How much is “too much” to ask your bridesmaids to spend on a dress?

Also, since it's two years out, maybe they can get it on a deal day? Like if they have an annual sale or something??

I would speak with all of your bridesmaids separately and find out their budget for a dress. $265 for a dress is a little pricey. Me personally, I am keeping my girls under 200 in case they need to get alterations. My bridesmaids are responsible for their dress, shoes, hair, and nails. I will be providing them with sleeping accommodations ( house that I am renting day before, and night of the wedding), make up, jewelry, and gifts.

Hi Ann! Do you know where you're ordering the dresses from? I would see if you can ask the store to help you be sneaky and contribute a little bit towards the dress for your one friend! It would be really sweet and also take care of it in a direct way where you've already contributed so she can't politely refuse!

My bridesmaids dresses were around $275, which is what I've always paid previously as a bridesmaid but still seems ridiculously expensive for those dresses! All my bridesmaids were on board with the price, but I knew this would be a big splurge for my SIL and way more than she ever spends on clothing. I wanted to be sneaky and subsidize her dress, so I asked the store if I could pay $75 towards her dress. Unfortunately the way they group ordered the dresses I could only contribute towards the total, so I decided to contribute so everyone's costs went down to $200. It was a nice surprise for them and made me feel less guilty about the bridesmaids dresses I fell in love with! There's always a creative way you can help out!

I personally think more than $200 is too much and that's what my bridesmaids said too. Even with time to save up, most people would rather spend their money on other things rather than a dress they'd wear once. Also, be careful asking your bridesmaids to buy a dress this early. 6 months away from the wedding is the best time for them to get dresses, if you go too early there's a good chance the girls could change sizes due to pregnancy, major weight loss, major weight gain due to medicine or stress, etc and not all bridesmaids dresses can up altered that much

I have spent 150 on a dress then 100 in alterations.
my bridesmaids spent 220 on a dress
however if several bridesmaids are not able to afford the dress I wouldn’t force Them to buy that one

View Quoted Comment That's so nice

I feel like that is soo expensive! But do what is best for you and your bridemaids.

I think you've received great advice here! Ask them what their budgets are and pay the difference yourself or just gift them their dresses. I've had a few brides pay for my bridesmaid dresses and I thought it was super sweet💗 I'd rather get that as a gift than the more traditional bridesmaid gifts.
My sister got a gorgeous Monique Lhuillier at David's Bridal on sale for like $150. Shop around for the dress you fell in love with. You have time and you may find it at another retailer for less or maybe wait for a sale.

Everyone is totally different (so don’t feel bad about what you want), but I do think $295 is a bit on the high side. I’d be completely uncomfortable paying that much. Especially since, it’d be something I’d never wear again. But I’m also someone spending less than $295 on my wedding dress, so my bridesmaids dresses will deff be $100 ish or less. I think that is reasonable. I’d recommend you having a budget talk with your bridesmaids though. It couldn’t hurt! Or, if you absolutely have to have these bridesmaids dresses, I’d consider paying a portion of them for each person. It’s just important to consider outside of this $295, bridesmaids will have a number of other costs too. Happy decision making to you! 🤗❤️

I think this is a "know your bridesmaids" thing. Ask them what they think and if they're willing to go for it. For me personally, the bridesmaid dress I had to get was $176, but with tax, alterations, and undergarments I spent a little over $300, just on this dress. That's a lot to ask and if it had been anyone else I wouldn't have done it. It's just whatever your bridesmaids are willing to pay.

No 2 years to save is a long time. she can save 5-10$ a week.

on the other hand - if it is well out of her budget you could offer to help her pay for some of it.

That's expensive to me. Keep in mind $295 is just the cost of the dress and your maids will have to pay for alterations on top of that, plus shoes, accessories, and anything else you want them to have to complete their look.

If it's super important to you to have this maid in your wedding AND super important to have that dress I think its reasonable to offer to chip in for part of the dress, or just have a conversation with her about what she thinks is a reasonable price to pay. If I were a bridesmaid asked to pay so much for a dress I'd be really appreciative of the bride being willing to chip in and it would make me feel special that the bride wanted me to be a part of her wedding enough to help cover the cost of something I felt was too expensive for me.

I am not asking my BM's to go over $150.

Well I allowed my girls to choose and the majority won. There dress was 269. If your getting them from a bridal shop you are going to spend well into 200$ or more

I wouldn't even spend $295 on a dress for myself, much less a bridesmaid dress. I really wanted my bridesmaids to match and loved the color at David's bridal. The dresses were $150 and I just couldn't ask them to spend that much. I ended up finding a gorgeous dress on Amazon for $90 and still felt bad. Please be considerate of your bridesmaids.

I asked my girls what they would want the budget to be before I even looked at dresses... there are a lot of other things they will have to spend money on in addition to the dress - hair and makeup possibly, bachelorette party, travel, bridal shower gifts - so you should try to be respectful if they can’t afford it and maybe offer to help or find something similar that’s more affordable.

Whether she has 2 months to save or 2 years, too much is too much. In terms of her general income and costs, she just cannot spend $300 on a dress, likely not huge amounts of money for HMU, and a lot for food, transportation, and other costs, for just one day. She has to look at it as an overall thing, and what else she could do with $295. If it is too much for her , it does not matter how many other people can afford that much for a 1 day wear dress, only that she cannot afford it. Look a lots of BM dresses, that is at the high end of the scale. Post a pic of the dress. Maybe another designer has similar for less. Or it may be available previously worn 1 x, for $100-$150.

View Quoted Comment This is very important. No one wants to do $200 in alterations on a $300 dress, because it was bought too early. And if anyone changes so much it cannot be altered, a dress you can buy now is likely to be discontinued by near wedding time. Better to choose a color now. And shop for BM dresses at the usual time, 4-5 months before the wedding. Unlike wedding dresses, BM gowns come in 2 to 10 weeks after ordering, occasionally 12. So 4 months out is always plenty if time. Makers tell you 6 months so people will buy early. Not necessary.

Well, it’s not just the dress that they’re going to pay for. So, you should add up what ALL the expenses will total for them to be a bridesmaid. Personally, I think $295 is a little much. But, since you really like the dress, one idea is that you can pay half for each of their dresses.

My sister's are my bridesmaids and I know they are on a budget. I just don't thing anything over 200 bucks is worth spending on a bridesmaid dress they will only wear once. Instead op got something that they may wear again. Like spererates. I'm having them buy tulle skirts (90 bucks) and wearing a satin camisole or blouse. You can also look into these http://www.convertiblewrapdress.com/.
Your bridesmaids can choose a style to wear because they're covetable and the dress can be worn to other events.