Weddingbee Blog

As a former bridesmaid twice and a bride now, I do think it’s a bit unfair to get a really expensive dress when there are so many reasonable ones out there now, unless you have some wealthy bridesmaids who don’t have to worry once the shower and bachelorette parties come around. Also to keep in mind is the fact that they may never wear that dress again. I bought one BM dress in the mid-200s but it was black and I wore it again (to Mrs. Butterfly’s wedding!) but from what it sounds like, you are picking a clearly BM dress..just my opinion..good luck!

did you check pearl’s place? I had my maids wear some Siri dresses that were, on average, $80 cheaper than in the store. I also put some money towards each of their dresses as a gesture, so they ended up being much less expensive than the $250 I was originally quoted.

I also think it’s too much to ask your bridesmaids to pay, regardless of whether they’d be able to wear the dress again or not. You should be able to find those same Watters dresses for a lot less online, though, at houseofbrides or netbride or rk.

Miss. Raspberry, I picked a Watters dress (2439) and ordered them via Pearl’s Place in Louisiana which reader slo was referring to . I got them in just a month and the girls are going to get them altered on their own. The dress was $180 but originally at another shop it was $250+.

HTH.

Yes, I think that’s too much to ask. Very few bridesmaids dresses are appropriate to wear again. But definitely check around–I don’t know about the Wang dresses, but you can definitely get the Watters dresses for much, much cheaper online. And have them make sure that they’re measured properly–the alterations thing is a total racket run by salons, so if they know the right size to order, they hopefully should not need such expensive changes done–or they should be able to get simple hems, etc., done at their local tailor/cleaner.

Since my wedding will be a destination for many, I’ve opted to pay for the bm dresses. I’ve asked my bm to design the dresses they like through cocomyles.com after I’ve picked out the color and fabric. They’re around $125 each.

I agree that expensive BM dresses should be avoided if at all possible. I have probably $1000 worth of BM dresses sitting in a closet that were only worn once. Although I enjoyed being in the weddings for my friends, I would have rather used that money to give them a nice gift to start their married lives with!

All the other posters have given great suggestions, but I would also try going to a smaller store that does prom and other formal dresses as well and talk with someone who has been there awhile. I ended up getting a dress similar to a designer one for half the price that actually fits all of my girls better than the designer!

I’ve paid over $275 (not counting alterations!) for a bridesmaid dress and honestly, while I think that is a little but honestly, while price should be a consideration I think style and fit are more important. No one wants to be in an uncomfortable, ill-fitting dress.
My bridal party had all shapes and sizes and my most important thought was how would they feel in the dresses at the wedding. Ask them all for some input-maybe send them a little poll with some pictures and see what answers you get!

Also, do keep in mind (well, just MHO)–you are paying a LOT for the Vera Wang brand name–they are not necessarily “better” than other dresses out there! I do think that the upper $200 range is a lot to ask of your bridesmaids, especially if you are hoping to have them host a bachelorette party, or shower, plus the other time commitments.

I love that last watters dress, but not $295 worth. It also seems like strange logic to say that just because you’re spending that much anyway, that you could get a vera wang. Especially since the vera wang dresses don’t look any more special than a lot of the $150 bridesmaid dresses that I’ve seen.