Just wondering how many people are paying for their bridesmaids dresses? The dresses I like from alfred angelo/dessy/coast etc are near £200 each but looking at finances I'm starting to think I can't afford them for my bridesmaids... but I don't feel I can ask them to pay for themselves. Is everyone buying their maids' dresses? And paying for their hair and make-up? xx
CommentAuthorUnknown
i only paid for their dresses. they were dessy and £107 each. they bought their own shoes and did own hair and make up x
CommentAuthorLinzi-jo
I am going to be paying for my bridesmaids dresses, and their jewellery will also be their thank you present, and their hair, but they can get their shoes and make-up. I think if you pick out the dresses you want them to wear then really you should pay for them as it may not be something they would wear again themselves, however, if you tell them the colour and they all get their own ones that are different then I dont see a problem with them paying for it xxx
Got together 14.02.2008
Got engaged 31.12.2010
Will become a Mrs on 30.08.2014 xxxxxx
CommentAuthorMrs B
I paid for mine, 90 each from d-hams..... It's tough, could you ask them to go halves? I think it also depends if you are dictating what you want them to wear or if they have a big say, if they pay then they should be given a big say in what they wear. I'm not paying for their shoes, hair or make up though x
CommentAuthorMrsEminson2B
I am paying for their dresses, shoes, jewellery, hair and make up but if I couldnt afford to I would ask them to help out, my sister was a bridesmaid for someone and she paid for her own shoes i dont think people mind paying for things now xx
Met Matt at 10 years old
Marrying him at 27 years old
I can't wait to be Mrs Eminson on the 8th June 2013
Hmm it's tricky because I also want to pick out what they wear lol! I guess I can't have both. All our guests will be in long dresses/tails so long length and a certain colour is a bit restrictive to pick themselves. I should probably shop around a bit more to try find cheaper dresses but the colour options at the big companies are so good. Maybe I could pay for dresses but they can do their own hair/make-up. I'm starting to wish I can't rushed into choosing bridesmaids, I clearly hadn't though through the expense! xx
CommentAuthorMrs B
I second that! Wish I hadn't rushed in to it too! I probably would have just goe with two if I hadn't of been so bloody excited! I took all my bm's out and said I wanted long and elegant and all one colour but they could decide what style suited them best, d hams may be worth a shot Hun they do lovely dresses in their wedding section! Xx
CommentAuthorLinzi-jo
Have you looked to see if you could get copies made cheaper? xx
Got together 14.02.2008
Got engaged 31.12.2010
Will become a Mrs on 30.08.2014 xxxxxx
CommentAuthorMrsEminson2B
i am having mine made as it works out cheaper than getting them from wedding shops x
Met Matt at 10 years old
Marrying him at 27 years old
I can't wait to be Mrs Eminson on the 8th June 2013
CommentAuthorKirst
I am paying for their dresses, but I am getting a copy done (as I too like Dessy dresses-but think are too expensive for one day) They are sorting out shoes, and I am going to ask a friend to do their hair for me, and going to give them the option of having their make-up done or not (soon adds up doesn't it!) x x x
CommentAuthorMrsE 2b
I will check out debenhams - thanks mrs b2b. It's so awkward isn't it when you rush into decisions. In fact I ended up asking my bridesmaids before I was even engaged lol. Just a casual comment like 'oh wouldn't it be lovely to be getting married - you could be my bridesmaids'... and then they all started squealing and I couldn't exactly change my mind when I did get engaged!! :-p
I will check out getting copies. I know of one dress maker back home in Derbyshire but she's not that cheap. In London I imagine they are no better! xx
CommentAuthormrscookiecrew
the bridesmaids are all paying for there own. a place b_s do a twist and wrap dress so they can wear them however they want then x
also wold have been nan and grandads anniversary
CommentAuthorXbox widow
I only paid for the dresses at £65.00 each and shoes around £20 each, that was all my budget would allow. Hair and makeup is down to them.
CommentAuthorRaggedyAnne
I am paying for my bridesmaids dresses...well I made them but I bought the fabric. I also bought their jewellery, and a clutch bag and also a gift as a thank you, but they will get their own shoes and do their own hair.
I can resist anything but temptation
CommentAuthorKirst
Ooh Mrscookiecrew they look good....shame not in my colour x
CommentAuthorLiza247
Im paying for the bridesmaid dresses (£175 each) & paying for hair & make up, I have asked them to get there own shoes. I was a bridesmaid for my best mate and we all paif half towards our dresses, ask your bridesmaids if they will be willing to contribute. If they were coming to your wedding as a guest they would probably buy a new dress, shoes, accessories! I was gonna purchase cheaper dresses but didnt want to risk it & went with the dresses I loved instead :-)
CommentAuthorMrsSaraParry!
my bridesmaids paid for their own dresses and shoes - but I hasten to add that was because they insisted and not because I'm tight! They are doing their own make-up, mum is paying for everyone's hair and I've bought their jewellery and fascinators xxx
CommentAuthorkrissy905
i only have one adult bridesmaid my niece the others are my children so I'm paying for them all to be made i am bought her shoes and I'm paying for her hair and make up to as its only one extra to pay for anyway its not to bad. x
CommentAuthorMrsSaraParry!
can I just add by the way that my bridesmaids dresses were only £58 and their shoes £18 so they weren't ridiculously expensive! xxx
CommentAuthorMrs Syla (antonia200
My BM are paying for there dresses and shoes but got them for £90!. I am paying for their clutch bags so far
A
CommentAuthorMrsE 2b
But what do you say when you ask if they would mind contributing? Because either way they'll feel like they have to but might be secretly annoyed? xx
CommentAuthorMrs Syla (antonia200
My BM's are what I would call "true" Friends or family and they could have said no, knowing I would have preferred an honest answer even if it would upset me. Infact my younger sister did!!!! but mum offered to help
A
CommentAuthorLinzi-jo
I think it depends on their own financial situations too. I am chief bridesmaid for my best friend next year and she is buying our dresses, and if she had asked us to buy ours, I simply wouldn't have been able to afford to! In fact I wouldnt even have been able to have payed for half! xx
Got together 14.02.2008
Got engaged 31.12.2010
Will become a Mrs on 30.08.2014 xxxxxx
CommentAuthorMrsEminson2B
i agree it depends on their situation too it may be that some people will be able to pay some towards it but others cannot and then that leaves the question of what do you do then xx
Met Matt at 10 years old
Marrying him at 27 years old
I can't wait to be Mrs Eminson on the 8th June 2013
CommentAuthorshazzifox
My bridesmaids are paying for their own dresses :) I would never be able to get married if I was paying for them all!! lol xx
******* Shannon & Trev --> 8 Years Together *******
CommentAuthorMrsE 2b
Hmm well 2 have quite good jobs and don't pay any rent, but another definitely couldn't afford it (is on minimum wage) so I'd buy hers for sure and have to not tell the others. Oh it's difficult. First I'll try to find someone to make them cheaper and avoid this conversation lol. Thanks for the advice girls xx
CommentAuthorStaceyP91
We are paying for all 3 of my bridesmaid dresses but they are sorting there shoes & jewerelly out. Were paying for hair and make up done professionally too. However we have said if the dress costs over £200 are they willing to contribute & all 3 said yes!
Xxx
30-11-13 my life becomes complete
Mrs Solomon to be
CommentAuthorBlushingbride2b
edited
Hi, I was going to pay for everything for my BMs but after reading this thread, I might ask them to pay for shoes as I agree it can get really expensive. I have seen some nice but inexpensive dresses on the bay so will be doing that to keep costs down, xx.
CommentAuthorRoxy
I bought my bm dresses 2nd hand so they were £100 per dress X3, paying half of their hair and make-up, they are buying thier own shoes!
CommentAuthoralmost a year wife!!
edited
i found the ones i want my girls to wear and posted a pic of them into r secret group on fb.....theyre £169 each!!!! now i said to them if they want to pay half the dress then they keep it after the wedding if not we will pay for it and we will then sell it after the day...now my sis who is moh has said she will buy hers at full price!!! i dont think what ive said to the girls is unfair as theyve two options i have already bought their clutch bags, hair accessory and jewelry xxxxxx
Ill marry my hero
CommentAuthorkirstyless
We paid for the bridesmaid dresses at £160 each we paid for one of their alterations. But they got their own shoes, accessories, hair and make up if they wanted it. The dresses were more than we'd budgeted and they were more than happy to buy their own things
CommentAuthormym72
We paid for my bm's dress, shoes, tiara, flowers and hair to be done. We did our own make up. And for her present, we bought her gold earrings so she could wear them on the day.
CommentAuthorMrsEminson2B
MrsET where do you live as im in nottinghamshire and have someone making my dresses if you want i can search for people in your area and put some links on your wall for you? xx
Met Matt at 10 years old
Marrying him at 27 years old
I can't wait to be Mrs Eminson on the 8th June 2013
CommentAuthorMrscarter2b
I've bought the dresses, shoes and fascinators and am paying for hair. I've bought the necklaces for thir thank you gifts and am planning on giving them to the girls on the morning of the wedding. I got my bridesmaid dresses from China and they are gorgeous!!
CommentAuthorInDreamland
It is difficult if you're deciding on what they're wearing.
I'm paying for the 2 BM's dresses and hoping my future SIL will pay for the FG dress. The BM's will sort out their own shoes. I'll be paying for make-up and my uncle is doing all our hair for free.
Maybe you could ask them to go halves? Or to do their own hair and make-up and sort out their own shoes?
The bay have some really good priced BM's dresses on there so worth looking and the sales on the high street are pretty good too.
xxx
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
CommentAuthorMrsE 2b
Thanks everyone, so many different views I guess it depends on circumstances! Mrs Emison2b that would be amazing. I'm getting married in Greenwich London but I'm from Derbyshire. I only know one Derbyshire dressmaker that made me a lovely dress for a ball once but it was over £300 so not really an option. I'd be sooo grateful if you know anyone. Thanks girls xxx
CommentAuthorclbronze
I bought dresses (but cheap on the bay) and they're paying for hair, make up, shoes and accessories. We agreed it from very beginning so they knew where they stood and I've let them have total freedom in accessory choice as they're paying. x
Met Paul on 01.06.08
Marrying him on 01.06.12
CommentAuthorcherry82
I have bought my 4 bridesmaids dresses at £175 each but they are buying their own shoes and they are doing each others hair and make. They are travelling from Scotland to Cornwall and paying for their own accommodation for a week which is expensive enough so i couldn't dream of asking them to pay for their own dresses and i have been a bridesmaid for 2 of them before and they paid for my dress. All circumstances are different so you have to do what is best for you x
CommentAuthorMrs Stocks 2B
i bought my bm dress end if line was £190 got it for £40 haire & makeup a friend is doing to advertise her buissiness and shoes she is buying herself.
Look out for the end of line bridesmade dresses im sure they start a new line soon xx
CommentAuthorMrs Davro
I have bought dresses (still waiting for one to try it on) and am buying shoes and accesories. If she doesn't like the dress on I will just sell them and let them pick one but will be giving them a budget. £98 for both including shoes. Think they might struggle but thats what happens if you don't like my choice.
I'm not having my hair and make up done professionally so neither are they.
CommentAuthorMrsE 2b
So you still went to bridal shops but they had end-of-line sales on? Or was it online? I am so bad with sales shopping lol xx
CommentAuthorMrs Davro
The bridal shops are doing end of line sales now ish.
But don't count on getting the same dresses for all bridesmaids as they tend to be the ones everyone has tried on.
CommentAuthorLeighS
I will be buying my bridesmaid dresses. I am buying them from abroad as they are cheaper. I take their measurements and buy slighty bigger then get any alterations done and it will cost me around £150 max for two dresses. I am also looking to making alot of bits myself such as invites, decorations, centre pieces and also my cake. Lucky for me I have a friend who will be my maid of honour that can do flowers and hair. At the end of the day you need to do what suits you. It is your day after all. xx
CommentAuthorSam
I was thinking of making my bridesmaids pay, but now I am not sure. Is it rude to ask?
CommentAuthorKirstyJ22
We're putting our budget to them (£50 each) and then if they want something more expensive they can put the difference to it x x
CommentAuthorMrsG2b
I've bought my maids dresses and shoes. I really don't agree with asking them to be bridesmaids, but then asking them to buy their own dress, it's just wrong! If you can't afford them, don't ask :) You can get cheap/decent dresses in the sales. xx
Got together 10/11/08...Engaged 25/11/11...
I become Mrs G on 25th May 2013...
...the other exciting parts will follow!
CommentAuthorHayleyT
I am paying for dresses, hair and make up and have got them clutch bags (instead of flowers) and jewellery doubling as thank you gifts. They are getting their own shoes. They have also offered if the dresses we find we like are over the budget I have set, they dont mind putting a little money towards them however dont think they will need to as the ones we have found so far are around or under the budget i have set.
CommentAuthorMrstalbot2b
My 2 adults maids who my sil and niece are going halfs with me and paying me a £5 an month each as we paying them of monthly am paying everything ealse for them and the young flower girls I pay everything for them.
frist date:- 14th july 2009
bought our house:- 5th sept 2010
engaged :- 27th december 2011
getting married : 7th june 2014
CommentAuthorMrsE 2b
I do agree that you shouldn't really ask them if you can't afford their dress... but I asked 2 of my friends to be bridesmaids without really thinking it through (and before I was even engaged!!) and now I can't afford to get their dresses. At the time I hadn't really realised how much everything would cost! I guess asking for a contribution would be ok, or just buying china dresses and hoping they work out. xx
CommentAuthorMrsbayliss2B
I have just paid the deposit on my BM dresses, 4 x ebony rose dresses for £775, should have been £215 each but i got 10% off as i ordered my dress from the same shop aswell. i budgeted £800 for all the BM dresses so im pleased they came in under budget.
I am paying for their dresses, shoes and hair accessories and i have a friend doing all our hair as a wedding present - but after the big day i will b selling it all on the bay of e, haha :-) x
