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
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. 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.
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). My bridesmaids paid for their own dresses. Their customer service is wonderful and they have lots of options even cheaper than what I selected.
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.
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!
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
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. 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!
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.
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.
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!
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. 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.
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.
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Request: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
Archived on 07/19/2007
I am looking for some ideas for inexpensive Bridesmaid dresses. I want everyone to match as much as possible and I would like to have quite a few bridesmaids. The cost of the dresses will greatly influence how many I have. Thanks for any info that you can provide. - TT
Answers:
RE: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
I've seen stunning wedding parties with the bridesmaids in simple black cocktail dresses, but if this clashes with your theme, I'd go with cream or beige, right off the rack, with matching accent (removable) pastel scarves/shawls/sashes to match your colors. This way, you set the price, and your closest dear ones will have a lovely cocktail dress good for many wearings.
By Doggy
RE: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
My neice, Elisa Giese, had the greatest idea. She sent enough fabric to each of her bridesmaids to have their dress custom made to suit themselves. Each got to choose the style that looked best on them; they just had to be formal length. They were made of black raw silk (she was very generous with the yardage sent) and each bridesmaid looked fantastic in the style dress that was perfect for their body shape plus they could all be shortened to tea length to wear later. Not only that, it was cheaper to have the dresses made than to buy. The wedding party was absolutely beautiful!
By Mary D'Entremont
RE: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
For my wedding I picked out really nice prom dresses in Sears after prom season was over. Each dress was under $50.00. Also check out all of your local thrift and consignment shops, you get great deals on dresses!
By Kim
RE: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
When my daughter was planning her wedding, she went to T. J. Maxx and found beautiful dresses for her bridesmaids - all matching - for $19.99 each. They were long dresses made with purple velvet, a scattered design of flowers made with a sparkling glitter type material, spaghetti straps, a slit up the back - they ended up being the most beautiful and practical dresses I had ever seen at a wedding.
By Meem
RE: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
My friend asked each bridesmaid to select a black dress (or the color of your choice) but it had to be an evening style and of a certain length. It allowed each girl to show their individual style and it was really cute! Plus, it allowed us to have a dress that we may actually wear after the wedding.
By Nina
RE: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
find out where your closest JC Penney's or Sear's outlet mall is that carries formals. I've picked up bridesmaid gowns for less than $20. I even got 2 wedding gowns (I liked the top on one and the bottom on another) and had a seamstress put them together for me. It was a total cost of less than $100 but my gown looked like several $1000 had been spent. For my wedding everyone lived across the country so I just asked them all to wear a certain color and it be a evening gown. It turned out beautiful.
By Jeannie
RE: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
Dillards, Macys, Sacks usually have an outlet store. I went there and got my dresses for $30.00 each and they were normally $200.00. Just out of season or ???
By Robin
RE: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
I suggest to ask all your bridesmaids to send you their sizes and you can get real neat dresses made as to their sizes. This will also cut down your cost as the fabric will be of your choice and within your budget. You can also tell them what kind of shoes will go with the pattern you choose.
By Duane
RE: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
If it is an out door wedding, i would recommend having your bridesmaids wear very simple sheath dress. since that type looks good on every figure. and they are cheaper than evening gowns, and not hard to make if you choose that venue. Or if it is outdoors you can have the bride and bridesmaids go shoe-less (since it is less formal) that will save a lot of money, so you can raise your dress budget a bit.....
Check out http://www.bridesonlinestore.com. The dresses run from $67.00 to $87.00 each. The sizes available are from 4 to 30. My sister-in-law ordered her bridesmaids dresses from there and they were beautiful! They look just as nice as the ones in the bridal shops. I could not buy cheap fabric, zippers and patterns at WalMart and make them this cheap. The dresses are lined. Matching fabric is available to make matching "little girl" dresses. She ordered hers on Monday and HAD them on Friday! I'm still amazed at our good fortune!
I got my bridesmaids dresses from this site called bridalSassique.com.
I ordered style #1954 which are the same ones I saw at Davids bridal for around $150, but they sell theirs for only $69 bucks....
not bad at all!!! Weddings are so pricey, my fiance and I are so stressed out.
www.bridalsassique.com
By Jess
RE: Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
You could do what we did for my sister's wedding. We went to stores and tried different styles of dresses and found a great dress but the people in the store were snobs so we wrote down all the info on the dress and looked it up online and found the same dress for about half the price it was in the store. It was a great money saver.
