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Saving Money on Bridesmaid Dresses

August 2, 2005

Photo of girls wearing homemade bridesmaid dresses.These bridesmaid dresses were made by my daughter's mother in-law for no charge. The total cost of each of them was about $50. That is buying material that was NOT on sale. The bride's (my daughter) dress was purchased from a friend for $20 and dry cleaned. The flower girl's dress was a dress that she already owned that had been purchased from a clearance rack at Von Maur for about $20. It was originally purchased for an anniversary celebration. Beautiful dresses done very inexpensively.

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By Robin

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More Solutions

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November 4, 2011

Here are a few ideas: Rent The Dresses: This is the most recommended solution, for it is cheap and convenient enough. You can ask friends for help if you can't find the proper ones at the local store.

 
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5 Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

July 19, 2007

I am getting married Sept 2, 2007 and I am having 3 bridesmaids. Seeing as we are already on a tight budget for the wedding and not a lot of time I was wondering where would be a great place to get cheap bridesmaids dresses or if anyone knows where I can get gently used bridesmaids dresses. Thanks and they're sizes are 18,16, and 4 Thanks



Michelle from Jackson, SC

Answers

By barfydoogin2 (Guest Post)
July 24, 20070 found this helpful

When I got married we rented the bridesmaid dresses from a costume store and it only cost about $25 per girl and I had them buy their own shoes and we dyed them to match the dresses. So if you have any costume shops close by check them and some bridal stores rent them out as well.

 
July 25, 20070 found this helpful

I heard that Target may start carrying wedding attire. Other places to look would be newport-news.com and chadwicks.com.

 
July 25, 20070 found this helpful

You may try asking your bridesmaids what they already have in their closets. Maybe they have a dress in your wedding colors that would work. I would check all the department stores too. I was in a wedding where the bride found them at Sears.

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They were perfect and able to be worn again! They were only $40 each too! Also they don't have to all be identical. They can be a little different. If you are open to that, it would give you more options.

 
July 25, 20070 found this helpful

I like the idea about asking what they already have in their closets. If the girls have dresses that they like in different colors, you could have a "rainbow" wedding where each bridesmaid would wear a different color. As long as the colors don't clash, it could be beautiful...and unique. I once went to a "rainbow" wedding and it was absolutely beautiful! It's also perfectly acceptable for the bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses. Best Wishes!

 

Silver Post Medal for All Time! 267 Posts
July 25, 20070 found this helpful

I asked my two bridesmaids just to wear something pretty that they already had. They might have gone out and bought a new dress, but at least it was something that they wanted anyway. It was a pretty informal wedding but I loved it.

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Jess

 
By Paula Jo Carr (Guest Post)
July 25, 20070 found this helpful

Depending on their age...perhaps they have their prom dresses still in thier closets ask them to wear them.

Also for a chapel length lace veil, I (the bride) bobby pinned the corner of a lace tablecloth to my head...it was beautiful and I had many, many compliments and great comments on its look.

Perhaps your family or friend of the family has an lace lable cloth and would be proud to let you borrow it to wear.

CONGRATULATIONS!

 
By tinah (Guest Post)
July 29, 20070 found this helpful

when I got married we rented all the dresses, including the wedding dress. It was a rainbow wedding and each girl picked out the color they wanted, in their size. It turned out great.
I was in a wedding where the bridesmaids dresses were not done in time, and we went to the mall and picked out 4 similiar dresses marked less than $50.00. They were black and white, and went great with the black tuxes.

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It worked out great and I used the dress again twice! When my daughter got married, we picked out a color, and paid a seamstress at our church to make the dresses. It cost each bridesmaid less than $40.00. These are some ideas....also check bridal discount outlets, or even thrift shops. we love shopping and have found formals for as little at $20.00 each!

tinah

 
By (Guest Post)
August 2, 20070 found this helpful

if you don't care for a long length, I had gone to Ross and picked up 3 of the same sundresses. to make them look more elegant we added one of those things that poof out the bottom. they looked great and all for 25 each plus all of them have worn the dresses again

 
By miki (Guest Post)
November 2, 20070 found this helpful

Bridesmaids are supposed to pay for their own clothes.

 
By Mandi (Guest Post)
March 5, 20080 found this helpful

Check out the Goodwill and other thrift stores. I found my sister's dress for only $6, and it was so beautiful, it set the color theme for my entire wedding!

 
By Soon to be Mrs. Laird (Guest Post)
March 22, 20080 found this helpful

I am in the same position. I have been looking at the Davids bridal website where they have a really good deal on dresses in their SALE category, of course they don't stay long, if you look you can find 200 dollar dresses for like 59.99 and up in of course selected colors, you can also check out their outlet sales they offer, and I've seen dresses that are originally $190 for 39.99 so you just have to check and see if they have a color that coordinates with what you want.

 
June 6, 20080 found this helpful

I used www.keepmeinstitches.biz for my bridesmaids' dresses. I chose chocolate brown satin cocktail-length dresses with a shawl that looked nearly identical to the David's Bridal version for $80 (including shipping).

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My bridesmaids paid for their own dresses. Their customer service is wonderful and they have lots of options even cheaper than what I selected.

 
By Christi (Guest Post)
January 6, 20090 found this helpful

I used www.justthebeginnings.com. Beautiful dresses at great prices. Good Luck

 

Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 270 Feedbacks
August 8, 20090 found this helpful

When I got married 1974, it was STILL the bride's expense for purchasing her attendants dresses and the groom to rent the tuxes. I don't know when that flipped--should still be, then the bride would be more careful at the expenses she demands for the wedding. When you see the shows on TV, those are spoiled brats demanding and not caring who has to pay for what. You see in advice columns and in articles all the time of how to back out of being in weddings if you can't afford it.

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I bought the fabrics for my dress and my attendants' dresses. You were deemed an idiot by society standards if you could not sew. My designer dress back then would have been at least $500 with all the pearls hand stitched and the multiple layers of satin and fittings, etc. I made the train totally removable for after the ceremony wearing for dancing, etc. I also made my flowing veil. The head piece---well let's say the guy's headband style wrap sunglasses from the 70's will never see the light of day again! Perfect to wrap the satin and veiling and making it all fit as a headband on the back of the head. Granted, I had waist length full hair that was up swept for the day--it all worked.
My girls loved their fabrics and pattern (keeping their style of wear in mind), and the long dresses afterward could be made tea length to short if they wanted.
Goodwill, etc and even checking with other brides who were done with their items and see if they had dresses. Prom dresses go on sale after proms are done. Some I had seen were beautiful and 90% even at Sears, Penny's, etc. With the end of summer sales, I got my dress for my son's May 2010 wedding at Penny's. The style will be the same and the color perfect (according to the bride).

You being considerate is a very wonderful characteristic of a very thoughtful and mature young person. I wish you much joy and love for the rest of your life.

 
January 11, 20151 found this helpful

I was in a wedding in 1970, and again in 1972, and I was expected to buy my own dress. I did make them myself, so the only expense was the fabric, etc.

This past year, I was in a wedding where the bride was 67 and the groom was 70, and she told me to wear whatever I liked. She was wearing black with turquoise, knee-high cowboy boots, so I wore a black skirt and top, black slouch boots, and a long aqua sweater.

 
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October 19, 2007

I would like a candle light ceremony and reception. My linens are ivory and gold. Ivory plates, light pink rose petals, with candle centerpieces. My mother's dress is auburn, brownish orange. It's a Spring wedding. What would look good for my bridesmaid dresses? My matron of honor just told me she is pregnant. I need advice on colors and material, for total of 3 girls.



Kayla

Answers

By Cat (Guest Post)
October 19, 20070 found this helpful

How about a pretty shade of sage? It compliments all of those colors. And since it is spring, it should be a flowing material.

 
 
October 19, 20070 found this helpful

How about a celdon (light pastel color of green) Similiar color of the sage dress pictured. Or you could go with a lavender.
Try a light colored teal....Good luck and congrats to you

 
October 19, 20070 found this helpful

I'm thinking you need a warmer color since you are using gold for an accent. An apricot color with pink undertones (some have yellow or orange undertones) would look nice with both the mother's dress and the lt. pink rose petals. Apricot chiffon over lightweight pink taffeta lining (sounds weird, but looks beautiful, try it in the store!) would be soft and drapes beautifully. If there are sleeves, they should be unlined. Or there could be butterfly sleeves since it may be a warm spring day. If you don't like the two layer idea, there are lots of soft, drapey fabrics in the bridal sections of any fabric store. Happy Wedding!

 

Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 270 Feedbacks
October 19, 20070 found this helpful

YOu don't say how pregnant the mom will be by then, that could be your deciding factor on color and style. Unless you have each one a different style and color, just slightly similar.
My own wedding (1974) brides and grooms back then furnished the wedding wear. Anyway, I had coordinated girls' fabrics and colors with the groom's attendants shirts--my mom sent the wrong fabrics to the wrong girls. Thank heavens it all looked good anyway.
"back then" it was really lame NOT to be able to sew your own wedding wear. Now, home sewing seems to be a speciality. (Even my 5 yr old granddaughter's knee patches on her pants are envied by her friends.)

 
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