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FAQs

What is a reasonable amount for a bridesmaid dress? ›

Bridesmaids usually wear a dress that's a specific style and/or color selected by the bride. The average bridesmaid dress costs $130 , and for about one-third of bridal party members, it's the most costly aspect of the event. But the total price can vary widely, especially if your outfit requires alteration.

In the US, the tradition is for the bridesmaids to each pay for their own dress, regardless of who is making the final call on what the dresses will look like. The bride should try to be flexible about the kind of dresses she chooses for her girls.

Asking bridesmaids at modern weddings to pay for their own dresses is relatively common, but it's important to give them plenty of time to afford it. Saving for a £200 dress is a much easier task if your wedding is two years away compared to just a couple of months.

Like the wedding party attire and bridesmaid dress alterations. Ideally, you want to figure this out early before you ask your wedding party, so that they have all the facts, but it's never too late. Traditionally, your bridesmaids would cover the bridesmaid dress alterations cost.

Bridesmaids might pay entirely (or help pay) for the dress, accessories, the wedding shower, a shower gift, the bachelorette party, travel and hotel for the wedding day, and a wedding gift. Bridesmaids might also pay for their hair and makeup on the day of. But if the bride requires this, the bride might cover it.

According to traditional wedding etiquette, in the US and Australia, each member of the bridal party— including bridesmaids, Maid of Honor, Matron of Honor, and Mother of the Bride and Groom—is expected to cover the cost of their wedding day ensemble.

Modern bridal shower etiquette states that the shower host is responsible for paying for it. Depending on the circ*mstances, this can be a lot for one person to handle, and there is nothing wrong with delegating both costs and duties.

Can I have my married friend as a bridesmaid in the wedding? Yes, absolutely! The idea that a bride needs to be surrounded by unmarried women is ancient history, and unless all your closest friends do happen to be unwed, it might as well stay that way. There's no reason you can't ask a married friend to be a maid.

The bridesmaid gift to the bride is a long-standing tradition. It marks the unique bond shared between you and your bestie. It doesn't need to be anything too extravagant. You may want to reference a joke or memory you share or add something you've both talked about doing together - like bottomless rosé at The Shard!

A matron of honor is essentially the HBIC (head bridesmaid in charge). The truth is, it's no different than being the maid of honor. The only distinction is that a matron of honor is a married woman.

Who pays for the best man's suit? ›

Traditionally, the groom's family doesn't have to pay as many wedding-related costs, but there are still plenty of ways they can get their hands in their pockets: The groom's outfit. The best man's suit and ushers' outfits (NB. As with the bridesmaids, these now tend to be bought by the groomsmen themselves)

The Answer: It Depends

There's no definitive answer of who foots the bill on bridal party glam. That said, the bride or the bridesmaids will pay for the bridal party's hair and makeup. Some brides cover the cost of glam as a “thank you” to their friends for supporting the wedding.

So, schedule your fitting as far ahead as possible (at least two months in advance) to make sure you get an appointment. And don't forget this one crucial step: About one week before the wedding, when all of your alterations are complete, try the dress on at home to ensure it still fits.

In short, the host is the one who pays for the bridal shower—or at least some of it. Most commonly, this is the maid of honor, but the couple's relatives, friends or even the to-be-weds themselves can all pitch in to cover the cost of the wedding shower.

While you may be tempted to get your bridesmaid dress altered as soon as you buy it, we recommend you start your alterations no sooner than six weeks before the wedding so that the fit is as accurate as possible.

"Makeup bags with their initials, blinged-out coffee cups, or jewelry boxes engraved with their names are all great gifts," she said. "And if you want to go further, add a gift tailored to each bridesmaid's tastes."

On average, North American brides have between three and five bridesmaids. Some have way, way more than that; others forgo the bridal party altogether. If you're considering going above average (six bridesmaids or more), make sure you take into consideration the effect that this will have on the rest of your wedding.