Wedding season is here, which means you might be juggling in a few bridesmaid appearances into your budget. This season can be particularly pricey because so many people are getting married and if you’re in a certain age bracket then there is a good chance you’ll be asked. If the brides you’re celebrating are also on a tight budget, then often enough some of the prices might fall on you. These ten tips will help you save as much money as possible on your wedding experience, which will allow you to enjoy the experience.

1. Negotiate on the Dress
Your bridesmaid dress is probably going to be the most talked-about item on your list of wedding things. Unfortunately, it can often be one of the most expensive options too. Your best option is to be very open with the bride and let her know you’re on a budget, especially if you’re expected to cover the cost of the dress. If she has an expensive dress in mind, then you might ask her to chip in to get the dress she wants. You might also offer some suggestions on dresses that appear to be similar but are cheaper than the original dress. This should help you to meet your budget, especially if the bride is willing to work with you.

2. Seamstress Assistance
The dress will always be more than just a purchase, so you’re going to have to budget in a seamstress, especially if you don’t buy your dress online. Luckily, there is a way around the high price of dress arrangements. If you have a family member or friend that is handy with a needle and thread, then you might call in a favor or offer some money for their services. You can also find fashion students that might be willing to help you out. This will allow you to enjoy free or low-cost assistance so your garments will look great on your budget.

3. Borrow Accessories
If you’re hoping to look your best for the wedding, then accessories are obviously going to be a must-have item. In most cases, you’ll have some great options at home, but more often than not you’ll still need something that will pair efficiently with your dress. Instead of going out and purchasing new accessories, you might ask around to see what other people have on hand. Often, people will have items that they wore at other weddings. You may even be able to borrow items from the bride, which will ensure you’re getting the look she wants. Family members might also have vintage pieces that will help you stand out while showing off your personal style.

4. Watch for Sales
One of the best ways to get the biggest savings on all of your bridesmaid needs is to watch out for the sales. It isn’t always wise to go out and purchase what is asked for you straight away. Instead, hold out until there is a decent deal on items. As long as you don’t cut it too close to the wedding, you should be able to enjoy some savings. Usually, the major sales offer some big savings, which will ensure you don’t have to spend as much as you normally would. If you have some time before the wedding, then you might wait until the wedding season is over. Often, items will go on clearance, so you won’t have to pay full price. This is especially true when it comes to shoes and other accessories.

5. Use Credit
If you have everything picked out and you’ve found the best possible price, then you might consider putting the items on your credit card. Of course, you should check into the benefits your credit card offers for charges. Many cards will offer points that you can redeem for savings, airline miles, or even money. You should also make sure your interest rate isn’t too high, or else spending like this might not be worth it. Shopping with your credit card can even help you to get discounts from certain stores, so make sure you shop around to find which stores work for you.

6. DIY decor
More often than not, bridesmaids are asked to help with decorating for the bridal shower, bachelorette party, ceremony, and reception. This can be a lot on the budget, which is why you might take some time to look up some DIY items. There are so many amazing DIY decorations you can make for a wedding, which will help save you plenty of money. If you can, work from items you have at home or that others assisting in everything have at home. Working on DIY projects can help make the wedding experience even more fun and memorable for you too.

7. Hair and Makeup
On the big day, hair and makeup can be incredibly stressful, so can the price of going to a beautician. However, there are ways of getting around this big expenditure. If you really want to higher a beautician, call around and ask for group pricing. Many beauticians, especially those who freelance, are used to doing groups and may even have pricing readily available. If you can split the cost of this, then you’ll already be in better shape. Of course, if you have at least a couple of people skilled in hair and makeup then you can just do one another’s makeup. You can even utilize makeup you already have to help cut down on the cost.

8. Travel
If you need to travel to get to the wedding then you might be worried about the fees. There are quite a few ways you can save here, especially if you have a little time until the wedding. If you need to travel to a destination that will cost you quite a bit, then you might purchase well in advance to ensure you get a decent price. You should also purchase ticket insurance in case you need to cancel the ticket. If you have a lot of miles on your credit card, then now would be the perfect time to use them. Of course, if the destination isn’t as far away you might consider carpooling. This will help cut the costs while offering an eco-friendlier solution to getting around.

9. Accommodation
Hotels can be incredibly expensive, so if you have to travel, you might ask friends and family in the area if you can stay with them. If you don’t know anyone in the area, then there are still options to choose from. For instance, you can easily find someone to split the cost of a hotel room with. This can help quite a bit, especially if rooms are expensive. Another option is to consider renting a space for the period of the wedding. There are many Air BnBs that offer affordable pricing. Plus, you can split this space with a few people to keep the cost down substantially.

10. Gifts
There are lots of gifts between bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and the wedding itself. All of those gifts can really add up, which might be something that weighs heavy on you when you plan out your wedding budget. When it comes to shopping for the bride, you might try to keep gifts small. This will allow you to have the budget necessary to ensure you can handle all of the gifts. If you can, shop ahead of time when you have extra money to spare so you don’t find yourself in a pinch when you do need to have a gift ready. You can also make gifts to help ensure each item is memorable and your care for the bride shines through.

Being a bridesmaid doesn’t have to be a burden. It should be a fun experience. So, when you take out the high price of the bridesmaid lifestyle, then you can easily enjoy the experience all the more. With these tips, you should find a happy balance to make sure you won’t feel overwhelmed by everything.