Bridesmaids

In any wedding I have been in or know of someone else being in, the girls have paid for their dresses, shoes, and accessories. For my wedding, the girls are paying for their dresses (which I let them pick out) and shoes. I am paying for their hair and jewlery for their gifts. Just in my experience, this is the most common thing.... but, also in my experience, my friends and family do not have unlimited budgets. I would love to be able to pay for my girls dresses and shoes. If I had the means to do so, I would. Most people understand that when you ask them to be in your wedding, it is a little bit of a pricy thing. If you have the means and want to pay for part of their dress, do it. I am sure they would appreciate it!

i bought all of my own each time i was a bridesmaid, though sometimes the bride kicked in for hair or jewelry, etc. It would be nice if you wanted to pay a portion of their dresses, but i assume they expect to pay for their own.

always a bridesmaid, never a bride

My wedding is this fall and I am paying for the girls dresses, hair and makeup. We are making jewelry and they are responsible for their own silver shoes (any style.) The dresses are $129. I have been in about 6 weddings and no one has every paid for my dress (I've paid anywhere from $175-$350 for a bmaid dress).. I just thought it'd be nice to do this for my girls, I don't think it's normal wedding protocal though.. If you want to, go ahead! If they are able to pitch it, great!

I've been a bridesmaid 4 times and bought my everything each time. Dress, shoes, hair etc. I guess it depends on your budget. Just keep in mind that if you are having them pay for them, that you need to be aware of everyone's budget and be ok if they have to back out because they can't afford it.

I disagree... I know " traditionally" it was a bridesmaids obligation to buy their own dresses, but with economic times being kind of tough, I think it is unfair to ask your girls to spend hundreds on a dress they will likely not wear again!

I am getting married in June and I think if the bride is selecting the dress and the ladies do not get a choice, the bride should pay. If you as the bride are giving your girls the option to select their own, well then they can pay.

I paid for the dresses as my request for them to look a certain way. They will pay for their own shoes, hair and makeup for the day.

Just my opinion and it worked for me!

My bridesmaids paid for their dresses, but had 100% say in which one they got. I will be paying for their hair and jewelry as a gift. The only wedding I've been in, I had to pay for everything so just pitching in a little for something is a nice gesture. Definitely not expected though.

i have paid for all 3 of mine, wouldnt change it. its an honor to be asked, in my opinion

I think it sort of depends on their financial situation. Some of my bridesmaids came from out of state to be in my wedding and paid for a hotel room, so I had them all just wear their favorite little black dress. I got them all matching earrings and pins as gifts. They really loved having the pressure off when it came to money and they all looked absolutely gorgeous. Their dresses all weirdly went together, it was kismet. But I had a very low-key wedding obviously.

I think as long as you're not asking them for something that's beyond their means, it would be fine.

I have always had my dress and shoes etc brought for me as a bridesmaid, I have never known a bridesmaid have to pay for their own dress but think ours were about £50-£60 each last time so not too bad.

You are very generous if you are offering to pay for part of their dresses. If its in your budget do it, if not thats okay too. I sat down with my bridesmaids and had them tell me a number they were comfortable spending on a dress. Then i actually had three of my bridesmaids pick out the dress. I took myself out of it for the most part.

Shoes and accessories is on them, i dont have matching jewlery or anything of that matter that i want them to wear, to each their own, i dont want clones up there with me i want the individuals i love up there with me

I will get them a bracelet as part of their gift, but in no way are they forced to wear it, if they want to they can.

All i told my girls is, if you bend over i dont want to see your britney. Lol

As a Wedding Planner speaking here, they should pay for their dress. There are many reasons for this. YOu as the bride ask friends to see you of to your new life. Their commitment to YOU is buying the dress. It is like signing a contract that says.

"I will Gladly and to the best of my ability help you in anyway necessary. I promise to complain about how the dress makes me look. As I will not look as good as you will, because you, the Bride are the center of the day. I promise to pay for this dress and all of its accessories and be responsible for myself, because if I don't I will not be in your wedding. And knowing that you asked me to make this financial commitment, I will not cancel on you last minute, forget to throw you a bachelorette party, or a shower, make sure you have boze, cigs, and drugs the day of, or anything else that you, The Bride ask of me for your wedding."

Congratulations!

When I got married my bridesmaids paid for their own dresses and shoes.

I'm in a wedding in April and we paid for our shoes, dress, and will for hair/makeup etc Dress and shoes ended up like $300ish maybe?? the shoes are gorgeous and we weren't expected to buy the $70 pair but we all fell in love with them and she asked for our input on the dress and cost and we were all fine with what she chose (she would have chose less if we were not ok with cost). The others makeup and hair will cost them a lot (their choice) but I am getting a friend to do mine for free. Normally the bridesmaids also pay for the Bridal shower but luckily the mother in laws did. It is customary to also pay for the bride's share of the Bachelorette party (also up to the bridesmaids). And on the wedding day the Bride usually gives a gift to the bridesmaids for all of their help and support. Granted there are so many customs in different areas, religions, age groups, incomes etc, but this is from my experience and other friends experiences :-) Basically my experience is that the bridesmaids pay for a lot of things but the bride seems to consider their wallet size before choosing various aspects. Hope that helps!

I only had one bridesmaid--my sister. And I told her she could wear whatever fabulous dress she wanted. So she bought it, but it really was a dress she'd wear again.

A friend of mine was just a bridesmaid and the bride told her and the others that they could wear any black cocktail dress. The pictures look great--not stuffy but still coordinated.