Should I pay for my Bridal Party Lodging?

You need to discuss their budget with them. $250 for a dress is already a good chunk of change. Also, airbnb isn't super reliable. There should be local hotels that charge way less. My guests only paid $82 a night for a 4 star hotel during Memorial Day weekend.

I haven't had an issue with airBnB either, in fact a group of friends (including my .MOH) has found one close to the venue and reserved it on their own. I would say if you could afford it, it might be nice to offer. It is not mandatory to pay for their hotel though.

I say it's not super reliable because the AirBnB host can cancel the reservation without reason then your bridesmaids (and you) will be left scrambling. I'd just want to book something with more security for something as important as a wedding.

That's a lot to ask of your ladies so without getting too into their finances I'd recommend discussing this with them. While I 100% support them buying their own dresses adding another $250 on top of that can be very hard on them. If anything costs can be split between you and them so it helps everyone.

Wouldn't they be expecting to pay for lodging regardless since they live out of town? While nice, I feel like you're doing a lot already by paying for hair and makeup.

@Private- it's normal to pay for hair and makeup if you are requiring it.

You don't need to pay for their lodging, but I would look into cheaper options. $250 per person per night is insane.

They knew it was a DW when you asked them to be in your BP. I am sure they planned to sleep somewhere. Talk to them, girl! FH and I are flying to the Dominican for a week for my bff's wedding. She paid for my BM dress, but the vacay is on us.

Do none of them have an SO they would probably like to stay with?

I'm sorry but there is no chance I would want to spend all day for the wedding with the wedding party and then feel obligated to spend 3 nights with them (because if you don't do all 3 nights the extra cost is pushed off in them raising it from 250)

I wouldn't pay for it. It's reasonable to assume the expect to cover their own lodging. But by all means, if someone is struggling, you can offer to help them out.

Maybe find a cheaper airbnb!

Not required but it would be a nice gesture since they paid a pretty penny for those dresses

Hey OP - Do you mind sharing your venue? I'm just curious. We booked last week at the City Park Botanical Gardens.

If you want everyone to stay together and are willing to pay, renting a house on airbnb or similar is a good option. Otherwise let them make their own reservations.

I have 5 bridesmaids. So we definitely need enough room to be able to sleep comfortably and have more than 1 bathroom. The Airbnb I found would be $250 for three nights total (not per night). When looking into a hotel it was wayyy more (also take into account that my wedding is the Sunday right before thanksgiving). I don't think $250 for three nights is a bad commitment. But I do know that I will speak with them individually and see how it can work out. I don't mind splitting the cost with those who aren't financially able.

If I look into a cheaper Airbnb some girls would have to stay on sofa beds/ blow up mattress. It would be a cheaper cost but is that fair ?

Our venue was a hotel, which was in a city about 45 minutes away from our hometown/most of our guests. The hotel offered a heavily discounted rate, for the rooms in our room block. We paid for our entire bridal party, to stay over the night of the wedding.

I don't think people responding are understanding that it's $250 TOTAL for 3 nights, not per night. This is $83 per night which is a very good price.

Bridal party is generally expected to cover their own lodging if they are out of town (as is any guest) however, you can't *make* them pay for something you have selected. Their money, their choice. They may want to stay somewhere else with the SOs or just to have peace and quiet rather than staying with everyone else. The problem is, with fewer people in the house, each person will have to pay more. So this pricing only applies if everyone agrees to stay there.

You will have to speak to each girl individually and get their thoughts.

It's definitely not a must, but it is definitely nice. Especially when they have a large price tag for dresses and other expenses.

Our wedding is 3.5 hours from all of our guests, so my fiance and rented a cabin on HomeAway for the entire wedding party and their SO's to stay at. We have it Friday-Monday (Wedding is Sunday) and they can choose whether or not to stay there or get their own place. So far everyone is super excited to stay! It was only $400 total, can't beat it.

It's your wedding, if you want all the girls to stay together, go ahead and pay the $250, maybe forgo the bridesmaids gifts. I think it would be rude to ask them to pay for ONE MORE THING.

I had three bridesmaids that practically lived at my house the week before the wedding, but the actual wedding night, they had to get their own hotel rooms, so make sure that they know what nights you're providing lodging.

My bridesmaids are staying in a beach house with us and all the groomsmen (all SO included). They are all paying their own share. We are all staying for a week. We are also sharing the cost of food. It was their own personal decision if they wanted to stay for the week or not. I have two bridesmaids that rented a hotel because they can only stay 2 days. All the groomsmen are flying in from Arkansas and all my bridesmaids love 2-3 hours from our venue in the Outerbanks of NV