How much should a bride spend on her bridesmaids?
A good rule of thumb when budgeting for your own wedding party is to spend around what you'd spend on each person's birthday or holiday gift. That said, our research indicates couples spend an average of $80 per person in the wedding party. * This is just an average, though.
It's standard for the bride to cover the cost of bouquets, transportation to and from the wedding venue, and a gift to her bridesmaids. Optional costs may include hair and makeup, hotel accommodations, bridesmaids' dresses, and a bridesmaids' luncheon (if hosted by the bride).
It really depends on your relationship with the bride and your own financial situation. If you're super close, you might wanna go a bit higher, like $100 or more. But if you're on a budget, even $50 is totally fine. The key is to make it meaningful.
They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family members, or if you're in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.
"We often see the maid of honor assist in covering the cost of the bridal shower (often in conjunction with a family member of the bride), covering her own costs and some of the costs of the bride for the bachelorette party (in conjunction with the rest of the bridesmaids), her own travel to and from the wedding, a ...
The Bridal Party Proposal
The first occasion you might give your bridesmaid or bridesman a gift is when you are asking them to be a member of your bridal party. While etiquette doesn't require you to give a present in this moment, it is a lovely gesture to get your bridal party excited about all the events to come.
The Answer: It Depends
There's no definitive answer of who foots the bill on bridal party glam. That said, the bride or the bridesmaids will pay for the bridal party's hair and makeup. Some brides cover the cost of glam as a “thank you” to their friends for supporting the wedding. However, this isn't always the case.
If you're still itching for dollar amount suggestions, follow these very loose guidelines for how much to spend on wedding gifts: If you're a coworker, acquaintance, or distant relative: $50-$75. If you're a friend or relative of: $75-$100.
The answer is that it depends.
In other scenarios, it makes more sense for the wedding party to cover their hair and makeup costs. And, in other scenarios, the bride might cover part of the expenses, with the bridesmaids footing the rest of the bill.
Although once upon a time it was expected that the bride's family would foot the bridal shower bill, modern society has changed the rules. Nowadays, the person (or people) hosting the bridal shower are responsible for covering the costs associated with the shower.
Who pays for bridesmaid expenses?
While generous, that's still an exception to the norm. Generally speaking, bridesmaids are expected to pay for their own dresses and accessories; they may also be required to foot the bill for hair and makeup appointments and transportation to the wedding.
Bottom line: There's no hard-and-fast rule on how much cash to give as a wedding gift. Wedding experts do, however, advise starting at $100. From there, you may want to adjust up to $500 based on factors such as your relationship with the couple, your budget and the cost of your attendance at the wedding.
Upon consulting the experts, a wedding gift should range from $75 to $750—but most agree that $300+ is the sweet spot.
Who traditionally pays for the wedding dress? One of the most closely stuck-to traditions is that the bride's family will pay for the wedding dress. This also includes any accessories the bride may wear, such as a veil, a bag and shoes. For modern weddings, the bride may want to pay for her own dress.
Does the maid of honor get the bride a gift? Generally speaking, yes. Giving gifts is customary for the wedding party. (That is, unless the couple has expressed that they don't want presents from their VIPs.)
Hen Parties/Bachelorette Nights:
It isn't a hosted activity (although it may be organised by the bridal party) so this is generally acceptable. Gifts shouldn't be expected. If there are decorations and goodie bags, the bridal party will usually cover these.
"Makeup bags with their initials on them, blinged-out coffee cups, or jewelry boxes engraved with their names are all great gifts," she said. "And if you want to go a step further, add a gift that's tailored to each bridesmaid's personal tastes."
There's no set rule as to how many bridesmaids become too many, but anything over 8 is looked at being a big group of bridesmaids. The average number of bridesmaids is 3-5. Some brides decide to have only a maid of honour or 1 bridesmaid, and this is totally normal, but some decide to have a bigger group of up to 12.
"When choosing the right gifts for your wedding party, my advice is to gift items that will make your wedding party feel special," says Damali. One of our favorite ways to do this is through personalized items, like custom embroidered pajamas, monogrammed tote bags or birthstone jewelry.
As a general guideline, tip between 15% and 20% of the total cost of services. For instance, if your hair and makeup services cost $500, 15% would be $75 while 20% would be $100. If you feel that an artist went above and beyond to accommodate your needs, then tipping more may be appropriate.
Can I ask my bridesmaids to pay for their own makeup?
Of course, it'd be lovely for bridesmaids to have their hair and makeup professionally done on the morning of the wedding, but if this is out of your budget to cover, you can make it optional for the crew and give them the option of paying for the professional hair and makeup artist to do theirs if they want to cover ...
If the dress has a high neckline or intricate details on the back, a half-up, half-down style may be more appropriate. Coordinate with the Bride: It's important to coordinate the bridesmaids' hairstyles with the bride's hairstyle.
The Average Cost of a Bridal Shower Gift
According to Opperman, bridal shower gifts tend to be less expensive than wedding gifts. "Many people spend around $50 to $75, whereas closer friends and family may spend upwards of $100," she says. "However, the amount you want to spend is up to you."
The 2023 gift tax limit is $17,000. For married couples, the limit is $17,000 each, for a total of $34,000. This amount, formally called the annual gift tax exclusion, is the maximum amount you can give a single person without reporting it to the IRS.
It's a gesture of goodwill and a lovely way to express your support of the newlyweds. That said, it's highly likely that not every guest at a wedding will oblige. In fact, it's been estimated that between 7 and 10% of guests at a wedding fail to give a gift.
