Weddingbee Blog

I picked out really cute tea-length strapless blue dresses with ivory sashes from Alfred Angelo, and we bought them when they were running a $20 off deal, so they ended up being $115. I think they are cuter than some of the $300+ ones we saw, and hopefully they can wear them again!

I wish I could do that, Andi! That is really nice of you.

I agree with Andi. My best friends both paid for the dresses for their BMs, plus shoes. And I’m going to pay for theirs (they are the co-MOHs) for my wedding.

I gave my bridesmaids the basic fabric and the patterns for the skirt and blouse I wanted them to wear. I bought the patterns and the fabric ran them about $35.00 each. It was then up to them to get the outfits made up and trim them any way they pleased. Shoes and accessories? I told them to either wear something they already had or get something they liked, so long as the shoes were flat (the wedding was in a redwood grove, so heels would have been problematic).

Most of my bridesmaids sewed, so I think only one ended up going to a professional seamstress to get her outfit made up. I think she was the only one who spent more than $50.00 on the outfit.

That way the look was co-ordinated without being too perfectly matched, everyone had something they liked, and most of them were able to use at least part of the outfit again later.

How much is too much? I think that really depends on the economic standing of your bridal party. If they like the $300.00 dress and can afford it, then that’s great. If $50.00 is hard to scrape up, try to come up with something easier to afford, or make it a gift.

off topic but i was wondering..how come you guys never tell us the results of the polls? i think it would interesting for us to know how the votes turned out.

I am one of three bridesmaids and our bride is so nicely laidback, she took us to David’s Bridal, got our input on the color we wanted, and then let us pick which style each of us wanted. Mine was $90 after the 20% off b/c she got her dress there. I don’t mind shelling out a little though, b/c it is her big day and i am honored to be a part of it. plus I know she’s not rolling in dough either.

I know this post is a year old, but I’m contributing anyway.
I have 3 bridesmaids — I specified the color, and we all went to look at dresses together. I sort of let them pick out/try on styles they liked then come to a decision on their own. I made it clear that if they didn’t like anything at David’s (where I got my dress) then we could go somewhere else, but they agreed on a dress at David’s. After the $20 discount, it came to $110/$115 a piece. 1 BM needed no alterations, 1 BM had her aunt alter, and the third will need some alterations.

I’m not being picky in anything else — I’m letting them pick whatever black open-toed shoes they want to wear - whether they already own them or want to get new ones.

I said they can do whatever they want with their hair/nails — but they wanted to come where I was going.

For their gifts, I will be giving them necklaces to wear, as well as something else small.

Unfortunately, I’m the one that’s a grad student, the BMs all have jobs. I’d offer to pay for more if I could, but I thought finding inexpensive dresses would at least help to lessen the financial burden!