another expense.  I'll need a pedi!  I already told Nicole I wouldn't be going with the girls for manicures.  I figured I could go someplace to get them done cheaper on my own, and if I opted against acrylics, it'd be even cheaper.  I went to Walmart and asked at their salon how much it would be to get a mani/pedi with french tips.  $43.  ::sigh::  I could have bought my $20 shoes and gotten a regular mani for $15.  Oh, and hair and makeup?  $65 per person.  Damn right she better bring chocolate covered strawberries and mimosas to the hotel!

There is a ray of hope, though!  As I was scrolling (and scrolling and scrolling) on Pinterest, I found this:



I've tried giving myself French tips before, with varying degrees of success.  I followed (most of) the instructions on this blog, though, and was rewarded with the BEST manicure I've given myself yet.  It was SO good that I am now contemplating doing my OWN nails for the wedding.  No, really!  All I need is a little bit more practice and the right tools.  I have *nearly* the right tools already, but I think if I get a real lip brush like she talked about, and not the tiny crappy one that came with a crappy makeup kit I got for Christmas it would turn out that much better.

I have two weeks to practice.  Wish me luck!

19 comments:

  1. The dress is nice! Weddings are expensive...totally too expensive, but the experience of being in the wedding will always be a good one.

    Good luck w/the mani! I hope it turns out great for you.

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  2. I just read in the USA Today that the average wedding costs $26,000...YIKES! Your post really shows how all the little things (expectations) add up! By the way, you might find some helpful money saving tips in my article: http://www.TheBudgetDiet.com/cut-your-spending-by-400-a-month

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    1. Yes, the pressure to do everything with the other girls, and contribute as much as they were able to has been weighing on us. Thankfully my SIL isn't a total Bridezilla!
      I'll definitely be checking out your article, thanks for leaving it!

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  3. Nicole, While this is an expensive endeavor for you, I hope by wedding day you'll be able to focus on the joy of the event! I've heard that bridesmaids have been declining requests lately because the cost has gotten so out of control -- I wonder if the cable wedding shows are affecting how brides view their weddings these days. Our wedding 22 years ago was less than $2000. Not the wedding of my dreams, perhaps, but I married the man of my dreams... what it's all about anyway!

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    1. Yes, I'm sure by wedding day I'll be able to put all of this behind me and focus on her! If someone else would ask me though, I would have to tell them no. There are only two other people I would feel like I couldn't decline, and they are not getting married any time soon!

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  4. Costs are crazy! Even 10 years ago my wedding was expensive, and I cut costs everywhere I could for my bridesmaids. Sounds like your SIL is trying her best to do that too :-)

    I love the idea of giving yourself a mani! No reason why you shouldn't, especially since you're happy with the results!

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    1. Yes, she's been very reasonable! She understands that things are difficult for us and that we're still catching up from when my husband was jobless for 9 months, but still wants to find a way to include me in everything. And for that, I love her!

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  5. Weddings can be expensive. Soon, this will all be over and you can just remember the good times had at the wedding! Can't you do your own hair and makeup to skip the $65?

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    1. I could probably manage doing my own makeup, but I have NO hair skills. Seriously, I can put it in a bun or (kind of) straighten it, but that's about it. Since it's the same lady doing the hair and makeup and since she's coming to the hotel my SIL booked for us all on the morning of, I think I'm going to have to swallow this one down.
      At least I'll get those chocolate strawberries and mimosas, though. I wasn't kidding about that, the stylist is really bringing them!

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  6. Yes! Weddings are far too expensive. Buuuttt...I never had one so I don't know how it would go for me (I mean, I'm super cheap and low-maintenance). But I've been in enough to know they they can be ridiculous. Haha I def think that you should just do your own nails! I wish I was good at stuff like that. I wanna see pic next time you do them!

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    1. Oh, I will definitely post a picture! If they come out nicely, that is! Manicures I've given myself before looked nice, but no one would mistake them for a professionally done one. I have two weeks and a new technique to fool everyone!

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  7. it does become an obligation. so nice of everyone to help out though!! I was totally thinking that you should do an in-home manicure! I mean, no one is actually going to inspect your nails, right?!.....Right?!!

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    1. Oh my gosh, I really hope not! lol
      Watch, the photographer is going to want to snap pics of our hands holding our bouquets or something

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  8. I had to plan my boyfriend and my wedding a year ago only to get cold feet right before...It is an expensive endeavor no matter who you are...We are still together and the cold feet was on both of us come to find out in the end...lol We have been together since 7th grade and we both say "Why mess with a good thing?'
    I love the dress and the blue is beautiful...good luck and remember most of all to have fun celebrating a special day with family and friends :)

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    1. Oh, I feel ya! I am never having a wedding. It's just too much.

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  9. I can't believe you bought all that for your son for $12! That deserves some celebrating :) YOur kids are adorable by the way!
    Leigh
    www.oneandoneequalstwinfun.com

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  10. Yeah, I'm pretty proud of myself for that bargain! I'll definitely have a picture of him in his new duds when they come in!

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  11. When I was in college and broke as a joke I used to "splurge" on a hair cut and manicure at the local beauty college. Nails? $8 haircut $8. Now that was a year or two ago but I am sure you can still get a DEAL if you need to.

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