New Year, New Beginnings

Happy New Year, y'all! I've been meaning to write for quite some time, but every time I get around to it, something distracts me. It's not that hard. I have so many things to do this year, so many things I plan on accomplishing, it's almost overwhelming. Almost.
First of all, I have a new job! Yes, me, a new job! I thought I couldn't get a job working the Fry-o-lator at McDonald's, and I got a phone call offering me a job. What will I be doing? Well, I won't be waiting tables or slinging chicken salad and pimiento-cheeseburgers. I won't be retrieving 2 and 4 ounce sides of ranch dressing for ungrateful jerks. I won't be cleaning and scouring tables after cheap tippers slobber all over them. What? What's that? Get on with it and tell you what my new job is? Oh...damn. OK, I'll be working as a leasing agent for a local apartment complex. No, this is not a permanent career change. Well, it is, sort of, in the sense that I'm changing from what I was doing. I don't plan on doing this longer than a year. But I do know that I won't be leaving Augusta for another 6 months, and if I had to continue to wait tables for much longer, I'd be one mean bitch. It was one thing when I was serving and going to school, because I had something else to focus on, but now that this is all I'm doing, it's driving me up a wall, and I hate it. I love working with people, don't get me wrong. But I can't stand being someone's servant, because, as sad as this may sound, many, many people still see waitresses (especially at a place like where I work) as slightly substandard.
What exactly will I be doing? As a leasing agent, I'll kind of be like a real estate agent for this particular apartment complex. I'll be developing a new skill set, with business and marketing, which is great. I'll have evenings off, and a real work schedule. I may work a weekend or two, but if that means I get nights off, that is fine with me.
Next item on the docket is my best friend's wedding. It's not just the wedding that's the issue; it's the weight I have to lose for it. I currently have to lose three dress sizes to fit into the dress she's already bought for me. And this time I really WANT to lose this weight. I need to. I have to. I'm already doing a hell of alot better in the diet department, although I refuse to call it a "diet." Being away from the Deli will help too. I know at one point I'm actually going to have to weigh myself and take my measurements, but I really, really don't want to. It's like I'll have to realize just exactly how fat I am, and I'll have all those numbers floating around in my head all the time, mocking me. Ugh. Maybe this will show me exactly what I can do.
And then there's the wedding itself. When Cindy asked me to be her Maid of Honor (actually, she didn't really ask me, it was just understood), I thought I just showed up, wore the dress, held her train and her bouquet, and threw the bachelorette party. I didn't know about the bridal shower! I am horrible at delegating. And I'm terrible at asking people to donate money for stuff, let alone people in the same financial situations as myself (or worse!). It's like asking a homeless guy for change, at least that's how I feel. I thought I might have it easy, since the shower was going to be held at Cindy's mom's house, but now that that's been dubbed "inappropriate," I may have to find somewhere to hold it. I'm also having to pay for invitations for 70+ people, and I'm guessing that maybe 30% will actually show. The menu plan isn't so bad; I'm actually quite good at that. But what about everything else?

Can anyone give me tips on how to tactfully ask for money?