Being asked to be a bridesmaid is truly an honor. However, it can also be very, very expensive. According to CNN, it will typically cost a bridesmaid about $1,695 to be in a wedding. That number includes but is not limited to the cost of traveling, outfits and wedding and shower gifts. Being a bridesmaid could even force you into temporary debt if, say, the bride and groom decide upon a destination wedding on some far-flung island. So how do you handle paying for this honor when you may already be living on a limited budget? And what do you do if you truly don't have the cash?  Are there even loans available for this type of expense? Or will you have to decline the honor of being a bridesmaid and possibly lose a dear friend? This article will help you answer these questions. 

Quick Cash Option

Even if your credit cards are maxed out and your bank account has flat-lined, you can still find ways to pay for your bridesmaid commitment, including those that require immediate payment. For example, what can you do if the wedding is being held on a lovely tropical island, and the bride asks you to pay for your airline tickets early so that you can all be on the same flight, but you just don't have extra cash? Or what if you need to purchase an expensive bridesmaid dress before they sell out in your particular size? One option you may want to consider is a quick loan or a cash now service. These services are typically:

• Available to you even if you have poor credit. Unlike a standard loan from a bank, the quick cash services don't require you to have a perfect credit history. 
• Available online. With a quick cash service, you won't need to take time off of work to go to a bank to apply for a loan. 
• Offered to a network of lenders who then compete for your loan. Hate running from bank to bank to see if they will approve a loan for you? You won't have to with a quick cash service, which shops lenders for you. 
• Payable in more than one installment, if necessary. This is especially important if you don't believe that you will have the funds available in the near future to pay the loan off in one payment. 

These loans may, in fact, be the only answer if you need the cash immediately, as most standard loans take much longer to go through the approval process. And because the money you borrow is typically wired directly into your account, you don't even have to worry about carrying around large amounts of cash. 

Cutting Down on Costs

In addition to taking out a cash loan, you may want to take the following steps, which could help you save at least a few dollars:

• Ask another bridesmaid or two if they might want to split a hotel room, especially if you will be participating in a destination wedding. Hotel accommodations at a pricey resort could add up quickly if you don't share the cost. 
• Opt out of having your hair done by a stylist and your nails done by a manicurist for the wedding. If you're fortunate, the bride or her family may pay for these for the attendants.
• Consider driving with other bridesmaids or attendants to the wedding and splitting the fuel costs. If, for example, you and the attendants live in one area -- for example, where the bride went to college -- but the wedding is in her hometown, you could save money by carpooling instead of flying to the wedding. 

Yes, being a bridesmaid can be very expensive. But if it's for a dear friend, all of the money you will spend will be worth it in the long run, even if you have to take a temporary cash loan out to pay for your expenses.