Average cost of bridesmaid dresses?
Question by thegirlwantstoknow: Average cost of bridesmaid dresses?
I have a predicament about bridesmaid dresses. I am having a smallish,mostly only family wedding, with my sister and my fiance’s two sisters as the bridesmaids. My sister will be the maid of honor, with my fiance’s two sisters as plain ole bridesmaids. The wedding is taking place in a very fancy, old antebellum home. I want the decor/feel of it to be simple but very classy. My family and my fiance’s family are both upper-middle-class. My mom has bought my sister and I dresses that cost anywhere from $ 200-$ 500 for various special occasions, and I know my fiance’s family regularly spends between $ 190-$ 300 dollars for quality formal party dresses for their girls. Here is the problem… My fiance’s mom has suggested that I pick a color from a designer or Web site and let the bridesmaids pick out their own dresses in that color. That way they will all get something they like. That sounds like a fine idea to me, as long as I like the color and the dresses are all classy. I would like these dresses to be recycleable for all three girls as party dresses, so it’s not a waste of money. My fiance’s mom suggest David’s bridal (she said she knows they might not be known for super nice dresses–aka she knows it’s a cheaper place), but it was one of the only places she knew where you could pick a color and they could pick the gowns. I went to David’s, but I don’t like the fabrics or the dresses. Since we’re going w/ simple, single-color gowns, the cut of the dresses is everything as to whether they look classy and nice. Also, since they all have to choose their own gowns, I need a place that carries at least six or seven different gowns (all knee-length), in one color. I finally found a designer I like (Jenny Yoo). I love the color, and there are about 15 different very classy dresses. http://www.jennyyoo.com/shangtung.html
The problem is, the dresses are going to run about $ 250 each (unless I can get a discount at the local Jenny Yoo botique). I feel that, on one hand, this is perfectly reasonable, because my fiance’s family has money and has bought his sisters dresses that cost in the $ 200 range for use as party dresses, etc., in the past. Why can’t they pay a little more to be in our wedding? (I could care less what my sister has to pay; our parents will pay it, so my question is mainly about his sisters). On the other hand, his family is having to buy two of these dresses. Is it unfair to ask them to pay $ 500 for bridesmaid gowns? On yet another hand, if it was up to me, I could have picked a $ 100 gown that I thought looked classy and let them all wear the same thing, but since his mom wants them to be able to pick the dresses, I have to choose a place where I like *all* the gowns, that has a variety of gowns–so the price increase is b/c I’m trying to suit her wishes. What do you think?
Best answer:
Answer by <3
the dresses i picked for my girls are from alfred angelo they were i think 175 plus alterations. i there is a 50-75 dollar cap on the alterations…
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April 16th, 2012 at 3:51 am
I purchased my girls dresses, I did choose the color, fabric & length and I let them choose their dreses on the condition that they run the dress past me before we ordered to be sure I was happy with the style and that it worked with my wedding – - for me, I just didn’t want anything too revealing.
I directed my girls to Eden Bridals (Cranberry Color), B2 (Berry Color), and Jasmine Bridal (Cranberry Color) which the local salon helped me match the fabric colors. The prices ranged from $ 138 to $ 268 for each dress.
$ 250 is on the high side for a dress, but you have to be happy with it. My concern is that your are being directed to David’s Bridal because your fiance’s sisters might not want to spend $ 250 for a dress.
I honestly would suggest you try finding something a little less expensive (under $ 200) but work with your bridesmaids to find something you like, they like AND that is affordable for them.