Post # 1
Member
401 posts
Helper bee
I’ve been searching high and low for dresses for my girls and am starting to panic a little. I still have plenty of time but I’m beginning to think it’s impossible to find dresses that will flatter my girls (I have six and there are ALL shapes and sizes), fit their budgets, and actually be something that I like.
I really was hoping for long dresses, but the more I look the more I think that’s not going to happen. I wanted to keep the dresses under $150 for the girls. I’ve been in a few weddings and never paid over $150 for the dress, so I guess that’s what I’m using as my guideline. But the last wedding I was in was in like 2009 or 2010, so I guess prices have gone up since then. I’m afraid my bridesmaids will think it’s ridiculous to spend that much for the dress since THEIR Bridesmaid or Best Man dresses were less. They won’t have to spend too much other than that, though, since I think my mom is planning on covering the shower and I’m not asking them to buy certain shoes/accessories, or even get their hair or make up done. I mean they can if they want to, but it’s certainly not something I’m “mandating.” Lol.
I like the idea of convertible dresses but I don’t really trust one of my BM’s to stay modest with that (we are getting married in a Catholic church and I don’t think that tons of skin will be appropriate). I really DO love the idea of a line that has dresses with various necklines/styles, so that they can all pick something flattering that they like as long as it’s the same fabric and color.
I’m getting SO frustrated because everywhere I look the dresses are over $200. And that’s when I can even FIND the prices. I know DB would have some, but I’m not crazy about any of their options right now.
Anyone have any suggestions? What have you girls done, or should I just get used to the idea of short dresses?
I’m not opposed to ordering online but I don’t think that’s my ideal. I think my girls would rather buy something they’ve actually tried on, and I think that I might be a little sad to miss out on the bridesmaid dress shopping part of my own wedding, lol.
Post # 3
Member
9129 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
- Wedding: November 2013 - St. Augustine Beach, FL
Seriously, order them from Dressilyme.com. They have better prices and everyone can send in their measurements so they don’t have to pay for alterations too (it’s an extra $14.99 on dressilyme for custom sizing.)
Here’s what they have available in long bridesmaid dresses for under $100.
http://dressilyme.com/bridesmaid-dresses-under-us-$100-full-length-2-s11-p1-97.html?isStock=999&pageSize=36&listType=grid&sort=0&endPrice=100&startPrice=72
Post # 4
Member
838 posts
Busy bee
My Bridesmaid or Best Man dresses came from David’s. Floor length. $129
Post # 5
Member
3080 posts
Sugar bee
What part of NY are you from, if you don’t mind me asking. I’m from Long Island and every wedding that I have been a part of the dresses were over $150. So I think that it is the norm. For what it’s worth, my bridesmaid dresses are long gowns and are a little over $200.
I too wasn’t really crazy about DB. I looked there and wasn’t flipping over the color selection or the quality of the dresses.
I hear that Alfred Angelo bridesmaid dresses run pretty reasonable. I know that many Bill Levkoff long dresses are under $200. So you could look at those. Or check out some trunk shows. You can get a percentage off of a dress if you go to a trunk show.
If you are from Long Island area, the Wedding Center in Commack has dresses at a better price than some other stores, so you can check them out there.
Post # 6
Member
229 posts
Helper bee
@LilySarah: My BMs got theirs from After7; it’s a beautiful floor length ball gown, about $188(tax included). It’s hard to find it under $200, but you can come close.
Since my ladies are paying that much for their dress, I’ve decided to take care of their hair, makeup, shoes, earrings and get them personalized gifts.
Post # 7
Member
2022 posts
Buzzing bee
@LilySarah: Got my Bm dress for my cousins wedding from davids bridal and online it said $149 I bought it in store and it was $137 with tax….plus a $20 shutterfly gift card!
Post # 8
Hostess
2633 posts
Sugar bee
I had all my bridesmaids pick out their own dress, just in the same colour, material and length. I can go through how much each paid:
The farthest to the left (our left) already owned her dress so it didn’t cost
The second to the left paid $129 (and that’s CND…things tend to be more expensive here) from Davids Bridal
The middle bpaid the most out of the girls (she really wanted the dress). It’s a Dessy collection dress. It ually retails for $250 but she ordered her’s from USA bride (www.usabride.com) for about $190 (they had pretty fast shipping). The Dessy dresses also sell at NetBride (www.netbride.com) they don’t ship as fast but the same dress was selling for $170ish.
The one second to the right got her dress for $99 (again Canadian) at Fairweather (a store here in Canada…but there are similar stores in the states)
The one farthest to our right got her’s in the States at David’s Bridal for $99 (USD).
Also not pictured is my Maid/Matron of Honor who also got her’s in the states form David’s Bridal for $99 (USD)…her’s was a halter style dress…
Post # 9
Member
11231 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@beachbride1216: + a million We got our Bridesmaid or Best Man dresses from Dressilyme and they’re gorgeous. One of the girls got hers long and it was only $120 with custom measurements.
Post # 10
Member
2066 posts
Buzzing bee
We ordered ours online!!! I found a dress I loved but it was like $250ish in stores. That wasn’t gonna fly with me. So we went and had all the girls try them on and then I found an authorized retailer online. They were $133 each and $148 if they wanted extra length. We got them from Dress for Less Bridal.
Just be careful if you go this route. I read TONS of reviews and made sure they were authorized so I knew what I was getting. They haven’t arrived yet but hopefully my research paid off.
We ordered Bari Jay 227.
Post # 11
Member
1134 posts
Bumble bee
just keep watching davids website, they add dresses often. I was down to june ( and my wedding is in oct) and they just added a new dress, fell in love and made my girls buy! Before this dress appeared i was just settling,…
Post # 12
Member
753 posts
Busy bee
Ruche
http://shopruche.com/bridal-1/bridesmaid-dresses.html
Mine is $145.99, they have various colors and at least one other style of long dress
Post # 13
Member
507 posts
Busy bee
We used bestbridalprices.com for ours. We loved them and they were at least $20-40 cheaper than the stores. Plus, no tax and free shipping. And they were running a deal if you liked them on facebook you got $10 off.
Their customer service was fantastic!!
I just looked and they have a ton of dresses under $150.
Post # 14
Member
1783 posts
Buzzing bee
I hated the David’s Bridal experience but the dresses are fine. We got a floor length Bridesmaid or Best Man dress for $130. Just shop around and don’t expect a high-quality boutique experience.
Post # 15
Member
2684 posts
Sugar bee
We’re using Little Borrowed Dress, which is a dress rental service. Short dresses are $50 to rent and long dresess are $75, and they send you multiple sizes just in case. We won’t be able to try them on before they’re ordered, but apparently they have a showroom on NYC where you can try them on.
Post # 16
Member
911 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: October 2013 - The Down Town Club, Philadelphia
@LilySarah: Check with NetBridal. We got my maids dresses from them, and they were all under $150!