“Would you please do me the honor of being my bridesmaid?”

An honor, yes. But a great responsibility with a hefty price tag as well. A good friend will more than likely be thrilled at the request to be in your bridal, and be more than happy to help however she can, but do remember that she does still have a life outside wedding planning and a few bills to pay other than the one she’s going to have for a new dress and shoes.

Before you start handing out jobs and poring over designer dresses, think about the ladies in your bridal party and where they are in life. A single friend with a six-figure job isn’t going to find it hard to shell out for the the latest Vera Wang concoction, but she probably won’t have much time to set aside for helping you hand-tie ribbons onto 300 votive holders, either. On the other hand, your stay-at-home-mom and best-friend-who-just-graduated-from-college bridesmaids may love to help you assemble invitations, but not be able to afford more than a JCPenney clearance dress.

As you’re drooling over dresses and planning assembly parties, just remember to keep your ladies in mind. They want to help you have the best wedding you can. By thinking of their time and their finances as you make your decisions, you can help them help you.