Wedding trends in recent years have taken a turn towards smaller, cheaper ceremonies with less frills and planning. However, at the end of the day, it all comes down to the wishes of the bride. It's their day, after all! That means a bridal shower and bachelorette party may both be on the table. The bride who's asked you to be their maid of honor might be the "bigger is better" type who wants all the works for their pre-wedding parties. As the host for these extravagant events, you should be prepared to pay at least part of the bill.

Honoree attendees should have a checklist prepared for what they'll need to purchase for a bridal shower and bachelorette party. Items include a shower gift, decorations for the shower and party, and travel expenses. You're looking at about $800 in contributions, and that's not including the actual wedding ceremony expenses.

Bridal showers are usually a smaller affair, but according to The Knot, the cost of bachelorette parties tend to climb a little steeper. Their 2021 study showed that bachelorette partygoers are prepared to spend up to $1,000 to party with their besties. With COVID restrictions loosened, many bridal parties are willing to fly to their faraway destination, adding to travel costs as well. As the maid of honor, you're in charge of making sure things go off without a hitch, so you'll most likely have to spot any bridesmaids who don't have the immediate funds.