Bridesmaid is furious at being asked to pay £250 for a hen party on top of £390 for a dress, wedding travel and accommodation – but is told SHE’S being ‘unreasonable’ and it’s ‘not excessive’
- Woman who lives in the UK, said attending her friend’s wedding will cost £390
- Posting on Mumsnet, added that the one night away hen party will cost £250
- She explained her friend has offered the option to pay expense in installments
- Responses were torn, as some admitted they wouldn’t attend the events
A bridesmaid has vented her frustrations after discovering how much it will cost to attend her friend’s hen party and wedding.
Posting anonymously on Mumsnet, the woman who lives in the UK, explained she will have to give her friend £80 towards the cost of bridesmaid dresses in addition to spending £120 for accommodation and £90 for travel to attend the wedding.
She added that her friend’s hen party will cost £250 for just one night away.
She explained she wouldn’t expect people to spend so much money and asked if it was unreasonable to feel resentful towards the bride.
Responses were mixed, with some agreeing they wouldn’t pay ‘out of principle’. However others suggested the bridesmaid was being unfair and that it isn’t an ‘excessive’ amount to ask a close friend to pay.
A woman has been left torn about attending her friend’s wedding and hen party after discovering it will cost over £500 (file image)
Posting on Mumsnet, the woman explained she will have to pay for accommodation, travel and the cost of bridesmaid dresses
Asking for opinions, the woman wrote: ‘Would you pay this for a wedding/hen?
‘Wedding:
- £120 per person for 2 nights’ accommodation in a guest house.
- £90 return train ticket.
- £80 towards bridesmaid dresses (requested by the bride that we split the cost of it)
- Then the cost of the present, drinks etc.
‘The wedding was located in a stately home in a very remote location and this was the closest hotel.
‘Hen party:
- £250 all in all for one night away including transport, accommodation, activities and so on.
‘Not sure why these things are so expensive? Payment in installments was offered and it was suggested that we save towards it each month.
‘I wouldn’t dream of asking people to spend that much money because I’m getting married. Especially as some people will feel like they can’t say no.’
Many responses to the post agreed the bride is asking for guests to spend too much money and advised the woman to only attend the wedding.
Many responses to the post admitted they wouldn’t attend their friend’s wedding and hen party if it costs over £500
One person wrote: ‘F*** no. Wouldn’t pay that much out of principle, even if I could afford it. £550 before you’ve factored in wedding presents, hair/ make-up/ accessories/ hen party outfit, potential babysitter etc is an absolute p*** ****.
‘Absolutely would not pay that. That is the price of a decent holiday for me! Also, bridesmaids shouldn’t be paying for their own dresses,’ another said.
Agreeing, a third added: ‘It’s not just what you listed though, if you are staying two nights you will need a meal the first night, is breakfast included both days? Are drinks free at the wedding or a paying bar?
‘If it’s a close friend I would do the wedding, but not the hen. I couldn’t afford both.’
Others said it was an excessive amount to ask friends to pay
Others said the bride’s requests doesn’t seem excessive, however they would consider how close they are to her when making their decision to attend.
‘I would happily pay that for a good friend’s wedding, but I know that my friends would arrange their wedding/ hen nights with their family and friends’ financial situation in mind,’ one wrote.
Another said: ‘I would if it was a close friend, apart from the bridesmaids dress. I’m a firm believer that the couple should pay for that, they should budget for the wedding they want within their means.’
A third added: ‘TBH the costs all seem pretty reasonable. Accommodation and travel etc are what they are – if you want to stay in a hotel and get trains etc that’s just what it is. £250 for the hen’s night if that covers accommodation/ travel/ food etc doesn’t seem too bad either.’
Other responses to the thread argued the expense isn’t excessive, however traditionally the bride and groom pay for dresses