O.K. girls. I am just wondering how much is too much money to ask someone to spend for a bridesmaid's dress? How about for everything total like the bachelorette party, shower, shoes, purse, jewelry, hair, makeup, nails, hotel accommodations, etc.?
I do not want people dropping out because they cannot afford it. Likewise, I cannot afford to pay for everyone. One of my girls got laid off from her fourth job in three years. I feel bad for her. She had to drop out because we order dresses in a month or two.
Debi
Espo22
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
Posted by beachprincess
O.K. girls. I am just wondering how much is too much money to ask someone to spend for a bridesmaid's dress? How about for everything total like the bachelorette party, shower, shoes, purse, jewelry, hair, makeup, nails, hotel accommodations, etc.?
I do not want people dropping out because they cannot afford it. Likewise, I cannot afford to pay for everyone. One of my girls got laid off from her fourth job in three years. I feel bad for her. She had to drop out because we order dresses in a month or two.
Debi
i would talk to them and go over all these things with them and see what THEY are comfortable with pay for these things.
beachprincess
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
Yeah, I am planning to do that two weeks from now. I am doing my bridesmaids luncheon now to get everyone together and discuss costs, so they can decline gracefully if necessary.
Any tips on making it cheaper for them?
angl2001
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
mine r 150 and capped at 75 for alterations.....i think thats about average
Soon2BMrsD
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
everyone in my birdal party are still poor college students so i was really trying to keep it at 200 including alterations.. and i did!
Espo22
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
Posted by beachprincess
Yeah, I am planning to do that two weeks from now. I am doing my bridesmaids luncheon now to get everyone together and discuss costs, so they can decline gracefully if necessary.
Any tips on making it cheaper for them?
def shop around for good prices...RK has this no frills policy, their dresses are less to begin with than most places and if you find it cheaper elsewhere they give you 15% off.
Future Mulligan
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
its hard being a bridesmaid and having to spend all that money........i am going to be in one of bf's weddings 2 months before my wedding but i am fine with that - ill just have to save as much as I i can, i know it will be hectic with my wedding just around the corner but i want to be part of her day and im not going to sweat the money, im just glad to be part of her wedding....
sassygirl9
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
Yea shop around. I'm not gonna lie I chose an expensive BM dress. It wasn't my intention, but I love it on all my BM's. everyone was actually ok with the price except my sister . So I made her the MOH (I don't believe in MOH cause everyone puts a lot of effort and spends tons of money)and now she has a dress within her price range.
I plan on getting them nice gifts (unwedding related) for splurging
FutureMrsRice
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
My dress are $240 and everyone seemed fine with that
PS: That includes alterations
HTH!!
Papillon25
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
I picked black dresses, so hopefully the girls can wear them again, won't really help the pricetag now, but it is easier to stomach $150 that you will wear more than once.
Also, with black they can wear any shoes (most girls already have) so this saves some money as well.
Are any of your girls good at hair/makeup? Maybe one could do makeup for the others or do a few updos, one of my friends is doing this and its saving a ton for all the BMs.
betiboop7
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
Mine are $200 with $75 alt cap! They are all fine with it!!
JimmysPants
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
MOH $180 BM DRESSES 150
beachprincess
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
Thanks for the response girls! Another bridesmaid just dropped out yesterday. She had a baby a few months ago and quit working to be a stay at home mom. Says she cannot afford to be in the bridal party. I started with seven girls and am now down to five. I am a little bummed. I hope this is the last one to drop out. I would totally be there for them, no matter what.
I am doing my best to bring down the cost. I booked Jill Harth and Roseanna Amador to do my hair and makeup. They charge $300-$400 each for the bride, so when they said only $100 each for the bridesmaids, I thought that was a bargain! Then I added the costs up:
Dress 150-200 Alterations ??? Shoes, Jewelry, Purses, etc. ??? Hair $100 Makeup $100 Hotel $159 per night (2 nights)
Wow! I feel bad asking them to do that. That is like $800-$900!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can give them the option of doing their own hair/makeup, but am a little concerned about how that will look. Wish I could find someone cheaper to do them, but how do I get out of that gracefully since I want to keep Jill and Roseanna for me???
beachprincess
ant n tilde
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
my dresses are $220 and alterations are capped at $70 if you let them wear whatever shoes they want maybe they can match a pair they own OR you can definitely find dyeables for like $50 and they can dye them black after i never get purses for BM dresses - so they dont have to jewelry - they can wear what they have or you can get them that as part of their gift hotel - i am assuming that $159 per room so you can sometimes get 4 people to a room so thats a lot less! let them get their hair done on their own - i would kind of ask them to get it done BUT i think make up should be optional (IMO)
i have been in about 5 weddings and i have 1 more coming up. . . i know how much i am expected to spend and I dont think you are being unreasonable!
beachprincess
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Re: How much $ is too much for Bridesmaids?
Thanks! That helps. Good ideas!
I am really bummed though. I am always the one to remember everyone else--bdays, promotions, Christmas, etc. I was the planner for my one friend's bachelorette bash, which by the way she totally LOVED, but I was not even a member of her bridal party.
Likewise, my other friend is getting married in December and she does not even have me in her bridal party. Worse yet, I am not even invited to the wedding, supposedly because she is only having a few guests.
She is in my bridal party. I have a feeling she might drop out as well because of having to buy a dress for my wedding three months before hers. I understand that everyone has stuff going on and has financial issues, but I would make every effort to be at their weddings and support them no matter the cost. It is just really disappointing, ya know?
