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How much is too much

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soontowed

Shiny_Rock
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So I am in the process of picking out the BM dresses and I was wondering what is a reasonable amount of money to ask my friends to spend on a dress. I will not be asking them to buy matching shoes just whatever nice black shoe they have and the jewelry is their choice too. Any thoughts?
 
It depends on their situation, but I would try and keep it below $200.
 
The most I paid for a dress was $180. The others were $150. I guess one was $150 + $50 hot pink dyed shoes...The one the bride bought for all her BMs was $340
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I think less than $200 is acceptable... Especially if you aren''t expecting them to buy shoes or jewelry that matches. If you want them to have matching jewelry I would suggest buying it as a gift to them.
 
I agree that under $200 is a good goal. I''ve paid between about $100-250 as a bridesmaid.

You should check out netbride.com! I ordered my Watters bridesmaids'' dresses from them for about 30% less than what the least expensive salon was charging, and the girls all had their own seamstresses alter them. They came ahead of schedule and were exactly as promised.
 
Date: 7/29/2009 8:50:48 PM
Author: kittybean
I agree that under $200 is a good goal. I''ve paid between about $100-250 as a bridesmaid.

You should check out netbride.com! I ordered my Watters bridesmaids'' dresses from them for about 30% less than what the least expensive salon was charging, and the girls all had their own seamstresses alter them. They came ahead of schedule and were exactly as promised.
Agreed, check out other places. I used RK Bridal in New York to order all 9 of mine. You order thru an oder form that you fax... mine were $220+tax here at a salon, and only $154+$7 shipping from them. Also, if you don''t live in NY then you don''t have to pay sales tax.
 
The dresses I''m getting for the BM''s are $179, and then the store is giving 10% off since I bought my wedding gown from the same place. I would try and do under $200, though, since they most likely will need shoes, accessories, etc.
 
Date: 7/29/2009 8:23:26 PM
Author: meresal
It depends on their situation, but I would try and keep it below $200.
I second!
 
Being a bridesmaid, the most I''ve ever paid was $300 for the dress and $100 for shoes. That, IMHO, is too much. To the bride''s credit, the dress and shoes were gorgeous (and I''ve worn them several times since) but affording them at the time (in college) was definitely a struggle.

I agree with Meresal - under $200 is reasonable.
 
I was originally quoted $4800 by a boutique flower shoppe. This was four nine bm bouquets, crousages, 15 centerpieces, two large arrangements, Flower initials, small bouquets for mothers, god mothers, grandmothers, boutineers for the guys. It was a lot of flowers! I couldnt see spending that much either. I went to downtown LA to a whole in the wall shop, showed them pictures of exactly what I wanted, and they even created a sample for me in an hour. The total came to be $1600 for all the same things. Get creative with your center pieces and shop around if you do not want to spend a lot. It can be done on a budget.
 
lol sorry wrong post. It was meant to be in the Flowers how much is reasonable? I will have it moved.

In response to this post, I tried for under $200. I felt that was what I would have expected to pay had I been a BM. The dress I chose ended up at $220 so I decided to also let them choose their shoes as long as they were silver.
 
I agree with also aiming for less than 200. I am using Here Comes the Bridesmaid in NY. They have a ton of designers who fall under or around 200 so check out their site if you need designer ideas since most of them are all over the US. I feel so guilty even asking my girls to pay anything, I would love to keep it under 150.
 
Its all relative to their financial situations- I would agree on a limit with your BM''s and if you find a dress that is more than that cover the excess cost
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The last wedding I was in the dresses were $300 a pop the bride paid for them though :) thankfully cause with shoe and hair/makeup costs it would have been way out there

most BM''s I know have on average been asked to spend $300 for a dress
 
Definitely agree on the under $200 and also take your bridesmaids financial status into account when deciding on the dresses.

My BMs are all young: one of my sisters is in college; the other one is 15 and FI''s sister is married with a young daughter and is the sole breadwinner right now for her family, so we paid for all their attire (we just kept it very inexpensive).
 
$150 was my max - i thought that was very fair and reasonable
 
I think it totally depends on the situation your BMs are in. You have a better sense of what they can afford than we do. If they are just out of college, I would say you should stick as close to $100 as possible. If they are in their mid-twenties and working, it is fine to move more into $200 range. If they are older or has a lifestyle that would allow them to seriously rewear the dress, I think it is fine to go even more--as long as the dress is actually rewearable.
 
Agreed - I have always spent right around $200 (for some pretty awful dresses, I must add). I think $200 is acceptable, especially if you can wear it again! Being able to wear your own shoes, jewelry, etc., really helps
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Under $200 would be good.
 
If the dress is rewearable $200 is reasonable. If not, definitely keep it at $100. And be honest with yourself whether or not a dress is really rewearable. Making a bridesmaid buy a $270 periwinkle blue double-faced duchess satin floor-length gown with a yellow rhinestone belt and telling her it''s ok because you can just alter it to be a cocktail dress! = NOT rewearable (sure do have one of these suckers in my closet).
 
Date: 7/30/2009 3:26:29 PM
Author: ts44
If the dress is rewearable $200 is reasonable. If not, definitely keep it at $100. And be honest with yourself whether or not a dress is really rewearable. Making a bridesmaid buy a $270 periwinkle blue double-faced duchess satin floor-length gown with a yellow rhinestone belt and telling her it''s ok because you can just alter it to be a cocktail dress! = NOT rewearable (sure do have one of these suckers in my closet).

LOL. I have a couple of those dresses in my closet!
 
I agree with Mere, it depends on the financial situation of your BM''s. In some circles, spending $200 plus is nothing. In others, spending over $100 is very difficult. However, generally speaking, I think you''d be safe keeping it under $200.
 
Maybe try http://www.houseofbrides.com, last time I bought from them, it was reasonably priced, no tax and because I was ordering two BM dresses to be sent to the same address, shipping was free!

Overall, I think keeping it under $150 is reasonable.
 
Date: 7/30/2009 7:32:01 AM
Author: wannaBMrsH
Definitely agree on the under $200 and also take your bridesmaids financial status into account when deciding on the dresses.

My BMs are all young: one of my sisters is in college; the other one is 15 and FI''s sister is married with a young daughter and is the sole breadwinner right now for her family, so we paid for all their attire (we just kept it very inexpensive).
Well we are all in our late 20''s early thirties so no one is broke per se. One is a single mom so I can see her perhaps having trouble.
 
$150 was my max as well
 
I would have felt bad going over $150. Let''s face it, most BM dresses aren''t rewearable, as much as you hear brides say they are (although there are some exceptions!) Also, four of the six of my bridesmaids were flying in for my wedding...we got our hair and nails done...it can really add up. I ended up picking a Mori Lee Affairs dress that was $118 plus tax--it was really cute too!
 
It really depends on the financial situation of you and your BMs. We limited it to $200 per girl, as they were paying for their hair and make up too. If you find a dress that you have to have, and it''s over budget, you can always pay the difference. Start out by chatting to your girls as see what their expectations are. You might have a problem for example, if they think they can get dressed for $100 or something.
 
Date: 7/30/2009 9:51:16 PM
Author: soontowed
Date: 7/30/2009 7:32:01 AM

Author: wannaBMrsH

Definitely agree on the under $200 and also take your bridesmaids financial status into account when deciding on the dresses.


My BMs are all young: one of my sisters is in college; the other one is 15 and FI''s sister is married with a young daughter and is the sole breadwinner right now for her family, so we paid for all their attire (we just kept it very inexpensive).

Well we are all in our late 20''s early thirties so no one is broke per se. One is a single mom so I can see her perhaps having trouble.


I''m an old married lady
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but have been a bridesmaid many times in my early 20''s, ect. It''s not about the person being broke..but it''s about finding a nice dress that''s reasonable. Brides need to be considerate to their friends who are taking this on. Not only do they have to buy a dress but then the shoes, hair, makeup, GIFT TO the bride n groom....when all is added up it''s $$$$. As brides we think it''s worth it since it''s our day but I think going over $200 is ok...but a bride can''t get mad if someone says they can''t do it. This is exactly why I only had a maid of honor (my sis). I also picked a dress (vera wang) that she could def. use again (which she did...she had it dyed black afterwards.) When I was 23 I had a friend ask me to be a bridesmaid...I said ok but then it turned into a destination wedding with an $400 dress and no offer to help with hotel and airfare. She was upset I had to drop out..but I couldn''t afford that
 
Date: 7/30/2009 4:29:30 PM
Author: jjdav
Maybe try http://www.houseofbrides.com, last time I bought from them, it was reasonably priced, no tax and because I was ordering two BM dresses to be sent to the same address, shipping was free!


Overall, I think keeping it under $150 is reasonable.

I think under $150 unless you are contributing to the cost...House of Brides has the best prices that I know of IMO-I didn''t buy there, but they have my dresses that the BM wore and they were cheaper.

Just don''t go crazy, a dear friend recently spent $300 on a BM dress for a wedding that was called off-and now she is stuck with it...
 
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