London Calling-Being a Frugal Bridesmaid in one of the World's Most Expensive Cities - youramericanmoney
Author: Michelle
Description: I just returned from an overseas trip to London. If you’ve never visited London it should be on your travel short-list. London is a city that doesn’t always embrace the visitor. But, when it does, you are fortunate enough to gain an insight into a city that is over 2,000 years old. It is both […]
Date: 2013-05-27T12:00:00+00:00

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# London Calling-Being a Frugal Bridesmaid in one of the World’s Most Expensive Cities

posted on 27 May, 2013

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I just returned from an overseas trip to London. If you’ve never visited London it should be on your travel short-list. London is a city that doesn’t always embrace the visitor. But, when it does, you are fortunate enough to gain an insight into a city that is over 2,000 years old. It is both modern and old-fashioned. The sky an almost constant state of various shades of grey and slight drizzle. I hated London the second time I visited. It was a rough trip, I won’t get int it now-but, I was really concerned about this trip because the last one was so bad. I was a bridesmaid in an English wedding and it was (and still is) a huge honor that was bestowed upon me. Needless to say I was concerned about what I would spend and wondered how I would continue my fairly frugal ways while in London.

London is not cheap. Let me repeat. London is NOT cheap. In fact, it is my view that America is the equivalent of Mexico to English people in terms of cost. America is wonderfully, blissfully cheap compared to most of Europe. The currency exchange ranges anywhere from $1.45-$2.11U.S. when exchanged for one British pound.. The last time I visited the exchange was $2.11. So, not only did the trip suck, but, I was broke regardless of how much I had saved for the trip.

I really lucked out as the bride is my sister from another mother. Really! We have known each for years and she has visited me in Colorado a number of times. I make it a point to really spoil my out-of-town guests because they have taken time and spent a lot of money to come and see. So, when I describe how well I was treated keep it in context of friendship and my friends and I spoil one another.

Anyway, the bride who I will call Queen P (it’s her actual nickname) opened her home to me and she and her groom hosted me the two weeks prior to the wedding. It was actually A BLAST!! I had so much fun and I met her fiancee for the first time. We had the same sense of humor, are born the same week (Leo’s rule!) and he’s just an all-around great guy. He was so welcoming and kind during a time that was very stressful for them as they finalized their wedding arrangements.

Being a bridesmaid is always a bit terrifying because there is a lot to worry about.

- Will the bride dress you so that you look crazy? Like a sherbet, or in a horribly unflattering dress while making you pay $$ for the honor
- The cost can start to add up. Bridesmaids and Best Men typically pay for the following: dress/suit, shoes, hair stuff, travel costs,hotel, food, and gifts. Also, they typically treat the bride/groom to meals etc. My friend would not let me treat her as much as I would like. She was pretty firm about not letting me pay for stuff.
- What if you drive the Bride/Groom crazy because they are so serious about what’s about to happen…and you’re…not…

. My friend was very conscious about the cost that would be incurred by her bridesmaids. American bridesmaids spend on average around $1695 according to www.weddingchannel.com This trip had the potential of becoming very expensive. I decided that this trip would be cash only and I wanted to avoid withdrawing money from an ATM for as long as possible. I also had a set budget (no more than $2,250) and that budget included the cost of my flight. Prior to my departure I exchanged $1600 in U.S. dollars for pounds and then flew to London. The following is a cost breakdown of my entire trip.

***Ticket=$1,009. I paid quite a bit less than my friend did on her two previous trips to Denver***

5/9/2013 U.S. Dollars

- $.75 Coffee
- $3.00 Bus to D.I.A (airport)
- $8.75 Midday Meal
- Total: $12.50

5/10/2013 POUNDS

- 34 pounds Roundtrip ticket for Heathrow Express
- 5 pounds Adaptor
- 3 pounds Coffee and a juice
- Total: 42 pounds

5/11/2013*** Hen Do (Bachelorette Party)

- 65 pounds Hotel in Birmingham, Burlesque class, roundtrip train ticket ( Hen Do/Bachelorette Party)
- 27 pounds Dinner at Jaime Oliver’s restaurant
- 16 pounds Champagne Brunch
- 6 pounds picture at dance club
- 3 pounds oatmeal
- 2 pounds cup of coffee
- 1 pound San Pelligrino
- Total: 120 pounds

5/12/2013

- 221 pounds (Bridesmaid dress/2 hotel rooms/shoes/hair piece)
- 12 pounds Breakfast
- 3 pounds coffee
- 5 pounds Lunch
- 10 pounds Taxi*
- Total: 251 pounds

5/13/2013

- $8 U.S. Dollar…I bought an Amazon Local Deal for entry into a Russian Bath House. Try it sometime
- 15 pounds Lantana’s Australian Coffee shop. I had a FANTASTIC calamari and mixed green salad
- 4 pounds little gifts
- 15 pounds The Tube*
- 5 pounds Snack
- 10 pounds Taxi*
- 27 Boots (I bought travel sized product)
- Total: 77

5/14/2013- ZERO

5/15/2013

- 5 pounds Train*
- 2 pounds to random guy singing Bob Marley
- 2 pounds Latte
- 8 pounds Lunch and Snack
- 4 pounds batteries
- 13 pounds book! New Paulo Coelho book is out.
- 3 coffee and cookie
- Total: 38 Pounds

5/16/2013

- 2 pounds latte
- 2 pounds-The best fresh made chai EVER. Made by a slightly grubby hippy.
- 12 pounds gift for mom
- 19 pounds New journal
- 11 pounds…more hair product
- 10 pounds Train*
- Total 56 pounds

5/17/2013

- 2 pounds mediocre chai
- 1 pounds croissant
- 5 pounds drugstore (more product)
- 4 pounds batteries-Again!
- Total: 12 pounds

5/18/2013

- 28 pounds Lunch-day before the wedding!

5/19/2013

- Day of the wedding 🙂 ZERO

5/20/2013

- 13 pounds miscellaneous stuff
- 4 pounds Starbucks
- 10 pounds The Tube*
- Total: 27 pounds

Grand Total: 651 pounds which equals $984 U.S. plus the $12 that I spent at the beginning of the trip.

So, I spent a grand total of $1996. I did lose a bit with the exchange, but ended up spending only $301 dollars over the average that most bridesmaids spend.

The wedding was worth every penny and I don’t regret going and using the money on a trip instead of debt repayment. My friend hopefully will only get married this one time so I “showed up” in the way that friends do and it was worth every penny.

BTW, I was the fat bridesmaid. Really. A post about that will be coming up in the next week or so.

***I took this photo***

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#### Michelle

I am an obsessive foodie, but not self-righteous with it, love travel, meeting new people, helping you look good, and am freaked out by people who don't enjoying reading...something! Grab a Perrier, read my blog, feel free to drop me a line! Hope to hear from you soon.

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### Comments

1. Budget & the Beach says

   27 May, 2013 at 9:23 am

   My dear you are gorgeous! Just saying! That doesn’t sound too bad for the overall cost of the trip, especially because it sounds like you had a blast and supported a great friend! I’ve never been to London myself and never really had it high up on the list of places to visit, but hmmm you got me thinking! 🙂

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     27 May, 2013 at 12:50 pm

     Awww thanks! I really was the biggest bridesmaid though. I’ll write about that soon. It was an amazing time, I was totally spoiled-the weather did suck though. I am really happy that I was able to go. Now, the fun begins. I’m going to be working on increasing my income this summer so that I can pay of my sh$t!

     Reply

2. Michelle says

   27 May, 2013 at 10:10 am

   Wow that’s expensive! But I would spend whatever amount on my friends’ weddings as well.

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     27 May, 2013 at 12:53 pm

     That was the first time I’ve been asked to be a bridesmaid. It was a huge honor and I am really happy that I was able to go and pay for everything in cash. NOw that I’m back I will be working on growing my income. I’m hoping to have extra income posts similar to yours by this time next year!

     Reply

3. doordebt says

   27 May, 2013 at 9:32 pm

   Girl you are not fat or big, you are gorgeous! Glad you had fun in London, even though it’s expensive. I went to Iceland in January, and it was so not cheap, but worth it!

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     28 May, 2013 at 4:09 pm

     Aww thanks! I had an amazing time. I really love my friends over there and they have visited me a lot in Colorado so it was long overdue. It was a priceless trip.

     Reply

4. MakintheBacon says

   29 May, 2013 at 5:33 pm

   You know what’s more terrifying than being a bridesmaid? Being a maid of honour! The wedding is in August and already I spent several hundred for the bridal shower. I will forking over another few hundred for the bachelorette because we are doing a weekend getaway. As much as I gripe about it, I will willingly give in to all these expenses because the bride is my sister. 🙂

   I went to London with my ex awhile back because his parents were from there. I would love to go again!

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     29 May, 2013 at 9:32 pm

     I totally agree with you. For me this was a priceless moment that I will never forget. I knew that the trade-off would be me working like crazy over the summer/fall to make sure that I achieve the financial goals that I’ve set for myself. I actually feel really refreshed and ready to kick some butt!

     Reply

5. KC @ genxfinance says

   30 May, 2013 at 2:16 am

   If really good friend of mine also asked me to be the best man or a groomsman, I would gladly spend that amount of money as well. And they are right, you are one lovely lady.

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     30 May, 2013 at 8:20 am

     Thanks KC! Next time I have a low self-esteem moment I’m going to get in touch with you guys!!My blogger peeps ROCK! It was def. worth it to me to be a part of my friend’s wedding. Did I mention that she gave me diamond earrings as a “Thank you?” Yep, they spoiled me.

     Reply

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