Weddings are an exciting event that takes a lot of planning. Whether you’re the blushing bride, or you’ve been asked to be a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding, there’s a lot to consider. Unfortunately, you have to think about some financial matters during this process.
The wedding industry is a wheel that turns on an axle made of cash. For many, weddings are the most expensive event in their life and being a bridesmaid also comes with some expenses. Before inviting someone into your wedding party or accepting an invitation to be part of one, you should think about the budget.
While it varies by culture, in the US, it’s common for bridesmaids to foot the bill for their own dress. There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to bridesmaid dresses to respect a range of budgets.
Common Etiquette: Who Pays for Bridesmaid Dresses?
Wedding traditions vary greatly by culture. While it’s commonplace in the US for bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses, this country is a melting pot and some families may follow other traditions. If you’ve been invited to be a bridesmaid, it’s important to clarify the expectations before you agree so that you know you can fulfill the commitment.
Budgeting for Bridesmaid Dresses
If you’re a bride who is planning a wedding, know that it is acceptable for you to ask for your bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses, but it’s important to keep in mind the financial burden this might put on your friends. If your heart is set on a more expensive dress for your bridesmaids, you might offer to help cover part of the cost.
Weddings are expensive so it may not be possible for you to offset the costs of your bridesmaids’ dresses. If your bridesmaids will be paying the full cost of their dresses, discussing styles and colors ahead of time allows your bridesmaids the opportunity to choose something they like and will wear again for other events.
There are plenty of cute and affordable options for bridesmaid dresses, such as this bridesmaid dresses collection from Sherri Hill that we’ve been drooling over.
Other Bridesmaid Expenses
If you’ve ever been a bridesmaid, you’ll know that it can involve a lot of expenses. A lot of it depends on the bride and the festivities around the wedding, but it can range from paying for a dress, shoes and some accessories, to paying for all that plus an expensive girls trip and high ticket wedding gifts.
As a bride, it’s important to remember that while you’ve potentially been saving for your wedding for years, your bridesmaids might be in more than one wedding this year, limiting their resources. There are ways to reduce the financial burden on your friends without taking on the entire cost yourself.
Many brides will have their bridesmaids pay for their own dresses, but let them wear their own shoes, or pay for other services like hair and makeup. If you choose to spring for a makeup artist or hairdresser for the wedding day, you can ask for your bridesmaids to contribute or just pay for the artist to give everyone some glam. You can also do each other’s makeup to save money.
Non-Traditional Bridesmaid Dresses
Some brides want to have a big wedding party to surround themselves with all the people they love the most. If you’re worried about having to exclude someone because they can’t afford to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a matching outfit, you can go in a less traditional direction.
It’s become more popular to have mismatched bridesmaid dresses. If you select a color or theme and then allow your bridesmaids to choose a dress within that framework, that lets everyone pick something in their budget. It also increases the odds of them wearing that dress again, since it’s their choice.
Answering the Question: Who Pays for Bridesmaid Dresses?
In the United States, it’s most common for bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses. If you have the budget for it, though, you can always offer to split the cost with your bridesmaids. There are also ways to keep costs down in other areas to make it less monetarily prohibitive for your bridesmaids.
Your wedding can be exactly how you want it so you don’t have to go the traditional route. The most important thing is to have your closest people by your side on your most important day.