Who pays for the bridesmaid dresses?

Question

My mom keeps saying that its our responsibility to pay for their dresses, but everything that i have read says that they are supposed to pay for them? So do i just pay for them unless they offer?

Answer 1

For my wedding, i paid for my bridesmaids dresses.  I felt as if it wasn't their responsibility to be in my wedding they obviously loved me enough to be a part of it.   They were doing me a huge favor so i wanted to make it up to them!

Answer 2

It depends where you are from - the UK, brides pay for the bridesmaids dresses. In the USA, the bridesmaids pay for their own.

My personal opinion? Bride should pay, because it was her that asked them to be bridesmaids, it is her that chooses the colour, style, price of the dress etc. How can you choose a £500 ugly hot pink and lime poofy dress (worst case scenario) and ask someone else to pay for it??? They will probably never wear them again, so I think you should pay!

Answer 3

You're right - the protocol is usually that the bridesmaids pay for their own dresses - they did at my wedding although two of them were students and short of cash so I paid for half.

Everyone I know who have been married had their bridesmaids pay as well! It's part of the honour of being chosen I guess.

Goodluck!

Answer 4

Depends. Sometimes the Bride will make the bridesmaids buy their own dresses and sometimes the bride will buy them herself.

Answer 5

Traditionally, the attendants pay for what they'll be wearing in the wedding. It's perfectly acceptable for the bride/groom to take care of some (or even all) of the cost as a gift to their attendants, but it certainly isn't the bride/groom's responsibility.

ADDED: Your bridesmaids should already know they'll be paying for their dresses and you shouldn't have to ask them. However, if a couple of them are confused on the process, you can explain how things work and even direct them to your question here. Good luck!

Answer 6

i've been married and been in two weddings Its was alway just kind of understood between all of us that we paid for our dresses.  When you get ready to go look at dress you could simple ask the girls if theres a budget they need to stay in when purchasing the dresses.   Best of luck to you and the lucky groom.  Congradulations

Answer 7

I paid for my own. If the family has the money, then they usually offer or insist on paying for the dresses.

Answer 8

if u have the money buy them if you dont hope they do :)

Answer 9

They pay for their dresses. And if someone needs help to pay, you could offer.

Answer 10

The bridesmaids.

Answer 11

typically when you ask them to be a brides maid it is understood that they are to pay for their own dresses.  So keep it economical for them, because they will never wear it again, so there is no need to pay hundreds of dollars for it.  Now if you suspect that one of you brides maid is a bit dense, then you may have to spell it out to her.

But if you are worried about letting them all know, then find a wedding book or a picture of the dress that you want them to wear and such, and tell them that you are trying to keep the dresses as inexpensive as possible for them.

Answer 12

i have always had to pay for every bm dress I've worn. And now that im getting married, my bm's are buying their own. Unless you have a hefty budget that allows you to have a dream wedding and pay for their dresses too, I'd let them pay for their own. :) Its not a big deal. Most bm's assume they are going to purchase their own anyway.

Answer 13

Ok.  From my experience we paid for our own.

Answer 14

I have been in a number of weddings and paid for my own. If you have a hard time convincing her watch the movie 27 dresses with her.

And although I say this, I plan to buy my sister's dress in my future nuptials. I make way more and she has a fixed income with two kids in school.

Answer 15

Different people handle it different ways.  Traditionally, each bridesmaid is responsible for purchasing her own travel to and from the wedding, accommodations, etc., wedding clothing (including shoes), gift, etc.  I work in a bridal salon though, and tell brides to please consider the financial situations of their bridesmaids before choosing a dress for them to wear.  I've seen a bride pick a $300 dress for her bridesmaids, who were all college students, and then wonder why they were having a hard time with it.  I think if you're choosing a dress that you know they're going to have a hard time with, OR you're choosing something that's not very practical for them to be able to wear again, then it's a very nice gesture to offer to pay for their dresses, but you don't have to.  Part of agreeing to serve as a bridesmaid is knowing you're probably going to have to spend money on a dress that you probably wouldn't pick out on your own.  You can also soften that blow by choosing a color, fabric and length of dress from a designer's line, and then giving your maids the option to choose whatever dress fits your requirements.  

So, you're right, they pay for their own dresses, but if you want to be nice--offer to pay for them yourself.  Or have your mom do it, since she's the one worried about it!  ;-)

Good luck!

Answer 16

I have always paid for my own dress...whether I wanted to or not, even if the price was crazy high for the stupid dress and i couldn't afford it. i've never heard of a bride paying for them...

Answer 17

If you have it in your budget to do so, paying for the BM dresses is a very nice and generous gesture... however it's certainly not necessary and in most cases, the BMs pay for their own dresses and/or accessories. It's completely up to you how you want to handle it, but most people I know that have stood up in weddings (myself included) have had to buy their own stuff.

Answer 18

I have recently been in 2 weddings and it was done differently in both weddings. The first bride choose a more expensive dress so she ended up paying half. And in the other wedding I paid for my own dress. (it was $140.00)

Answer 19

Typically, bridesmaids are suppose to pay for their dresses, accessories, hair and make-up. Also, they are suppose to help pitch in with the bridal shower and are expected to help with a bridal shower gift, as well, as a wedding gift. So, to answer your question yes! they are suppose to pay for their own, and it can be rather expensive...what I did was pick a color and dress that was rather inexpensive ($125) but it is something they could each wear again.

It's your wedding and if you are fortunate enough to be able to pay for their dresses then maybe you could consider it but it is NOT your responsibility!

Have fun planning and congrats on the wedding :)

Answer 20

Depends on where you live. Here in the UK the bride always pays as most people feel it's rude to ask someone to be part of your day then have to pay for the privilege. From what I've read on Y!answers US it seems the custom out there is for the bridesmaids to pay for themselves. As for how to ask them if you go down that route, they are your friends, I'm sure they'll understand. If you have a bit of spare cash, maybe make a contribution towards them, and just try not to choose an expensive dress. Perhaps just give them a colour/style and let them choose their own.

Good luck.

Answer 21

the bridesmaid pays for their dresses

Answer 22

The Bridesmaids Pay for the dresses!

Answer 23

I'm paying for my all bridesmaids dresses because I know two of my bridesmaids can't afford them and I don't want them to break the bank just to be in my wedding.

Answer 24

It is customary that the BMs pay but if you choose something that is way out of their budgets don't be too surprised if they can't afford it and you end up haveing to pay for them.

Answer 25

Different brides do it differently.  You know your bridesmaids the best.  A lot of this depends on how expensive a dress/designer you choose.  Can all of them afford to buy a new dress?  Can you afford in your budget to pay for them?

Most bridesmaids expect to pay for their dresses, but if you're going to ask them to do this, pick something that is reasonably priced.

If you offer to pay for the dresses, you can pick anything you want for them to wear.

I fell in love with a more expensive bridesmaids dress designer (aria.com), so I offered to pay for their dresses.  

Talk with your bridesmaids and get a feel for what they're financial situation is.  Go from there.

Answer 26

Genreally they do unless otherwise noted

Answer 27

It depends on the formality of the occassion and your income. I would suggest letting them buy their own. I have to for my sister's wedding coming up...