Thank you to our Guest Contributor Mollie Wilson for this wonderful article…..
As I get older, a new “season” has emerged into my social circle – wedding season.
My friends from college, friends from high school, friends from my small hometown, and family members all seem to be tying the knot these days.
Not only does this create a lot of planning, scheduling and budgeting to attend these shin-digs, but in several cases over the past couple of years – I have asked to be in them.
It is always an honor to be asked to share in a friend’s joy, but it can also be a bit stressful.
As a five times bridesmaid, and a wedding guest many times over that, I’ve picked up some tips and tricks for surviving being a bridesmaid along the way that I’m willing to share.
Stock up on gifts when they go on sale…
Whether you’re a bridesmaid or just attending a bunch of weddings, this is the best advice I can offer.
It saves you both money and time, as well as a last-minute trip to your favorite home store that also provides gift wrapping.
I always go for the “hottest” kitchen gadgets such as electric pressure cookers or air fryers.
You can usually score huge discounts on these around the holidays, and then dole them out during the following wedding season.
If you’re pretty sure most of the folks whose weddings you’ll be attending already have these popular items, you can also look at cookbooks or accessories to go with them.
If the bride and groom both hate to cook, another cost-effective, yet sentimental, gift is a photo gift or something personalized with their names.
These types of companies typically offer great discount codes and/or sales online.
Don’t underestimate the value of a well-written card with your gift.
Many brides hang onto cards longer than they do wedding gifts in a scrapbook or album.
Check out this post for some tips on what to write in your card.
Book your travel as early as possible…
Once you know you’re going to be in the wedding, I highly recommend booking your travel right away.
Everyone knows that flights and hotels are cheaper when you book them farther in advance, and knowing the exact cost as soon as possible makes it easier to budget for the expense.
If you know other people in the wedding party, AirBnb can be a great option instead of a hotel.
For one wedding last season, the bridal party and I booked a large coastal home with more bedrooms than we needed for a price that was well-below area hotels when split among us.
The hotel had a mix-up and did not reserve the room for the bride’s parents, and the other nearby hotels were already booked up.
Her parents stayed in our AirBnb, saving a lot of hassle and stress for the parents and the bride.
It was also a fun experience to spend time with the girls.
The bride spent the night with us after the rehearsal dinner and we did our hair and make-up there as well.
Bank your PTO…
For one wedding I attended, the bride confessed that her first choice for maid of honor had to decline due to inefficient paid time off.
When you’re considering attending multiple weddings in the summer on top of any other personal trips you may have planned, it can mean a lot of time away from work.
While the bride is hopefully taking this into consideration as she schedules events for the bridal party, there are a couple of tips I recommend for banking your PTO.
Chances are, when traveling for a wedding, you’ll have a few hours of down time, even if it is just in the airport.
Arrange to work remotely during this time.
This will not only help you save some of your precious PTO, but it also allows you to stay caught up at the office for when you return.
Be as prepared as possible – for you and the bride…
Once the trip finally arrives, you’ll want to be prepared for everything – for you (and the bride, if she needs it.)
There are premade “wedding day” kits, and I find these to be useful for inspiration.
However, you can usually put together the same kit for less cost, and I find that many times, these kits overlook the basics.
I’ll never forget my best friend’s wedding. She was getting dressed at the venue.
We packed all of the traditional items – a sewing kit, bleach pen, band-aids, hair pins, comb, etc.
However, she forgot to bring extra deodorant and it was a very hot day coupled with a huge dress.
Luckily, I had thrown some in my bag, and that crisis was averted.
(Her niece did later spill red juice on her dress. Even the best-prepared brides have hiccups.)
Don’t forget to pamper yourself…
Now that you’re handling wedding season like a pro, definitely take some time to reward your efforts and pamper yourself.
For some women, that means getting the deluxe pedicure or a massage.
For me, it means CBD.
Personally, I love Sunsoil’s Chocolate Mint CBD oil.
It tastes good, and I can just throw the tincture in my handbag.
I’m an introverted extrovert – I love people but being around a lot of people for a long period of time is a bit draining, even if it is for a fun event like a wedding.
The CBD oil addresses my stress and anxiety and keeps me in a positive mood to help my friend through her big day.
It’s a bonus that it puts me in a relaxed mood so that I also have a lot of fun.
If you haven’t tried CBD oil, I’d recommend doing some research on it first.
When used daily, CBD is reported to help with a variety of conditions such as pain, insomnia and acne.
Starting it before the wedding could not only help you feel good; it could also help you look your best!
When you’re in a wedding, there are a lot of factors to consider from travel and finances to gifts and wedding-day must-haves.
It is a stressful process for everyone involved.
But when you make it to the reception, if you’ve taken good care of yourself, you’ll be able to let loose and enjoy the moment.
