Are you paying for your bridesmaids dresses?

[MelB2012]

I only have 2 (MOH, BM) coming to my wedding. I am buying both their dresses which is $200.

 

They are buying their shoes, and paying for hair & makeup (which I've already booked Rashel Edwards in Jamaica.)

 

And I'm buying them earrings. They just don't know it yet. So it looks like about $500-600 total... not including the goodies in their OOT bags.

 

Adds up....

[Mufin1785]

Originally Posted by Mufin1785 

 

Yes we are,  we have 4 BMs we are buying for the Target.com bridesmaids collection they are only $69.00 plus we are buying there shoes for shoe dazzle.com buy one get one free so shoe came to $19.97 a piece!   I am also going to get them jewelry but I have not decided on that yet.  I am asking that my BMs pay for their hair & make-up which is going to cost $115

My bridesmaids in Their dresses we got from target.com and their shoes from shoe dazzle.  They all looked great reason to spend all that money on bridesmaid attire

[clee0605]

this thread is making me feel bad.. i paid for my 6 bridesmaid's dresses which were over 300!  on top of that, got them a gift, plus paying for their makeup on the wedding day.. I figured they were spending so much to come, I should make it as easy as possible for them.  I'm going to be broke after this wedding! 

[Lydia1120]

I am paying for my 3 BM and MOA dresses, flip flops, barefoot sandals and jewellery as their gifts. However, they will have to pay for getting their hair done, should they chose to do so.

[tristanc]

This is a great thread! I am in the beginning stages of planning and hadn't thought about this too much. Now that the brain is turning - I think I will end up paying for their dresses. They are going to be traveling and such - the least I can do. I will only have 3 to pay for (1 MOH and 2 BMs). Plus, my MOH (my sister) is bringing my nephew. I'll have to buy a little man suit too

 

What about the guys - are you also buying their outfits? Or paying the rentals? I was thinking maybe I'll buy the ties...not sure. Lots to think about...

[cherany]

I paid for 1 bridesmaid's dress b/c she's struggling to come up with money for her plane ticket, but I did not broadcast that to the others. The dress was really inexpensive (under $30), so I don't think anyone would be upset that I gave her such a small amount of money, but some bridesmaids spent over $100 on their dresses (everyone has a different dress), so I think it's best not to discuss it.

 

Everyone else was able to afford a dress, so I saw no reason to assist. We are paying for their lodging, as well as the usual hair & make-up, bridesmaids gifts, etc.  I know we're being quite generous already. 

 

Really, I think it's a personal decision to pay or not pay for the bridesmaids, but when asked to be in a wedding, women should expect they will have to buy a dress. I've always paid for mine in others' weddings. 

[RNtoBe]

Originally Posted by cherany 

 

I paid for 1 bridesmaid's dress b/c she's struggling to come up with money for her plane ticket, but I did not broadcast that to the others. The dress was really inexpensive (under $30), so I don't think anyone would be upset that I gave her such a small amount of money, but some bridesmaids spent over $100 on their dresses (everyone has a different dress), so I think it's best not to discuss it.

 

Everyone else was able to afford a dress, so I saw no reason to assist. We are paying for their lodging, as well as the usual hair & make-up, bridesmaids gifts, etc.  I know we're being quite generous already. 

 

Really, I think it's a personal decision to pay or not pay for the bridesmaids, but when asked to be in a wedding, women should expect they will have to buy a dress. I've always paid for mine in others' weddings. 

I agree! When asked to be in a wedding party, it's expected that they are to buy their own attire. Some people seem to be confused by this, including a few of my bridemaids. 

[TinkerSofi]

Good to know. I'm only having one bridesmaid and my fiance is having his two sisters. I'm only planning on giving them a color but letting them chose their own dress, so I think it's fair for them to pay their dress because they have the chance to choose something they can afford. I'll probably pay for their hair though, just as a thank you. 

 

I've only been bridesmaid once, but I paid for my dress. I never expected the bride to do so. The good thing was that the bride picked a dress at a really good price. I was still a student back then so I really appreciated it. 

[MsFaszion]

This is interesting because my last wedding they paid for their own dresses, I guess it's only fair due to the expenses of traveling.

[Jenny2014]

I had to pay for two dresses myself as a bridesmaid. The last one was easy, as the bride simply sent us all a picture and what store to find it at. The dresses were on sale, and being discontinued, so they were $25 with tax I believe.

 

My first dress though, that was waaaayyyyy more (close to $350 for a dress I HATED, in a colour I despise and will absolutely never ever wear again). As MOH (to my current FI's brother's fiancee, during that time he was boyfriend), I went with the bride to look at some dresses and get an idea- I was a student and had NO money at that time, as I wasn't prepared to buy anything that day. She decided that day we had to order them, which put me in a really tight spot. As I was panicking internally over the cost of the dress, how I was going to be able to afford it, FI's parents told me they would pay for it (amazing, incredible, blessed people that they are). They didn't end up doing it, in the end, as I called FI and he said we would make due with the small amount left in our account after paying for the dress.

 

But the bride didn't care at all- all her other bridesmaids were her younger cousins, so their mothers were paying for it, and she didn't care one small ounce what her spur of the moment decision did to me (or care afterwards either).

 

(They are divorced now, BTW, and she is an evil, crazy, psycho woman I am SOOO glad is out of our family).

 

I will be asking my bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses, but they have a year and a half to find a dress that fits in with my colours, at any price they want to spend (I am asking them to be realistic and ensure they will wear the dress again and to keep it affordable to their own personal budget). If they cannot find anything within the colours of the wedding, I am more than willing to adjust to something they currently own/ want to wear. So far they are fine with it and understand that they are paying for the dresses themselves.

 

I will pay for them to get their hair done at the very least, make up maybe after I get quotes from the resort's spa.