Budgeting for your BFF’s big bash

Wedding bells are chiming, a date is being set, events are being planned—your friend is getting married. A bachelor or bachelorette bash is on the horizon and you’re ready—but is your wallet? Whether it’s a day or a weekend, it’s important to stay realistic with your budget. 

Use these 5 tips to help you navigate your bach-bash budget.

Have you heard of loud budgeting? It’s a strategy that involves being open with friends and family about your financial goals and aspirations. This aligns well with social events such as a bachelor or bachelorette party since it involves being vocal about how you want to spend your money and how you don’t—even if you have the funds. Loud budgeting is effective because it helps you be clear with everyone, including yourself, about your financial goals. Being transparent about your budget can help negate the fear of missing out on certain events. When your friends and family are aware of your goals, they can plan accordingly to ensure you can join or be more understanding if you can’t make an event.

You are likely not alone in any cost-related hesitations that come with attending a bachelor or bachelorette bash. One way to address them is by having an open conversation with the organizer and other attendees. If you can have this discussion prior to making a commitment to the trip, you can go into it knowing if the event will fit into your budget. Stating any financial concerns can also help the event’s organizer have a better idea of what options would best suit the group. 

It’s also important to discuss how costs will be divided. Will all the costs be split evenly? Will you be asked to pay for certain things on your own? Asking questions can help you feel more comfortable going into the weekend. 

When you have a budget in mind, it can be nerve-wracking to get invited to an event that might interfere with your goals. Keeping an open mind can help you navigate the planning process. Sometimes bachelor and bachelorette trips involve many group activities, but maybe only some fall into your safe zone. As long as the bride or groom doesn’t mind, you could plan on sitting an activity or two out to stay comfortable while still being present. You don’t have to have an all-or-nothing approach to the invitation. Small things such as driving instead of flying if the event is not local could help you make it there with a little more cash in your pockets. 

Setting money boundaries now can help you deal with expensive situations later. These boundaries could be different for everyone. Maybe yours are setting and sticking to a budget or simply putting your financial needs first. While nobody wants to be the sole bridesmaid or groomsman to speak up if the trip falls outside their budget, it’s necessary to set that boundary. The fear of missing out is not worth going into debt to attend. If you make the decision to not attend the bachelorette or bachelor trip, but still want to make a gesture, you could send a treat to a dinner, offer to chip in for an activity or gift for the bride or groom, or one of these other ideas.

It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of wedding events, especially when it’s one of your closest friends getting married. You might go as far as to think that there’s no limit on how much you’d spend to celebrate them; however, it’s important to be realistic with your wallet. Declining an invitation to a bachelor or bachelorette bash can be a difficult decision to make, but your friend will understand if you are open and honest with them. If you can afford it, but it does not align with your financial goals, remember it’s still OK to say no.

In a nutshell, bachelor and bachelorette trips are an opportunity to celebrate your friend as they enter their next chapter—an experience you likely won’t want to miss. If you’re not sure it will fit in your budget, remember the best approach is being open and honest with the group before finalizing anything—this way, there is potential to adjust. And by speaking up, you may discover other attendees have the same concern.