never been in a wedding....is this ridiculous?

rynhales · April 2010

My bridesmaids dresses were $110 and my friends were upset with how much it cost. Given we were 21 and they were all still in college but anyway one of those friends is getting married and she just asked me is $260 would be ok for my dress!!!!!! After tax and alterations it will be $300 for a DRESS that I will wear ONCE! Then we have showers and bacholorette parties and everything else. Am I wrong to think this is crazy?!?!!

I answered with "holy smokes, if that is the only one you love"

How much were your BM's dresses?

alheystek · April 2010

Yikes! I wouldn't be able to swing $300 for a BM dress. I think the girls in my wedding paid $130.

Gina418 · April 2010

They ranged - I had two from David's Bridal that were about $100 and one from a boutique that was about $225.

jkyle · April 2010

The girls in my wedding paid under $175 and I was in two weddings last summer....one was $70 and the other $190.....

$300 is fairly ridiculous IMO

hudsaunt1 · April 2010

I am thinking around a $130...they were from David's Bridal. There is NO way I would be almost $300 for a bridesmaid dress!!!!

AEK&BGT · April 2010

Yup that's a little pricey. My girls paid $200 plus alterations but I paid for hair and bought each a $70 pair of swarovski earrings to match and as keepsakes. I still feel guilty.

trizzie · April 2010

my bm's paid $130. i have been in 20 weddings though (14 as a bm) and I have had to pay on the higher end before. It stinks.

Sammy-Mae · April 2010

My girls had their dresses made. They paid $100 for pattern and fabric and then they got to pick who made their dresses. One girl spent $800!! She decided that she wanted to have built in corset and bra. on average they spent about $175.

murphyec · April 2010

The last wedding I was in was last year. I think the dresses were around $150. I got married 8 years ago, so I really don't remember the cost of mine, but I was fresh out of college, so I can't imagine I asked people to pay more than $125.

mrsw1007 · April 2010

Mine were 140 and with alterations maybe 170 at the most depending on what they needed fixed. I would never expect any of my girls to spend 300...thats just too much even if it's some super fancy wedding... I would say get over it and find something cheaper. You have to consider all the other expenses you will be paying for. Bridal shower, Bach. party etc.

Rubygirl · April 2010

I've never paid more than $150 for a BM dress. I think it's ironic that the same BM that complained about a $110 dress is now asking you to pay twice that much. I realize in some areas that $300 is average, but you're in Wisconsin, I doubt that's average.

Maybe you can sell the dress afterwards?

miss.jess · April 2010

That is VERY expensive for a dress!!!! My girl's dresses were $120 and the wedding I am in this May I spent $145 on the dress.

lmdbww · April 2010

In all the weddings that i've ever been in, (even my BM's dresses in my own wedding), they were never over $150. I just think anything more than that is nuts.

SportyChic24 · April 2010

I would NEVER paid that much nor would I ask someone to pay that much for a dress. My bridesmaids dresses were about $120 and I paid for one and my MIL paid for the other (it was for her daughter) They just had to pay for alterations and buy the shoes. I even paid for their hair and makeup, I'm way too nice.

aldyn · April 2010

My bridesmaid dresses were simple knee length dresses from J Crew; they were about $70-$80.

eris1995 · April 2010

I think $160 - maybe a little less

KeepingItLowKey · April 2010

I was in one wedding before mine and thought the costs and premise was ridiculous, so we had no bridesmaids or groomsmen in ours. None of my friends or family live in Colorado and all had to travel to come, so I didn't want anyone to have to worry about anything else besides getting here and having fun, nor did I want any of my friends thinking I ranked some higher than others.

vanillacourage · April 2010

That's very expensive for a BM dress, but if this is the first one you've been in, in the long run you're coming out ahead rather than paying $100/pc for a bunch of dresses. Maybe it will be a nice dress you really can wear again?

My BM dresses were black cocktail dresses from Ann Taylor - $60 on clearance. 3 of the 4 BMs have worn them again in my presence, the Holy Grail of bridesmaids dresses!

MrsTotty · April 2010

Yeah, thats really expensive. I'm in a wedding this September, and they'll probably end up costing me $200 with alternations ... the dress itself is $150 I think?

My dresses cost the girls $35 ... for fabric and the pattern. My aunt made them

spunkielexis196 · April 2010

Mine I believe were $65 from Coldwater Creek. I don't know if they have worn them again, but my original thinking that they could wear again.

LaLaSweets · April 2010

I believe they were about $150

azaretsky · April 2010

The most expensive one that I've worn was about $250 with alterations, and I thought it was a crazy amount of money - so I'm with you!

EastCoastBride · April 2010

I think that's way too much money. I would have no qualms sayign "Sorry- friend, I can't afford to spend that." and step down if necessary.

MegGary · April 2010

Thats is expensive. I told the girls to get whatever they wanted. I got my wedding dress at David's so we got a discount on the BM dresses. Plus one of my BM's mother is a seamstress so she did any alterations needed for free. They all wore different dresses in the same color. PIB if you want to see.

GracieWK · April 2010

Our bridesmaid dresses were around $150 each, but I paid for them all. The girls paid for their shoes and hair.

DarthNBJenni · April 2010

$90 for a black cocktail dress from Norstrom. Not only have all of my Bridesmaids worn them again, but I borrowed my sister's to wear as well.

My MOH is getting married this summer, and her BM dresses are $450 each. But then again, her parents are paying for them for the wedding party.

rynhales · April 2010

DarthNBJenni:

$90 for a black cocktail dress from Norstrom. Not only have all of my Bridesmaids worn them again, but I borrowed my sister's to wear as well.

My MOH is getting married this summer, and her BM dresses are $450 each. But then again, her parents are paying for them for the wedding party.

yeah, thats the thing, her parents are loaded. So is she wants a dress that expensive maybe they should pay for it.

NicoleWI · April 2010

See if you can order from Pearl's Bridal in New Orleans OR..that other place recommended in Bridal Bargains. You can sometimes order dresses at a discount but you hvae to handle alterations on your own.

christine52078 · April 2010

The BM dresses for my wedding were $240 ~ and that's around what I've paid every time I've ever been in a wedding.

johnsoar · April 2010

Mine was $210 for a wedding I am in this weekend. My mom altered it so that was free but then there is the cost of shoes and getting my hair done, travel, hotel, parties...it gets expensive.

The dresses for my wedding were $150 and then there was a 10% discount because I got my dress there too.

katekirschner · April 2010

My girls dresses were $200 including a sash from Ann Taylor. With the petite length and normal size nobody needed alterations.

Cytina · April 2010

Both of my girls had long black dresses from other weddings so they just wore those.. they weren't identical but close enough. They were already having to fly in so I didn't want to add to their expenses.

lzybeanie · April 2010

Is it ridiculous? Sure...is it done? Absolutely. I think my most expensive BM dress (including alterations) was upwards of $250. It's just insane how expensive these dresses are in the first place. Are there more affordable options out there? Of course there are...but I'm of the mind that if you agree to be in a wedding, you're agreeing to the circus that is involved - and part of that circus is a pricey dress that you will most likely wear only once. $260 is definitely on the higher end and I would be inclined to ask her if there's any way you can keep in in the $XX range. Does she have other BM's? If so how do they feel?

The dresses for my wedding were $160 with alterations included. I'd say I've paid from $125 to $225 for the dress alone in the many, many wedding's I've been in. The dress for my BIL's wedding in August was $167 and that does not include alterations...which are going to be pricey now that I'm pregnant (it was not planned and I'm hoping they can make the dress work no matter how much $$ I have to spend on alterations).

WestCoastMommy · April 2010

$300 before taxes and alterations.

In all fairness I let them pick it out so they knew what they were getting into.

lanie30 · April 2010

Yeah 300.00 is dumb. Come on, she can't find something similar at davids bridal for 90 bucks?

Please.

I found being a bridesmaid out of control expensive. i bowed out of one after estimating it would cost me over 1500.00 (460.00 dress, travel, 5 showers (yep 5) a jack and jill, hosting the bachelorette etc...

I asked my bridesmaids to show up in a dress. they decided on pink, they all came in different pink dresses and they looked awesome.

*KatieH* · April 2010

Yikes that is a bit much. I had my bridesmaid and jr bridesmaid pick out their dresse that way they knew what price point to look at.

Also you can sell your dress on Ebay after the wedding. I did this with the dress from my friends wedding...the girl who bought it needed a prom dress but couldn't afford full price.

yoko589 · April 2010

That's pricey but not unusual now. I think mine were around $150. Some were altered but not all. They picked out the dresses. I just had to approve and I picked the color. A few wore the tops again, it was a two piece.

sunnyday016 · April 2010

$120ish including alterations.

swedish-fish · April 2010

I've spent that much and more on dresses. My bridesmaid dresses were about $260, I think, which I thought was normal at the time because that was around what I spent on dresses when I was a bridesmaid. Looking back, I do regret asking my bms to spend so much, especially because most of the dresses needed a lot of alterations. To defend myself a little, I did have two of my bridesmaids with me when we chose the dress and they were all for it. Still, I wish I had just chosen something more simple and cheaper. Being in weddings is expensive - I think I've spent around $1500 each wedding I've been in between bachelorette parties and travel, etc.- and I wish I could have cut costs for my friends.

As for your situation, it's a tough one. If you can afford it, I say just pay the money and move on. If it's really going to be tough for you to swing, try and talk to her about it. Good luck!

naturelle25 · April 2010

Yes, that is on the high end but I think that if you agree to be in a wedding, you should get ready to pretty much agree to do/wear what the bride wants. If not, dont be in it.

Smittenkitten05 · April 2010

To be honest, yes that does seem a little steep, esp. considering you will still have to buy the shoes and accessories (hopefully she'll give you the earings or bracelet or whatever she wants you to wear as a bridesmaid's gift).

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