Who Pays For Bridesmaids' And Flower Girls' Dresses?

Planning a wedding can be a tricky business, especially when it comes to dividing money and knowing who should pay for what. While there are traditional guidelines, these can be taken with a pinch of salt as the average cost of a wedding is beyond the reach of many people. So, whether you pay for an outfit will depend on your circumstances.

Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for the bride's wedding dress and the bridesmaids' dresses. However, today, the bridal couple usually pays for the bridesmaids' dresses. It is also becoming increasingly common for bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses, especially if there are quite a few of them.

In line with the bride and bridesmaid dresses, the flower girl's dress is another item traditionally paid for by the bride's parents. If that’s not an option, the bridal couple can pay for this themselves, or ask the flower girl's family to contribute.

So, what should you do if you're a bride or groom-to-be, or a bridesmaid or flower girl who has been asked to pay for a dress you can't afford?

Who pays for bridesmaids' dresses?

Wedding etiquette can be a tricky business, especially when it comes to dividing money and knowing who should pay for what. While there are traditional guidelines, these can be taken with a pinch of salt as the average cost of a wedding is beyond the reach of many people. Therefore, whether you pay for an outfit will depend on your circumstances.

Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for the bridesmaids' dresses, but today, the bridal couple usually pays. However, it is also becoming common to ask the bridesmaids to pay for their dresses, especially if there are quite a few of them. If this is the case, it is a good idea to give your bridesmaids some freedom over what they wear as a gesture of goodwill. For example, you could pick the colour to match your wedding theme, but shop for the dress together so that your bridesmaids can potentially re-use their dress for another event.

According to Gabriella Risatti, the founder of Gabriella New York Bridal Salon, if the bride can afford to, it is a thoughtful gesture for her to pay for the dress or a portion of the cost for each of her bridesmaids. However, this is still an exception to the norm. Napa-based wedding planner Lindsey Nickel, founder of Lovely Day Events, agrees that bridesmaids are typically expected to pay for their own dresses and accessories.

If you are a bridesmaid and you are unable to afford the dress, it is important to be honest and upfront. The bride should let everyone know about all upcoming financial responsibilities from the get-go, and bridesmaids should be transparent if they will be under monetary strain. If a bridesmaid cannot afford the dress, the engaged couple should step in to help cover the cost and work that expense into their wedding budget if possible.

Who buys the flower girl dress?

Wedding etiquette can be a tricky business, and there is no one right way to go about it. While there are traditional guidelines, these can be set aside depending on your circumstances and budget.

Traditionally, the flower girl's dress is paid for by the bride's parents, but if that is not an option, the couple getting married can pay for it themselves, or ask the flower girl's family to contribute. If the flower girl is young, it is common to ask her family to contribute. If the couple does ask the family to pay, it is considered a thoughtful gesture to pay for the little one's jewellery or a gorgeous bag as a gift to say thank you for being part of the special day.

If the couple is planning a custom flower girl dress, the couple will usually cover the cost. Flower girl dresses can range from $40 to $500, but designer options can push the investment upwards. The couple may also choose to split the cost with the flower girl's parents.

If the flower girl is older, she might need professional hair and makeup, which will incur an additional cost. Sometimes, the parents pay for this, but often the bride covers the cost. If the whole wedding party is getting ready together, the flower girl will sometimes be included in these services.

What if a bridesmaid can't afford a dress?

While there are traditional guidelines for who pays for the bridesmaids' dresses, there is no wrong or right way to go about this. If the bride can afford to, it is a thoughtful gesture for her to pay for the dress or a portion of the cost for each of her bridesmaids. However, it is still an exception to the norm. Generally, bridesmaids are expected to pay for their own dresses and accessories.

If a member of the bridal party cannot afford the bridesmaid dress, it is recommended that the engaged couple step in to help cover the cost and work that expense into their wedding budget, if possible. This should be done privately so that the other bridesmaids don't feel slighted. The bride should also pick the bridesmaid dresses as early as possible so that each of the bridesmaids will have the maximum amount of time to save up for the gown. If the store offers a payment plan, the bride could also suggest this option to the bridesmaid.

If the dress still isn't a feasible option for one or more of the bridesmaids, the bride could consider shopping for a similar look that costs much less. Alternatively, opting for mismatched bridesmaids' dresses opens up a whole new world of options. If the bridesmaids are each selecting different gowns within the same colour scheme, it's also likely to be easier to find a pretty, flattering style that doesn't break the bank. If all options have been exhausted and you're still at an impasse, the bridesmaid may need to take on a different role within the wedding. She could give a reading at the ceremony or help greet guests.

What if the flower girl's parents can't afford the dress?

While there are traditional guidelines, there is no wrong or right way to approach wedding finances. It is becoming more common for the bridal couple to pay for the bridesmaids' dresses, but it is still expected that bridesmaids will pay for their own dresses and accessories. If you are the bride, you can offer to pay for the flower girl dress, especially if you are asking the flower girl's mother to be a bridesmaid and cover her own dress and hotel. If you can't afford to buy the flower girl dress, you could offer to split the cost with the flower girl's parents.

If the flower girl's parents can't afford the dress, it is best to be transparent and honest about any budget constraints. You could say something like:

> "Thank you so much for including my daughter in your special day. As much as I'd love for her to be a flower girl, I'm unfortunately under budget constraints right now and can't afford it. But I appreciate you thinking of her."

Or, if the bride has selected a specific dress that is out of budget, you could say:

> "I'm so honored that my daughter will get to be your flower girl. The dress you selected for her to wear is beautiful, but it's sadly not in my budget. I found a few similar options that are more affordable for me—would any of these work for you?"

If you are the bride, you could also give the flower girl's parents guidance on the dress's colour and style, and then leave it to them to purchase. You could also suggest that the flower girl wears a dress of her parents' choosing, perhaps in a particular colour, and something that she will be able to wear again.

Who pays for hair and makeup?

There are varying opinions on who pays for hair and makeup for bridesmaids and flower girls. While some sources state that the couple should pay for hair and makeup as a "thank you" for being part of the wedding, others suggest that the bridesmaids should pay for these services themselves, especially if they require specific treatments.

For flower girls, it is common for the couple to cover the cost of hair and makeup, particularly if the whole wedding party is getting ready together. However, some people believe that the flower girl's parents should pay for these services if they want them, or that a bridesmaid or family member could help the flower girl get ready as a more cost-effective option.

Ultimately, there are no set rules, and the decision should be based on the couple's budget and preferences. It is essential to have open and transparent communication with the wedding party to ensure everyone is comfortable with the financial arrangements.

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