What's the most you've paid for a bridesmaid dress?

[Booze Raccoon]

Somewhere in the 200's.  Maybe $220.  I don't think I can put a cap on the price.  I guess whatever I could afford. (Which isn't much right now!)

[eav2c]

$400 or so and then about $200 in alterations. It was my brothers wedding and against my better judgement I did not raise a stink. The alterations were so pricey because I was away at college and sent my dad my measurements to order my dress. Well, I needed a size 10 but my dad didn't believe it. Went home and brought in my prom dress and made them order the dress according to the size of my prom dress. Yeah, I ended up with a size 2 dress when I needed a 10! My dad clearly had never heard of the freshman 15 (and then some).

[amberlyrose]

I just bought one for $99 for a wedding in Oct 2014. It isn't terrible and I could possibly wear it again.
I think I'd spend up to $300, but it depends on the person and the wedding. I'm not paying that much for a backyard BBQ type deal!

[joshlyman]

$125

Mine were $90

I would pay up to $300 I guess, but I would probably whine about it lol

[Deleted]

$350 plus alterations.  The other times I've been a bridesmaid (5 times total), it has been more like $150-200 plus alterations.

$500 is probably where I'd start getting annoyed.  But hey, my best friend got married in Italy AND had a bachelorette party in Las Vegas (her idea, not mine), so the cost of an expensive bridesmaid dress is minor compared to other expenses I've had related to being in a wedding...

[snickers]

I have only been a bridesmaid once, and the dress was $300.
That was for my sister so it was okay, but I wouldn't want to pay much more than that.

[Deleted]

$600.

[eb777888]

Aug 18, 2013 10:28:04 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Aug 18, 2013 10:22:00 GMT -5 v said:

$350 plus alterations.  The other times I've been a bridesmaid (5 times total), it has been more like $150-200 plus alterations.

$500 is probably where I'd start getting annoyed.  But hey, my best friend got married in Italy AND had a bachelorette party in Las Vegas (her idea, not mine), so the cost of an expensive bridesmaid dress is minor compared to other expenses I've had related to being in a wedding...

I honestly would have sat that one out. I mean, asking people to travel twice to celebrate you? Come on. People are so self-involved when it comes to weddings sometimes. I can't fathom being like "all of my friends have to spend thousands to celebrate me, yes, this is reasonable!"

Yes. Not to mention not everyone can afford to do this.

[amberlyrose]

Aug 18, 2013 10:22:11 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

Aug 18, 2013 10:16:43 GMT -5 amberlyrose said:

I just bought one for $99 for a wedding in Oct 2014. It isn't terrible and I could possibly wear it again.
I think I'd spend up to $300, but it depends on the person and the wedding. I'm not paying that much for a backyard BBQ type deal!

the bride picked dresses already for a wedding more than a year away? Is she type A or beebee?

Type A. But she was set on a certain dress and didn't want it to sell out. It's not from a bridal shop.

[verycontrary247]

Most expensive one ended up being around $185. I've been a bridesmaid 3 times.

[Deleted]

$250 because it had to be handmade. My sister told me the dress pattern, the fabric and thread to buy. Then I had to find a seamstress to make it. Talk about high maintenance.

[spedrunner]

The most i paid was $250 ish for the dress (that fell off me the entire night) for my cousins wedding. My friend asked me to be a BM and we started dress shopping, this was right at the time of my divorce, things were tight, her dress was $400, i told her I would not be able to do it, and that id love to come to the wedding and help any way i could but just could not afford to be a BM right now

She has not spoken to me since

[eb777888]

Aug 18, 2013 10:34:07 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Aug 18, 2013 10:29:37 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Yes. Not to mention not everyone can afford to do this.

The best is when brides get PISSED when people in the wedding party are like "sorry I can't go to vegas (or wherever)." I mean, did you really expect that all of your friends want to not only use their vacation time but also drop several thousand to party with you? I love my friends but I would never ask or expect such a thing. I knew a girl who was in a wedding and the bride wanted a bachelorette in California and forced 10 girls to stay in a 2 bedroom apartment with one bathroom. I'll let you figure out how that went.

Wow. I'm so glad that I'm finally at the age where everyone I know getting married is on their second wedding, lol.

[TrudyCampbell]

$300 not including an extra $90 in alterations. Oy.

[Deleted]

$500 is when I'd start to question things.

[Norticprincess]

I think the one for my SIL's wedding was a little under $200- I had to pay extra for extra length. My MIL did the alterations. I bailed out of the the $$$ one. The dress was somewhere north of $350 before any alterations, extra length etc. We were suppose to buy a $100 fasinator to go with it. That wasn't the bad part - the 150 + person bridal shower at the country club for non country club people. The MOH priced so it was more than having a high tea party at the Ritz in DC. I thought I was going to be laid off prior to the wedding. Wouldn't listen to anyone's objections. (DH was one of the two BM in the wedding too - there was a destination bach party too - this was an instate wedding and our costs were looking at north of $5k. - no not spending that) Ended up with chemo and on leave instead. I was in for chemo and missed the wedding anyway.

I'm in one in Feb - we've made 4 trips to look for dresses so far. The independent bridal shop owner is a lying liar who lies so yesterday's trip was a waste of time. Claimed dress came in a color it doesn't come in. said the designer's website was wrong. Nope the website was correct. I think we are settled on a DB dress so sub $200 and MIL will do the waist alternations for me. Only problem is can't figure out if it comes in extra length. Bride wants heels. It is fine on everyone else. It is above my ankles. Vegas has turned into NYC due to bride's limited time off.

There would be another one, but DH has said I'm no longer allowed to be a BM, unless it is my sister's wedding.

[sugarbear]

$350
then I had to buy brown satin shoes. Because the dress was brown. One shoulder. I looked like fucking Wilma Flinstone.

the best part was that the woman based my size off my weight rather than my measurements. Told me I was lying, that there's no way I could weigh 175 and have those measurements. She sent me a size 20 dress. I'm a ice 12. So I pretty much had the whole thing remade, costing me another $200.

i wore it for Halloween the next year.

[Deleted]

Aug 18, 2013 10:34:07 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Aug 18, 2013 10:29:37 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Yes. Not to mention not everyone can afford to do this.

The best is when brides get PISSED when people in the wedding party are like "sorry I can't go to vegas (or wherever)." I mean, did you really expect that all of your friends want to not only use their vacation time but also drop several thousand to party with you? I love my friends but I would never ask or expect such a thing. I knew a girl who was in a wedding and the bride wanted a bachelorette in California and forced 10 girls to stay in a 2 bedroom apartment with one bathroom. I'll let you figure out how that went.

She was understanding that many people couldn't make it to the wedding and some people who were invited to Las Vegas couldn't make it.  I've never had a friend or family member who wasn't completely understanding about someone not being able to make it to a destination wedding or bachelorette party.  

I had the time and money to go to both Italy and Las Vegas and I did, and had a great time at both, and am glad I went to both.  Even though the groom was a complete asshole and the marriage was over a year later.   :-#

[winnied]

$300, not including alterations. If I paid that, though, I would expect to be able to wear shoes/jewelry of my choice and not have to pay for my own hair to be done (if it's requested to be done.)

My BMs paid $265. Generally, I don't feel bad about it, because they got to wear their own shoes and jewelry and we paid for their hair and makeup to be done. None of them had to travel or get hotel accommodations either.

*edit* reading fail. I read it as how much would you pay, not how much you have paid. I think I paid $285 for one about 10 years ago.

[hulley]

I've only been in one wedding - my friends are the eloping kind. The wedding I was in was for my godmother when I was 15.

The dress was $995 plus alterations, but she paid. I was her only attendant. She also paid for hair, nails and I think accessories. I paid for hideous dyed to match shoes. She told me I could wear it all again to my prom, but I ended up with a different dress.

At this point in my life, I would probably put out up to $300 for a dress of the bride's choosing, but more if it were something actually re-wearable or something I got to pick myself.

[Deleted]

$400. That was back in the day where they were more formal though.

Nowadays I wouldn't pay more than $250, with alterations.

[mirandahobbes]

I think the most I've paid is $280. I think $350 is my limit. But I've retired as a BM/MOH. After 10 weddings, I'm done.

[rugbywife]

Aug 18, 2013 10:34:07 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Aug 18, 2013 10:29:37 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Yes. Not to mention not everyone can afford to do this.

The best is when brides get PISSED when people in the wedding party are like "sorry I can't go to vegas (or wherever)." I mean, did you really expect that all of your friends want to not only use their vacation time but also drop several thousand to party with you? I love my friends but I would never ask or expect such a thing. I knew a girl who was in a wedding and the bride wanted a bachelorette in California and forced 10 girls to stay in a 2 bedroom apartment with one bathroom. I'll let you figure out how that went.

Yeah...so I am MOH in my BFFs wedding and last night was the bachelorette...the whole thing will cost about $830 (my costs plus her costs)...I estimated the best I could and told the other girls to bring $40 to help cover her costs, more if they were at the hotel...one girl didn't show, there were a few other complications...anyways, I think today I left with $238 in cash...it cost me just shy of $600 OOP.

Last night at dinner she brought up 3 times how she really wants to go to Vegas and how it would make an awesome bachelorette.  She said this knowing that she had once mentioned to me that a bachelorette in Vegas would be awesome (years ago)...when the time came I explained that I wasn't in a position to do it. But it still made me feel like crap.  At this point I am at $200 for the dress, at least $100 for alterations, her shower cost me $700 and her bachelorette was $600 and hair on the day of will be $75...add in our wedding gift and the whole shebang will run me just shy of $2200. And at the end of the day I know she was at least a little disappointed that we didn't go to Vegas.  I love her so much, and I know I am hormonal, but I am a bit hurt. 

[vaportrail]

$400 plus alterations thanks to Jenny Yoo and her shantung silk.

[takeonyou]

$220 for the dress, another $80 in alterations. The bride "wished we would all have" these uncomfortable $250 heels. All three other bridesmaids wanted to buy them despite us all being on TIGHT budgets. Thank God I found them online for $30. Last pair in my size!

I wouldnt spend that for anyone but her honestly. I love her, lol. My max budget would be $200

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using proboards

[rugbywife]

Aug 18, 2013 18:15:03 GMT -5 @smace said:

Aug 18, 2013 16:54:09 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Yeah...so I am MOH in my BFFs wedding and last night was the bachelorette...the whole thing will cost about $830 (my costs plus her costs)...I estimated the best I could and told the other girls to bring $40 to help cover her costs, more if they were at the hotel...one girl didn't show, there were a few other complications...anyways, I think today I left with $238 in cash...it cost me just shy of $600 OOP.

Last night at dinner she brought up 3 times how she really wants to go to Vegas and how it would make an awesome bachelorette.  She said this knowing that she had once mentioned to me that a bachelorette in Vegas would be awesome (years ago)...when the time came I explained that I wasn't in a position to do it. But it still made me feel like crap.  At this point I am at $200 for the dress, at least $100 for alterations, her shower cost me $700 and her bachelorette was $600 and hair on the day of will be $75...add in our wedding gift and the whole shebang will run me just shy of $2200. And at the end of the day I know she was at least a little disappointed that we didn't go to Vegas.  I love her so much, and I know I am hormonal, but I am a bit hurt. 

Wait. Back the bullshit train up. 

Was this person whining about Las Vegas AT THE BACHELORETTE PARTY YOU WERE THROWING FOR HER??

Yes. Not overly, like "I wish we had gone to Las Vegas". But she said going there (in general) would be fun and then suggested to another guest that she should do it for her bachelorette. And the topic came up more than once during the course of the night. It only meant something to me because she had mentioned it years ago.

I know she didn't intend to offend me. But I was tired (and sober all night) and I was just feeling the love, so to speak.

[rugbywife]

Aug 18, 2013 19:14:07 GMT -5 @smace said:

Aug 18, 2013 19:04:55 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Yes. Not overly, like "I wish we had gone to Las Vegas". But she said going there (in general) would be fun and then suggested to another guest that she should do it for her bachelorette. And the topic came up more than once during the course of the night. It only meant something to me because she had mentioned it years ago.

I know she didn't intend to offend me. But I was tired (and sober all night) and I was just feeling the love, so to speak.

Your BFF is a douchebag.

I shouldn't have told the story (I feel like a horrible friend for doing so), she really isn't, she was drunk and it was a douchtastic moment, but usually she isn't like that.

[underwaterrhymes]

I've been in something like 12 different weddings and I don't remember exactly. I think $250? Nothing too terrible.

[rugbywife]

12 weddings??? OMG. No way. This is #1 for me. I will be fine if it is the only one.