Bride Pays For Bridesmaids' Dresses?

staceycaine

I guess someone told my mom this the other day, when my mom said our wedding party will likely be 5 or 6 people deep. She said "Stacey can afford that?!"

I have never known a bride to pay for the bridesmaids' dresses. Is this true, because if so, I want my money back from the dress I bought a few years ago that is in my cedar chest.

jagore08

<div>[QUOTE]I guess someone told my mom this the other day, when my mom said our wedding party will likely be 5 or 6 people deep. She said "Stacey can afford that?!" I have never known a bride to pay for the bridesmaids' dresses. Is this true, because if so, I want my money back from the dress I bought a few years ago that is in my cedar chest.
Posted by staceycaine[/QUOTE]</div><div>
</div>No, the bride is not required to pay for the BM dresses.  However, you should ask all of your BM, individually, what their budgets are and work with the lowest budget you're told.<div>
</div><div>The things the bride pays for are anything besides the dress she requires them to wear; ie. specific shoes, professional hair and makeup, manicure, or jewelry.  And none of this is considered to be a part of their thank you gift.</div>

Doreen&Mike

I agree with the person above me- you don't buy their dresses, it's not required. infact, the recent wedding I went to I was required to wear the same shoes and have an up-do and the bride didn't pay for either which I expected. but def consider their budget- I just asked each personally and then went with the lowest.

utegoggles

No, you don't buy their own. You need to ask them their budget, as mentioned. If then it's still an issue, then give them a style/color and have them each get a dress along those guidelines that is in their budget.

staceycaine

Whoa, I pay for their hair and shoes? This definitely didn't happen in the last wedding I was in. I'm now thinking flip-flops and just having them wear their hair down (I didn't care one way or the other). If they WANT to get their hair done, am I still on the hook?

jagore08

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_bride-pays-bridesmaids-dresses?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:f9003319-2fb7-4708-9d68-77a575b3a408Post:848e63d5-4aa0-43e5-9ef1-13a565a4eed4">Re: Bride Pays For Bridesmaids' Dresses?</a>:
[QUOTE]Whoa, I pay for their hair and shoes? This definitely didn't happen in the last wedding I was in. I'm now thinking flip-flops and just having them wear their hair down (I didn't care one way or the other). If they WANT to get their hair done, am I still on the hook?
Posted by staceycaine[/QUOTE]
You only have to pay if you're requiring them to have these things.  Just give them a color for the shoes and they can either wear a pair they already own (if it's the same color) or they can find a pair within their individual price range.  If you're requiring professional hair or have a specific way you want them to wear it then you should pay.  If not then they're on their own.  You can most certainly give them info for your hairstylist and let them know how much it would be if they wanted to go that route.

Doreen&Mike

My shoes and hair weren't paid for when I was a bridesmaid. In fact the bride waited 2 weeks before the wedding and then told me I needed to get my hair done. I likve multipe states away and most of the hair dressers I knew in her area were booked- it was very irritating. But i expected to pay for my shoes-goes with the dress. I didn't expect to pay for my hair because I didn't know until she surprised me. haha

Maggie0829

You do not have to pay for the dress.  Ask for their budgets and stay within the lowest budget.

I never expect the bride to pay for my shoes even if they require a specific kind...I just group this in with the dress portion.

I was in a wedding where the bride required all the BMs to wear their hair up but she didn't pay for it...I actually would have been shocked to the point of passing out if she had said that she would pay for everyone.

If you require your girls to have hair and makeup done professionaly then yes you should pay for it, if you don't require it then it is there choice as to what they want to do and will then be there responsibility to pay for it.

As far as the shoes...go with a basic color like black or silver, most women have an evening shoe in that color.

LittleMissCutiePie

It's not required. I am, but only because my parents are paying for our wedding and they don't want to make my bridesmaids (all students) pay for their dresses. For a trade-off, they're responsible for paying for their shoes, and any accesories they'd like.