Out of town bridesmaids?

Night before I did because I wanted us to stay together. Night of I did not because they knew when they agreed to be a bridesmaid that they would need to travel and book accommodations.

We aren't. It's just not in our budget.. They have family in town though, so they really aren't out any additional cost.

My situation is reversed all of my BMS with the exception of my cousin live withing 30 min of the wedding. I live 4.5 hours away and my cousin is in FL, however FH was in a DW last year and we payed for our hotel. We did use the blocked rooms so it was discounted.

The only people who's hotel rooms we are paying for is our parents. We have a bridal party that's about 50/50 local vs OOT, but no one has complained about having to pay for their own accommodations. We've both been in weddings where we had to get hotel rooms & never had a problem paying for it either. While I think it would be a very generous gesture, I don't think it's necessary.

I have a room reserved for them the night before. I wanted us to stay together and to make getting ready in the morning easier. I'm not paying for night of though. They all have family in the area they can stay with or can get their own room for that night.

My girls stayed with me the night before our wedding. Then the night of the wedding or any other nights they were in town they paid for themselves. For one it was a vacation for her family, the other two bunked in one room at the hotel. It wasn't in our budget to pay for out of town guests. All my DH's GM were from out of town as well - so 3 BM & 5 GM hotel costs were not feasible for us.

I'm debating this as well...problem is I have 6 BMs, only two of which are somewhat local (within a half hour). We aren't sure which ones will be bringing a plus one yet because they have lots of time to decide, but that could complicate things. 3 of them are in serious relationships and will probably want to get their own room anyway, and 2 of the ones that aren't will need a room, so I might just put them in touch with each other so they can split a room with two beds and make it easier on them if they want? I'm not sure. All the GMs are local so no issues there.

My bridesmaids are my family members so my parents are renting a house for all of them. I'm not sure what area you live in, but check out airbnb.com. You can find reviews for houses to rent and it's a ton cheaper than getting each a hotel room. They'll have a lot more space and conveniences.

I didn't, and 0 bridesmaids live locally. When I asked them to be BM, I also told them that it's alot to travel, purchase dress, etc. so if they decline, I completely understand. They all accepted. So, this is where gifts come in

None of mine were local, all had to fly in, 2 internationally, but no, we didn't pay for their hotels. We did pay for my MOH's dress and hair and makeup for all (in addition to gifts).

Yes we paid for them. Try renting a house, it may be cheaper

My one MOH lives in AZ. I told her to let me know if she needs help with flights but I am paying for us to stay in hotel night before. Ang other days she will be paying.My other BM's are near by. They are all paying for their dresses and shoes. I'm not requiring any special hairdo.

Nope, and 2.5 hours is a commute to a lot of people, so I would DEFINITELY NOT feel obligated to do this. Every one of my bridesmaids was from out of town. I let them know if they needed help $$$ to let me know, but no one did. Very, very expected when traveling to a wedding as the wedding party or a guest!

We are paying for the hotel rooms for all bms and gms the night before. 2/5 bms have to fly and one has to drive 4+ hours. 2/5 GM have to fly. Everyone else lives on the same state as us, but the wedding is an hour away. We are afraid since its a 12:30 ceremony, that even the local people could get stuck in traffic driving from Brooklyn and LI to Princeton the morning of the wedding, so we decided to require them to stay overnight the night before. Requirement = we pay for it. The bms will also have to wake up super early so it just makes things easy on everyone. I've been in weddings where I've had to drive 4 hours and not had my hotel room covered though since the bride didn't require me to stay overnight. Eta: we have told them we will be doing an after party and a brunch the next day and that its great if they can make it. We are only covering the first night though.

Luckily my in-laws offered up their house for the night before the wedding. A couple girls stayed with me in my hotel room as well.

I rented an entire house the night before the wedding for my BP and their SOs. It was awesome. They did not have to stay with me, but it was an option I offered and they accepted. It wasn't necessary on my part, but we did cover the expense.

Thank you for all the responses. I love hearing what different people did.

@Elizabeth, I'm glad you said that because my next question was going to be about BP members who have significant others.

@M, I know 2.5 hours is a commute in a regular location/time of year. But because of my venue and time of year (December wedding in the mountains), the commute will be much trickier.

Nope! Every single one of my guests had to fly in or drive 3+ hours, they paid for their own accommodations. I only covered the wedding day!

Nope.

But my 2 are family members, and so they stayed with my parents and aunt.

Mine are staying at the wedding venue (8 bedroom mansion), which we are paying for, so we are paying for their accommodations. But it works out because half of the venue cost is bc you have to stay there minimum 3 nights, the reception basically just doubles the price called a "wedding fee" (stupid IMO bc you don't get anything extra, you still have to rent everything and do everything yourself but its their justification for allowing you have 200 ppl on their property without shutting you down when the neighbors complain). All the BMs are single and as of right now are coming to the wedding alone. As far as the GM they are all either married, engaged or in a long-term serious rship w/ live-in gf so staying in a group (sharing rooms, etc) isn't vary accommodating for them. So we will give them to option to stay (the place sleeps 30 with more than 16 beds) but we assume they won't want to due to having their SO with them.