Bridal Party Disaster.

$200 on centerpieces.... $200 on decorations.... $400 cake.... $1200 for the venue....

and thats just SOME of the expenses of my brother/soon to be SIL's Bridal Shower.

You may recall my posts back in Oct/November of last year. I am a bridesmaid in the wedding....1 of .....10. Yes, 10 of us. Most of the girls are single, early 20s, living at home with Mom & Dad still, dropping $100-$200 a weekend at parties. Apparently these expenses are simple to them. Unfortunatly, thats not so in my lifestyle. Every aspect of our lives is budgeted. I don't "splurge" on anything. I have no excess income. We are getting by, but still are tackling major debt from our mess we had when we bought our house.

Initially I was told every bridesmaid needed to contribute about $30 to help with things for the shower (By ONE of the maids of honor). Oh, ok, cool. I sent my check. Then I found out that was just the deposit. We will eventually be responsible for at least $200 each. Final figures "to come". At that point, I backed out. I cannot afford that. I just simply cant. I already spent $120 on my bridesmaid dress, and still have to pay for my shoes, Paige's flower girl shoes, as well as hair, pedi/mani & makeup appointments that day for BOTH myself and Paige. Im not made of money, but I am budgeting in the expense of agreeing to BE IN THE WEDDING. We'll make do.

However, I am NOT covering the costs of an extravagant Bridal shower. This thing is ridiculously OVER THE TOP, and not necessary. I gave many suggestions from day one on how to cut costs. My parents even offered their home for the event (they have a nice open floor plan and gorgeous yard-- Heck, thats where I had BOTH my Bridal AND Baby showers, and my other Brother had his Bridal shower as well-- you can fit a LOT of people in my parents house!).

No no no, came a group of the bridesmaids. Crystal is "better than that". Oh, sorry. I forgot how scummy my family is. Oops.

Anyhow...the shower is coming up, and Im being told all these stats on costs. Hey! Remember? I said I'm out. over 6 months ago...BEFORE the venue was booked. But no-- they wont listen. I am being held "responsible" for these costs because I agreed to be in this wedding.

Um...no. I agreed to be in the WEDDING. I did NOT agree to go into more debt for an extravagent party. The total costs are at over $2000 already.

I REFUSE to pay. My sister is worse off than me-- and she whined to my dad for the money. How shady. My dad obliged. He offered me the money too-- no freaking way. Im not taking it. I told him right up front, he can give it to me, but I would not use it for the shower--i'd use it to pay my bills. (i didnt take the money, btw). So, call me a scum bag or whatever you want.

So, Im the bitch bridesmaid that's not contributing. Really, am I being that terrible? You cannot tap a well that has no water. I do not have the money. Im not hiding it anywhere. I do not have it. I am not sacrificing my life to "create" it either (as a girl told me, all i need to do is "put some away each week"....as if I dont know how to save?! Put WHAT away?!).

Oh, and the bachelorette party? Yea...thats up to about $800 now too. Haha! Im DEFINETLY not going to that....they are bar-hopping in Boston. Ill be 6 months pregnant. Yea, no thank you. But Im sure Ill be bitched at about not contributing to that, too.

My other brother's wedding ended up costing Mike & I over $500 just to be in. My dress for that was $280 because it was designer, his tux RENTAL was $250 for ONE NIGHT ! We were so broke from that one, we couldn't even afford to stay the night in the hotel it was held at like everyone else did-- we were the poor schmucks that had to leave at midnight (and stopped drinking at like 9pm) and drive back to my parents house where we could stay for free. Anyhow...at least at that one, I was NEVER expected to shell out a dime for the shower or the bachelorette party....and actually, i have no clue who even payed for those-- but I know it wasnt very costly!

That's it. 2 over the top weddings-- I am DONE. This is the LAST wedding I will EVER agree to be IN. From now on, include me as a guest only! Thank you!

And, end vent. Did you seriously read all that? Sorry. I just needed to get this off my chest.