Quick navigation:   

Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

Posted By Message

69
I'm married!!!!!

Member since 8/05

1267 total posts

Wedding Date:
9/2/2006 12:30 PM

Wed. Location:
Flowerfield

Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

Ok... here's the deal... two of my good friends are getting married within three months of me.... I get a call from one of them last night.... she asks me to meet her to pick out flowers for the other's shower and oh , she looked at favors today and it looks like it will be like $250 for favors....

There are ten tables and we haven't picked out the flowers for them yet...

I was alittle bent out of shape... I mean how much am I spending on this shower.. that doesn't include a gift or the bachelorette party ( and I have been known to throw a really great sioree)....

How much are you guys expecting or have you spent? Am I being cheap?

Posted 12/21/05 10:02 AM
 

SIBride06

Member since 4/05

7318 total posts

Wedding Date:
8/26/2006 2:00 PM

Wed. Location:

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

Do you have to go with flowers?? Theres other options that are less expensive, and IMO, kind of nicer (& more original).

Posted 12/21/05 10:04 AM
 

69
I'm married!!!!!

Member since 8/05

1267 total posts

Wedding Date:
9/2/2006 12:30 PM

Wed. Location:
Flowerfield

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

yeah? like........ I'm listening.....

Posted 12/21/05 10:05 AM
 

carlsbride
I'm a Mommy!!!

Member since 8/05

1594 total posts

Wedding Date:
2/11/2006 11:00 AM

Wed. Location:
Westbury Manor 10+++

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

I haven't been in a wedding party in awhile - so I don't know the average. $250 sounds like alot to me for favors, there are def. alternatives-how many people is that for? Also, depending on what kind you get - flowers for centerpieces sounds expensive to me. But again-there are nice alternatives.

I think it would be reasonable for you all to decide on these things together - esp. if you have to contribute. Talk about it now before your bad feelings build up.

Posted 12/21/05 10:13 AM
 

nov06
I'M MARRIED!!!!

Member since 11/05

1550 total posts

Wedding Date:
11/4/2006 12:00 PM

Wed. Location:

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

I love this idea for centerpieces. Instead of flowers you buy things she really will need (mostly cleaning products) like detergent, soap, fantastic spray - well you get the idea, and then attach balloons to them. She'll need the cleaning stuff, not flowers.

Posted 12/21/05 10:16 AM
 

69
I'm married!!!!!

Member since 8/05

1267 total posts

Wedding Date:
9/2/2006 12:30 PM

Wed. Location:
Flowerfield

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

well I expressed my discontent last night..

the favors are only votive holders with her name and date of the shower printed on them.. I mean..

Posted 12/21/05 10:17 AM
 

kellwolfe
It's An Obsession

Member since 12/04

4128 total posts

Wedding Date:
12/8/2006 7:00 PM

Wed. Location:
Hamlet WindWatchA+++++++++++++++++++

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

How many people are there - 10 tables of 10?
You can make up baskets and have all the favors in them in the center if the table - that way it doubles as a centerpieces and then just have some cho.'s on the tables or rose pettles

Message edited 12/21/2005 10:20:09 AM.

Posted 12/21/05 10:19 AM
 

PrincessConsuela
Almost there 2 yrs 2-3-08

Member since 7/04

2686 total posts

Wedding Date:
2/3/2006 7:30 PM

Wed. Location:
Fox Hollow

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

One of my very talented girls (monkey luv) for centerpieces did a candle in a vase full of those crystal stones. then put snowflakes on the vase. (winter snowflake theme shower)
it was beautiful...
lets see if i have a picture

Posted 12/21/05 10:19 AM
 

69
I'm married!!!!!

Member since 8/05

1267 total posts

Wedding Date:
9/2/2006 12:30 PM

Wed. Location:
Flowerfield

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

yeah ten tables of ten....I am liking the candle thing..

Posted 12/21/05 11:07 AM
 

siobhanB
Board Fanatic

Member since 10/05

534 total posts

Wedding Date:
3/30/2007 4:00 PM

Wed. Location:
BOOKED!

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

I'm not sure the color scheme you are going for, or when the shower is going to be... but a couple showers I've gone to, the centerpieces are a bunch of individual potted flowers (i.w. african violets) in a basket... it's a very full looking c.p. and then each person takes one of the pots home with them as a favor. I know African violets are really not that expensive, and since they're both cp and favor, you'll save some $$.

Talk to a local florist about it, they may be able to hook you up good with it, or if you're ok with DIY, you could contact a wholesaler and get them yourself directly. (Only thing is to be careful with using the wholesaler, you want to make sure you get good stuff)

HTH

Posted 12/21/05 11:13 AM
 

klingklang77
at home in the world...

Member since 10/05

1915 total posts

Wedding Date:
7/16/2006 3:30 PM

Wed. Location:
Milleridge Carriage House

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?


Posted by 69

well I expressed my discontent last night..

the favors are only votive holders with her name and date of the shower printed on them.. I mean..



250 is way too much for favours. if you think about it assume all the women will be at the shower and hypothetically speaking, they are half the wedding. that is if there is an even ratio of male:female. one might spend 500 on favours for a wedding, 250 is like that half. way too much for a shower.

Posted 12/21/05 11:21 AM
 

69
I'm married!!!!!

Member since 8/05

1267 total posts

Wedding Date:
9/2/2006 12:30 PM

Wed. Location:
Flowerfield

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

the violet thing is cool.. unfort.. the other girl did that for her friend and didn't want to copy that... whatever... ahhhhhhh

I couldn't even tell you what has been on the tables at showers.. honestly.... I would have done balloons.. but the bride really hates them.. so that was out....and I have molded chocolate before.. but everyone is on diets now!!!!

Posted 12/21/05 11:22 AM
 

Naunie
the Max stands for money

Member since 9/05

5941 total posts

Wedding Date:
9/2/2006 3:00 PM

Wed. Location:
and the P is for Power.

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

What if you arranged the candles as a wedding cake, and used them as the centerpiece? Put a little and on the top...

Posted 12/21/05 12:47 PM
 

suzybilly819
MARRIED

Member since 8/05

1323 total posts

Wedding Date:
7/15/2006 12:00 PM

Wed. Location:
Venetian Yacht club

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

You can make favors for much less than $250

As for centerpeices, this is not a wedding, I would just use what the place offers. People want to see the presents and do not need a CP blocking the view. JMO

Posted 12/21/05 3:35 PM
 

Naunie
the Max stands for money

Member since 9/05

5941 total posts

Wedding Date:
9/2/2006 3:00 PM

Wed. Location:
and the P is for Power.

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

OR-
For our E party, my mom did a 3 tier serving platter with appetizers in the center of each table. It was really cute.

Posted 12/21/05 3:45 PM
 

lacey&mark
goodbye LIW

Member since 5/05

2037 total posts

Wedding Date:
7/7/2006 6:30 PM

Wed. Location:
atlantis marine world

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?


Posted by 69

I was alittle bent out of shape... I mean how much am I spending on this shower.. that doesn't include a gift or the bachelorette party ( and I have been known to throw a really great sioree)....

How much are you guys expecting or have you spent? Am I being cheap?



hello! when the bridal party is chipping in for the shower, it really can get out of hand with the costs. the party itself should be based on the budget of the persons chipping in, and if flowers and $250 favors are out of the budget, then skip them! there are plenty of alternatives! i believe for my shower, my moh asked my bm's to contribute $140 if they could, and if they could not then to contribute what they can afford. this would cover the restaurant alone if everyone invited shows up and my moh is covering the rest (favors, invites, etc). i am in my brothers wedding and my fsil's sister asked me for $250 before they even picked a place...hell no! i told her i could afford to give $100 as i only make $250 a week (i am a fulltime college student who works a fulltime crap job by day). so i think the cost of things and how much the bp should contribute should be discussed among the bp. does that make sense? ~lacey

Posted 12/21/05 3:49 PM
 

Mrs. dleeny
My most beautiful day ever

Member since 3/05

12394 total posts

Wedding Date:
11/6/2005 5:00 PM

Wed. Location:
Swan Club A+

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

$250 for shower favors is a lot, unless there are over 100 ppl going.

Message edited 12/21/2005 4:59:58 PM.

Posted 12/21/05 4:59 PM
 

ali120206
Over a year!

Member since 10/05

4386 total posts

Wedding Date:
12/2/2006 2:00 PM

Wed. Location:
Hyatt Windwatch

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?


Posted by lacey&mark


Posted by 69

I was alittle bent out of shape... I mean how much am I spending on this shower.. that doesn't include a gift or the bachelorette party ( and I have been known to throw a really great sioree)....

How much are you guys expecting or have you spent? Am I being cheap?



hello! when the bridal party is chipping in for the shower, it really can get out of hand with the costs. the party itself should be based on the budget of the persons chipping in, and if flowers and $250 favors are out of the budget, then skip them! there are plenty of alternatives! i believe for my shower, my moh asked my bm's to contribute $140 if they could, and if they could not then to contribute what they can afford. this would cover the restaurant alone if everyone invited shows up and my moh is covering the rest (favors, invites, etc). i am in my brothers wedding and my fsil's sister asked me for $250 before they even picked a place...hell no! i told her i could afford to give $100 as i only make $250 a week (i am a fulltime college student who works a fulltime crap job by day). so i think the cost of things and how much the bp should contribute should be discussed among the bp. does that make sense? ~lacey



That's a very nice way to do it! I was in a wedding last year where we threw the shower and it was just finger sandwiches, salads, soda and wine, along with bulk paper goods from Costco pretty much (the other stuff was covered) and we had to pay $150 each for 5 of us. We were flored. There were only like 50-60 people there too and there wasn't a ton of food leftover.

You should definitely decide together, we found all this out 2 days before the shower that was what we owed. We questioned the MOH who did most of the planning and she went and told her sister, the bride, and it caused a large war!!!

Posted 12/21/05 5:13 PM
 

sarahbelle
Old Married Lady

Member since 11/04

4160 total posts

Wedding Date:
4/8/2006 12:00 PM

Wed. Location:
Westbury Manor A++++

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?


Posted by nov06

I love this idea for centerpieces. Instead of flowers you buy things she really will need (mostly cleaning products) like detergent, soap, fantastic spray - well you get the idea, and then attach balloons to them. She'll need the cleaning stuff, not flowers.



That is a great idea. You could make really lovely baskets and ask guests to bring an item to display on the table.

$250 is a lot for favors. These bath salts (from www.1weddingfavor.com) are less than $2 each:

Posted 12/21/05 6:36 PM
 

October Bliss
Beyond Obsession

Member since 8/05

7631 total posts

Wedding Date:
10/8/2006 2:30 PM

Wed. Location:
Country Gardens @ East Wind

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

That sounds totally outrageous. For my sister's bridal shower (brunch at Milleridge Inn on 2/29/04) for about 70 people, between me and the lone other BM we paid I think a total of $600. That was food, drinks, favors, prizes for the games, decorations AND the gifts we bought her. Favors were flower shaped bath beads in organza bags. CP's were included - small vase with a few stems and candles.

Posted 12/21/05 7:24 PM
 

JCam695
Married my True Love

Member since 8/05

1479 total posts

Wedding Date:
6/24/2006 6:00 PM

Wed. Location:
DeSeversky - B+

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

I think $200 is reasonable to chip in as a total amount for a shower where you are a BM.

That is too much for favors though.

Posted 12/21/05 8:26 PM
 

waterspout4
I gave birth to a todddler

Member since 9/04

4781 total posts

Wedding Date:
4/1/2006 2:30 PM

Wed. Location:
Mediterranean Manor A++++++++++

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?


Posted by SexyEsq

That sounds totally outrageous. For my sister's bridal shower (brunch at Milleridge Inn on 2/29/04) for about 70 people, between me and the lone other BM we paid I think a total of $600. That was food, drinks, favors, prizes for the games, decorations AND the gifts we bought her. Favors were flower shaped bath beads in organza bags. CP's were included - small vase with a few stems and candles.



This is what we all paid for my best friends shower, and about the cost of my shower as well. Yes, I know about my shower because all of my BMs are OOT and I normally work weekends. I would never ask my girls to spend too much.

Posted 12/21/05 10:29 PM
 

VogueBride
Baby on the way!

Member since 12/04

1765 total posts

Wedding Date:
4/22/2006 11:00 AM

Wed. Location:
Milleridge Cottage

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?


Posted by nov06

I love this idea for centerpieces. Instead of flowers you buy things she really will need (mostly cleaning products) like detergent, soap, fantastic spray - well you get the idea, and then attach balloons to them. She'll need the cleaning stuff, not flowers.



thats adorable!!!!!!

Posted 12/21/05 10:38 PM
 

69
I'm married!!!!!

Member since 8/05

1267 total posts

Wedding Date:
9/2/2006 12:30 PM

Wed. Location:
Flowerfield

Re: Am I being cheap? showers... how much should BM's spend if they are helping to pay?

I do like the bath salts.... The shower is at Bertucci's in Huntington.....

Thanks for the input!

Posted 12/22/05 11:04 AM
 
 

Potentially Related Topics:

Topic Posted By Started Replies Forum
What Are You Helping The Bridesmaids Pay? eden 2/16/06 28 Brides Helping Brides ™
 
Quick navigation:   
 
Currently 2054 users on the LIWeddings.com Chat
Featured Vendors
 
Bridal Planner Group