by Hope
The bridal shower is complete and here’s what I spent in total:
| Description | Cost |
|---|---|
| Venue | $250 |
| Photographer | $150 |
| Flowers | $196 |
| Food/Drinks | $217 |
| Games/Prizes | $145 |
| Invitations | $33 |
| Travel | $88 |
| Total | $1,079 |
And here’s what I learned:
- Lots of people, evidently, have no notion of RSVP. And even more, have no clue that when they say they are planning to attend, people count on that and spend money as a result.
- People pay no attention to the invitation you send out ie you will get texts just as your event starting with people asking for the address. And you will get calls 1/2 through the event with people asking why you are not at X$%? location…1/2 an hour away from the location listed on the invite.
- When you are doing some like this long distance, it’s going to cost more because you will have to buy things you would typically be able to grab from your house unless you plan in advance and can tote those things with you across the country.
And so much more.
You can probably infer some of the challenges based on those 3 bullet points alone. We sent out 30 invitations. Only 3 RSVP’d.
When we texted the bridesmaids…several said, what does RSVP mean? Thankfully, all the bridesmaids did show and stay for the entire event.
Multiple people communicated to Beauty that they would be coming…none of them did. We planned for about 20. We had 10. (2 that hadn’t RSVP’d and 1 that hadn’t been invited.) It was a blast.
But we had too much…too much food, too much alcohol, too many prizes for games. I’m glad we did it. I’m glad I went and conquered my nerves. But phew, I’m so glad it’s behind us!
Now the countdown to the wedding.
Beauty and the faux bouquets everyone made as one of the games
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
