Post # 47
Member
1882 posts
Buzzing bee
I just paid 250 for a Jim Hejlm or however you spell his name. It’s really pretty and I like it-I’ll never wear it again but I would rather pay for a nice well made dress that I like and thinks looks nice, than suffer all night in a fug, cheap dress that I would never give a second glance to in real life. I’m totally a fan of JH dresses so I have no problem with it. I’ve done both and paying for the dress is worth it to me…so I guess it depends on the person.
Post # 48
Member
3563 posts
Sugar bee
Our dresses were all between 150 and 200…I think with alterations some will end up being around $215 or so. I would have been willing to pay for part of the dresses if my BMs expressed that the cost was too much…I did feel a bit guilty.
Post # 49
Member
302 posts
Helper bee
I’ve never been a bridesmaid, so I can’t give an average on that, but I was trying to keep the cost down for my BMs, and the one that I liked was $134 without tax. I was hoping to find one for less, but with all of them being different sizes it got complicated.
Post # 50
Member
1246 posts
Bumble bee
$265 for just the dress? I’m assuming that’s the sticker cost, which means it’s pre-tax, shipping, and alterations? No offense, but if a bride told me to spend that much on JUST the dress, I would bow out unless she offered to pay for part of it.
I think you’ve been very considerate of your girls in several ways — first to ask for their input and consider their lives in your dress choice, second to discuss the cost with each of them (individually I assume?), and third to pay for the younger girls’ dresses. Just remember that despite all the consideration you’re showing, you are also asking a lot. Think of that $265 not as a stand-alone number, but in context with all the other costs you’re (directly and not-so-directly) asking these women to shoulder on your behalf. That’s how you’ll know whether or not you’re truly comfortable with it.
Also, I think FutureKMM’s earlier thought bears repeating: You do know the income of two of your bridesmaids, but you likely don’t have a thorough understanding of their budget or financial standing. Please don’t assume!
Post # 51
Member
156 posts
Blushing bee
You all bring wonderful points to mind,
I will be purchasing the shoes for all the girls and a coordinating cardigan sweater for when the day gets cooler. So, there will be no extra cost to what I would ask them to wear. When deciding on a dress we made sure that a traditional bra would work under the dress as well. As said before, there in no charge for any alterations as one of the bridesmaids mothers is a seamstress and has offered to do any/all alterations for free.
As for the remark made by Future KMM and repeated by brlabrat. You can’t assume that I don’t know their information either.
I have a very wonderful relationships with all of my Bridesmaids and feel honored that we all know each other so well and have shared a large amount of our lives together. You are correct to say I don’t know everything, but again, I have an open enough relationship with all of them to ask them, and no one has complained about the price.
I am all for a low budget, but not low quality. We have found the best quality dress for the lowest price, guaranteed to fit all the girls nicely, to cover them, and make them feel beautiful. They all really like the dress. (Thanks flamingred)
It is an honor to have them stand for me, and it just so happens the dress they chose was $265. I would be happy if they liked a less expensive choice, but they chose the LulaKate.
Post # 52
Member
247 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: March 2011 - The Viceroy
I’ve been in a few weddings and the most I paid was $250 dress + $90 alterations (it was huge on me) + $80 shoes (we picked our own, but there were specific guidelines)–I’ll never wear that dress again and I don’t think the bride even know the exact cost of the dress. The cheapest was a $90 dress from JCrew, but all the others have been in the $100-$150 range.
Post # 53
Member
14492 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I paid for our bridesmaids dresses. The were about 60 each.
Post # 54
Member
1001 posts
Bumble bee
If they chose it, they were obviously okay with the price.
Post # 55
Member
126 posts
Blushing bee
My girls are paying $195 ($210 with tax) for their Aria dresses. I feel bad, but they all seem fine with it.
Post # 56
Member
156 posts
Blushing bee
Well, not sure if anyone will check back, but I wanted to thank you for the input and opinions. We decided to have the girls pay $175, and split the cost between the cost of one dress that I will pay for between them. So in other words the $265 with be divided amongst the 3 older girls and will end up costing the $175.
This puts the dress lower than the original dress too.
Best Wishes to everyone!
Post # 57
Member
359 posts
Helper bee
The wedding I was just in, the bride told us what designer and color and let us pick – mine was around $140, but the other girls paid closer to $200. That seems fairly standard, but make sure you give them time to budget and plan.
I had hoped to pay for my bm’s dresses, but I’m on a very tight budget, looking for a new job and starting grad school in 2 months, so I’ve asked my bm’s to buy their own, but found an awesome deal for only $24.99.
It really depends on where your bridesmaids are financially and talking to them about budgets & expectations seems like the best place to start!
Post # 58
Member
1221 posts
Bumble bee
my bridesmaids paid $145 for theirs it was discounted because i also bought mine from davids bridal..
Post # 59
Member
13095 posts
Honey Beekeeper
@amykate – I think that sounds like a very fair compromise! Glad you were able to work something out that leaves everyone happy!
Post # 60
Member
56 posts
Worker bee
My dresses are about $115. I am a Bridesmaid or Best Man in a wedding in a couple of weeks and am paying $125. However, this dress is VERY bra un-friendly, and I will probably end up spending more than the cost of the dress on various “support” options.
Post # 61
Member
11 posts
Newbee
I paid $180 for my Bridesmaid or Best Man dress. By the time you add Spanx and a specialty bra, it will end up being more than I planned on spending, but I am happy with the dress and I’d rather pay a bit more and be comfortable in the dress.
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