Can anybody tell me...

e_m_i_l_y_e_m

... how much it's likely to cost to be a bridesmaid? I friend has invited me to be one of her bridesmaids next summer but I'm terrified of the cost. I don't want to ask outright as it looks like I'm putting a price limit on our friendship. I also don't want her to think I'm angling to get her to pay my way for me. Help!

funky-footprints

Traditionally it should cost nothing.

I have been bridesmaid 6 times and only the once were my parents expected to fork out and that was at my brothers wedding ..lol !!

has your friend actually expressed that you will be paying for the dresses & shoes yourself ?

There is a huge difference between having your dress handmade or buying one off the shelf ? ? Does she know yet her plans ? ? she may even be hiring the dresses ? ?

If she is a very close friend which im sure she is, if you are going to her birdesmaid, I would ask her,
her plans were with regard to you paying your way etc. My bestfriend asked me a very similar question and i wasnt at all offended.
x

suzysue_2

Hiya, does your friend expect you to buy the dress and bits n' bobs to go with it? As well as a pressie?

I have been a bridesmaid and it cost me nothing, (except a pressie) the brides family paid for it all, but these days I think the cost gets split between as many as possible.

I would have to be honest with your friend and say I can't wait to your bridesmaid next year, but I am a little worried about the money.

Or just ask how much she thinks it will all cost (in a chit chat way)and who is paying for what, that way she will get round to braidesmaids and her expectations of you.

lynzpower

I was expected to
buy my shoes and pay for them to be dyed the colour the bride wanted them
pay for my hair & makeup
pay out for getting there, 2 nights in swank hotel, meals breakfasts ( at 25 a pop!)
present
dress for the evening
boooze on the day

Needless to say I was none too pleased. I ditched one night in the hotel, and convinced her to pay for the shoes &my hair. did own make up, no need for someone to do it for me- true.

I reckon all in ( including the hen night & doing 2 long train journeys etc) I estimate it cost about 250.

Heth_2

It shouldn't cost you anything more than going to the wedding would, when I got married my bridesmaids just sorted out their accomodation on the wedding night (which they would have done anyway as guests), I paid for the dresses, handbags and shawls, hair was paid for by my mother, we did our own makeup, they wore their own shoes and I got them each a present to say thankyou.
If your friend expects you to pay for your dress then she should say so when she asks you to be her bridesmaid, and give you some choice in what you wear.

suzysue_2

lynzpower wrote:

I was expected to
buy my shoes and pay for them to be dyed the colour the bride wanted them
pay for my hair & makeup
pay out for getting there, 2 nights in swank hotel, meals breakfasts ( at 25 a pop!)
present
dress for the evening
boooze on the day

Needless to say I was none too pleased. I ditched one night in the hotel, and convinced her to pay for the shoes &my hair. did own make up, no need for someone to do it for me- true.

I reckon all in ( including the hen night & doing 2 long train journeys etc) I estimate it cost about 250.

Goodgrief! I'd of been none too pleased as well.

tinkerbell1978

i paid £150 for my bridesmaid dress at my sister in law's wedding, then left my dress at my other sister in law's house and then a few years on she asked me to sell mine and hers on ebay!! no mention of do you want your dress back or you can have the money for it when i sell it noooo bye bye £150!!!! <<<<was not a happy bunny!did hair and make up between us and borrowed some shoes.

Lyndsay_21

my little girl was a bridesmaid in july and i wasn't expected to pay for anything. Surely if they want you as a bridesmaid they should pay not you!!!

Skint-gall

e_m_i_l_y_e_m wrote:

... how much it's likely to cost to be a bridesmaid? I friend has invited me to be one of her bridesmaids next summer but I'm terrified of the cost. I don't want to ask outright as it looks like I'm putting a price limit on our friendship. I also don't want her to think I'm angling to get her to pay my way for me. Help!

I have been a bridesmaid three times, most recently this year and have never paid for dress, shoes, stole or hair. I have also had three bridesmaids of my own and paid for the dress, stole, shoes and hair. They paid to stay at the hotel and to come on hen weekend but that is what other guests did too. Those at the hen night also paid for my drink and food.

I would talk to your friend and see what she thinks. If you are going to be her bridesmaid you must be close enough to have discussion about this.

pinkwitch_2

My little girl has been bridesmaid twice .
The first time ,my cousin wedding we had to buy her shoes and tights,she did want us to pay for the dress but seeing as the other bridesmaids didn't there was no way we were going too. I think my auntie might of paid for it.

Second time, my brother in laws wedding we paid for nothing.

Crazychik

Many years ago, my sister got married she asked me to be a bridesmaid, I was thrilled, as I'd never been one before. Then she said I would have to pay for the dress, shoes, accessories, hair, etc. I was 14! I was living with foster carers at the time, and every 6 months I had a clothing allowance to cloth/shoes myself for the months ahead. She expected me to pay for everything using the allowance. In the end. I wasn't a bridesmaid, and turned up to the wedding in jeans and a denim jacket. Just to spite her (we never really did get on - and still dont to this day (she is on her 3rd marriage) She wanted the BIG white wedding, but expected to people to pay for it.