I found these dresses that I really want my bridesmaids to wear in my wedding, but they are like $350.00 each. And that is not including the shoes, and paying to have their hair done. Do you think this is too much. What if I pay $100 for each dress, then they would only have to pay like $250 or is that still too much. I really really really like these dresses. More than anything else that I have seen. And I really dont want to have to settle for something else.
2006-09-26 09:29:43 · 38 answers · asked by Lara 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Just so that you all dont think that I am a bridezilla, my parents will pay for my sisters dresses, and my cousin is rich, and I am only having one friend and we are very close and I can pay for 1/2 of her dress if she wants. I can pay for the hair, and they dont have to even where shoes. I really dont care.
2006-09-26 09:54:05 · update #1
You have to take into consideration three things. First off, how much do your bridesmaid make for income? If they would dump 350 into a pair of shoes and think nothing of it, you are fine. If 350 would buy groceries for 2 months then you may have over stepped the bounds.
Altogether 350 really is too much in my opinion. I kept mine at about 150.00.
Second, how close are these girls to you? Are they all very close friends whom you hang out with often...or are they all family who you rarely speak to but you wanted a good size wedding party...or a combination of both? If they are friends then take them with you and let them say yay or nay. Don't tell them that this is the dress you absolutely adore. Pick out a couple others you mostly like as well as your fave. If the girls pick your fave then they really should have no problem with the price tag. If they are family or not really very close you might offer to help them a bit more. Say go in half with them. 175 isn't really that bad. If that is still too much for them then you might either reconsider if you really want them in your wedding party. Or you're gonna have to suck it up and buy it yourself.
And third and finally....if this question is really that big and issue you have to ask yourself is it really that big a deal? The wedding is fun and beautiful and amazing but the whole ordeal is all about the marriage afterward. You'd be amazed at what you don't notice when you are walking down that aisle to your loving and amazing groom.
2006-09-26 09:37:46 · answer #1 · answered by bubb1e_gir1 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
$350 is a lot, no matter how you look at it.
I think $250 is a lot, too. You might love the dress, but it might look horrible on the bridemaids; in which case they're going to think $250 is waaayyy too much for a dress they hate. Especially if they will need alterations (about $100).
I knew a bride who fell in love with a snazzy bridesmaid dress that looked great on the hanger. It looked horrible on the bridesmaids, though, because they didn't have the model figures that you see showing off the dress. The dress was $240 and everyone needed alterations. The bride also demanded that they wear certain shoes and have their hair styled a certain way. By the end, every single one of the bridesmaids resented the bride and weren't as helpful or positive as they otherwise would have been.
Why not have the girls try on the dress, and get their input, before deciding if its right. Why force your friends to pay for a dress they'll hate? You have more important things to worry about than what dress the girls are wearing.
2006-09-26 09:37:35 · answer #2 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When I got married my main concern was keeping things inexpensive and I wanted my bridesmaids to be able to wear the dresses again. But I know how it can be if you get hooked on a dress so I don't blame you for fixating on this particular one. If not having this dress is going to bring you down go for it, but be willing to foot the bill if your bridesmaids balk.
Talk to your bridesmaid's individually and find out how much they will be comfortable paying for a dress. (Don't tell them the price of the dress or that you're gonna just die if they can't wear this particular one or they may feel pressured to say yes when they don't really want to pay that much.) If your parents are covering some of the dresses, then talk to them too.
It sounds like the main person you're concerned about is your friend. If she's in a tough financial situation consider paying for most or even all of the dress.
Even though the dresses I picked out were only about $100, I still sent my bridemaids $50 gift certificates to help defray the costs. They are both in tight financial situations and had to pay to come to town. Remember it's FAR more important to have the PEOPLE you love with you on your big day, than to stress out over what they are wearing.
Heck, on my big day I was so nervous I almost threw-up in the Church Vestibule. Thank heavens my bridesmaids started cracking jokes about my soon to be husband to get me laughing.
Good luck and have a fabulous, joyous day!
2006-09-26 12:40:07 · answer #3 · answered by copygyrl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should talk with your friend about the dress and get a feel of what she thinks is too much. To save money in other areas your friend could always op to doing her own makeup and hair. But all in all you are the bride and you want this day to be special to you... who knows you may find that she is more than willing to pay the 350 or even the 250. Or you may even find a more PERFECT dress in the end...
Some advice that someone told me when I was getting married is that the wedding is only one day of your life but your marraige should be for a life time!
I wish you both well and I hope all works out!
Happy Wedding!
2006-09-26 10:08:53 · answer #4 · answered by lrn1201 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the financial situation of your bridesmaids. I was in two weddings last year and both dresses hovered around the $150 range, so I personally think it's a bit high, but that's just me.
It is extremely thoughtful of you to help out with the cost of the dresses since you obviously love them. The best thing I can suggest is for you to talk to each of your bridesmaids, detail the plan, and ask if they can afford the $250. This might be a good time to start with an email (so you can include a picture of the dress!) and the call them the next day - just in case anyone's first reaction is irrational.
2006-09-26 09:34:59 · answer #5 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Turn it around on yourself, answer your question HONESTLY, only put yourself in the bridesmaids position. You're the one who knows these friends of yours, and you have the best idea of what they would consider "expensive." However, I would say that if you're questioning it, you've probably already got your answer. Don't be a Bridezilla about this, I'm sure you can find something that will be very similar that will be more affordable, or if you're determined to have this particular dress, then I would definitely offer to pay part of it. You also don't mention how much shoes and hair is going to cost them either, and don't forget, they're going to throw you a bridal shower, and they'll get you a gift. You just don't want to put them in a bad place financially to accommodate your every wish, do you? Best of luck to you.
2006-09-26 09:48:30 · answer #6 · answered by basketcase88 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is WAY too much. The only way you are going to get them is if you pay the WHOLE shot, because they still need to get shoes, etc. That is just ridiculous. Maybe a bridesmaid would pay around $100., but for the dress - not as part of these crazy ones you are mentioning. If you don't want to settle, just cough up the dough and treat your bridesmaids!
2006-09-26 09:38:40 · answer #7 · answered by Lydia 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
'Ask your parents what they think since they will be paying for two of them. That really is $700 you could use somewhere else in the wedding. *however* if they are THE dresses, I'd suggest pitching in to pay for the not so rich friend's dress in full. Then she can afford the shoes, hair and nails. Bottom line, it's your wedding. Just be sure the money you spend will be worth the overall expenditure.
2006-09-27 00:34:06 · answer #8 · answered by Kristi C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My girls paid 150.00 and they picked out the dresses. So, I think you should either pay half or find other dresses. It sounds like your not going to be happy with other dresses so you could just pay half of it. They would have to come up with 175. That's more reasonable. I let my bridesmaids wear whatever shoes they wanted - but they wore silver because it matched and that's what we all agreed on and then I let them get there hair done however and they all agreed to do it basically the same because of how I was doing my hair. Mine was all up, so they did there's half up and half done. It was nice. But some did there own and some had there's done. I let them decide because they had to pay. That's why they helped pick out the dresses.
2006-09-26 09:59:17 · answer #9 · answered by glitter3317 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
$350 dollars is too much for a bridesmaid dress. You have to be considerate and this is their cash that they are expending.
$150 dollars is a reasonable amount of money to pay for a dress that you will only wear once. You can seek reasonble alternatives and shop around for a dress around $250 dollars only if you offer to pay the $100 dollaras difference.
If you still want the 350 dollars dress then you should offer to pay $200 out of your own pocket. Yeah, you should think that too much cash for you to give... now you know how they will feel if you ask for $350 dollars for a dress.
Be considerate and use common sense. Unless your friends are wealthy or if you ar willing to pay for the dresses, forget about the $350 dollar dresses. You can get a seamstress to replicate them for less or shop around on the internet for other alternatives.
Here is a good website
www.bridalstoreonline.com
Congratulations and good luck
2006-09-26 09:37:29 · answer #10 · answered by Blunt 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋