While she may have abandoned a few dresses, that doesn’t mean she didn’t pay for them. Attending a wedding is already an expense, but the cost of being a bridesmaid so many times adds up. Flights, hotels, wedding gifts, bachelorette party trips, hair and makeup, and more can easily total more than $2000 just for one wedding. Now, multiply that by 40. “I am a broke ass bitch,” sighs Engel. “Yeah, I might be a boss with a company in two different continents. But let me tell you what weddings did to my savings. I should own an apartment in New York by this point.”
Despite the cost, there has only been one time Engel has ever said “no” to attending a wedding as a bridesmaid. “I missed her wedding for an opportunity to do this project with Naomi Campbell,” she remembers. “It was right when I was going freelance before I started my company, and I couldn’t really say no to her.” Regardless, she was still technically dubbed a bridesmaid, went on the bachelorette in St. Barths, and even sent the bridal party IV drips and pizza after the wedding. Even though it was a major career event that prevented her attendance, Engel still feels guilty about it. She says she would never reject a bridesmaid invite. “That’s so rude,” she declares.
With her wealth of experience as a bridesmaid—and, on multiple occasions, while healing a broken foot—Engel has plenty of advice for those called upon to be part of a party. “The bathroom better be stacked with deodorant, hair spray, and all that,” she says. “And I always carry all of my makeup and a hairbrush with me so I can do touch-ups throughout the entire day and night.” Another tip to maintain your stamina is to perfect the Irish exit. “Why am I going to tell the bride I’m leaving? She doesn’t need to know that I’m leaving at 12 or one or two,” she says. “We need to let the room dissipate.” And if there is no day-after brunch? “I’m the person that flies out at 7 a.m. like a psychopath.” While the PR founder has enjoyed the two times she has served as a maid of honor—“I like planning”—she says there is nothing better than being a bridesmaid who is told what to do and when to do it. “I’m a good wedding invite,” she adds. “I can rally up the troops and get a good vibe going.”