She Strengthens

The Unforeseen Expenses of Being a Bridesmaid

As a South Asian, I’m no stranger to lavish weddings. But when my close friend from college asked me to be a bridesmaid at her American wedding, I didn’t anticipate the hefty price tag that came with it. The wedding is in October, just outside of Boston, and I currently live in San Francisco. Flights were always going to be a significant expense, but I thought that would be the biggest outlay. Little did I know.

The Rehearsal Dinner and Bachelorette Party

As it turns out, there’s a rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, which means I need to fly in two nights earlier. And then there’s the bachelorette party, another roundtrip flight across the country. The bachelorette party is being held in an Airbnb in Cape Cod, one of the most expensive summer regions in the country. We’ll be splitting the cost of the Airbnb, gas, food, and other expenses among the girls invited. It adds up quickly.

The Bridesmaid Dress: A Major Expense

In South Asian weddings, we don’t have bridesmaids, so I didn’t realize the significance of the bridesmaid dress. I thought it was just a matter of showing up and looking nice. But no, the dress is a major expense, and one I have little control over. My friend chose the dress in early February, and since then, I’ve been scouring the internet for deals and tracking cashback offers on Rakuten to maximize my savings.

Maximizing Savings with Rakuten

Rakuten has been a game-changer for me. With their platform, I can see every possible sale and cashback offer on one page, without having to search for promo codes on sketchy websites. They often run promos that double or triple cashback deals, and sometimes these are exclusively for in-store purchases. By having items sent directly to the store, I can receive more cashback than if I had ordered online and had them shipped to my door. I’ve subscribed to Rakuten’s emails to stay on top of cashback specials and plan to use first-time shopper promo codes to save even more money on the dress.

Rakuten: A One-Stop Shop for Savings

Rakuten isn’t just useful for the bridesmaid dress; I can also use it to book flights and hotels through deals on websites like Expedia, saving me even more money. If I happen to have a plus-one for the wedding, I can use Rakuten to get cashback on the best hotel deals possible. Attending a wedding can be expensive, but with Rakuten, I can minimize those costs and save money.

Every Dollar Counts

Even being able to save $15 on a dress or shoes that I didn’t have much choice in purchasing is a huge deal. After all, every dollar counts. By taking the time to find the best cashback deals and having patience to wait for additional specials, I can make attending this wedding a little more affordable.