Brides maids!

MrsParks2011

I'm on an extremely tight budget, but there are several girls I really want to be in my wedding and they would probably be hurt if they weren't. My question is, would it be considered tacky, rude, or bad etiquette to ask the bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses?

tldh

I've never been in a wedding where the bride purchased my dress and I doubt many others have either.  This is why so many brides are advised to let the BMs have a say in the dress and to be sure to get a price point they are comfortable paying.

aerinpegadrak

In America, it's generally expected a bridesmaid will pay for her own dress.  If you're requiring any sort of pro hair/makeup or specific accessories, it's on you to pay, but if you keep the requirements for those flexible enough that the girls can find options in their own price points (say "any gold sandal" vs. "this particular gold sandal"), you're not obligated.

As Tricia said, what you ARE obligated to do is find out their budgets in advance and honor that number.  If everyone's on a tight budget, it's often easier to give them some loose guidelines (for instance, I just told my girls to wear any black dress; other brides sometimes specify length, fabric, and/or designer) and let them each decide on their own how much they're comfortable spending.

saisongbird

Nope.  Just make sure that they're comfortable with the price before you select a dress, and try to pick a dress that makes them feel comfortable.  Ditto Aerin on the shoes thing.

amber2123

Oh good.  I was worried this was going to be another person with the thought pattern of "They're called bridesmaids for a reason, bride's maids."  But I agree, just discuss with your bridal party what they can afford and move form there.

Beachy730

Ditto PPs.  I have never been in a wedding where my dress was bought for me.  And the only time I've heard of that happening was a friend bought her BM's dresses in lieu of a BM gift. 

marissa_claire

Everyone else already said it.  Bridesmaids are generally expected to pay their own expenses.  If you can find it in your budget to pay for the dress, it's just a big help to your BMs - I'm doing it myself.  If not, I would just be very mindful to the cost of the dress.  Odds are they will only wear it once, so they really shouldn't be breaking the bank. 

LiaAli

Yea I agree with everyone else ...I've never been in a wedding where the dress was bought for me. But definitely figure out what works for their budget and let them have a say in deciding the dress. I want my girls to feel pretty that day too! And I totally dont care about the shoes or how they wear their hair, etc. I know all these girls very well and know they wouldnt do anything ridiculous

Soon2BMrsClay

I agree as well with the PP's.  I'm paying my for my own BM dress in my friend's wedding and they are all paying for their own dresses in mine.  I'm more or less letting them choose their own dresses and that way they can pick their own budgets.

mrsjustinm2b

I am paying for my girls dresses as I know darned well that some of them would not be able to afford it, but I will not be getting them any other gifts with the exception being maybe a nice handwritten card on the day of or the rehearsal. 

The nice part of this is that  I'm not scrambling for funds to pay for gifts or ideas for gifts near the end of the wedding planning, which was a great big sigh of relief to know I can kill two birds with one stone...