“Let me show you our most popular dresses….” says the salesperson at the bridal shop. “Now, these come in 4 shades of purple, and match the wedding dress perfectly with this beaded and tulle design, and only costs the girls a fraction of what they would pay elsewhere…$349 before taxes and alterations.” The bride flips through the purples, finds the one that fits so perfectly in her silver and plum scheme, and agrees that her 8 girls will do anything for her, since it’s her day, plus they can definitely wear it again. She selects the $349 dress, and sends out a note to the bridesmaids to schedule fittings between 1 and 4 on a specific Saturday…
Does that scenario play out too familiar for you? Have you been asked to be a bridesmaid, without knowing the true cost and commitment it takes? Forward this guide! Are you a bride who sees herself in the above story, since it is, after all, your day? Guess what – you can get those dresses cheaper, and, while you’re saving your bridesmaids dresses, you can save your friendships with those bridesmaids as well! Creativity is the key, as well as knowing when to buy. This guide will show you both!
Where to look for the perfect bridesmaid dress:
I’m not going to tell you to look on ebay or at your local goodwill or consignment shop for bridesmaid dresses. The chances of finding perfect matching dresses in everyone’s size would be a task too great to take on – and chances are, alterations have been done, which could throw off any size references. There are plenty of places to try though!
– Discount Bridal Stores: David’s Bridal is a chain discount bridal store all across the country, and there are many other discount stores throughout the states. These chains offer “$99 Dresses” or “Buy 3 Get 1 Free” sales, and have a few (very few, but a few) styles to pick from.
– Department stores: Two departments in department stores can serve the purpose of finding a bridesmaid dress: Fine dresses and prom dresses. The fine dress department caters to women for parties, cruises, and evening wear. Check around and see what they offer – different times of the year will give you different colors and different styles, so if the wedding is in a different season, ask for their store catalog and inquire about future stock. Prom dresses will give you a large color palate to work from. Department stores can usually order prom dresses during the regular season in any size, so if it’s not on rack, chances are, you can still get it. Be careful, though, some prom dresses may end up costing as much as or more than bridesmaid dresses!
– Online: No, I don’t mean posting an ad on craigslist or shopping on a translated Chinese website. I do mean finding the manufacturer’s website, and checking to see if you can order direct, or obtain a list of authorized resellers that will list all bridal shops that carry a particular dress for comparison shopping. You can also find “online only” bridal shops, but make sure it’s one where you can check non-biased reviews and look them up in the Better Business Bureau.
– Bridal Trunk shows: You’d be surprised how cheaply you can get a bridal gown at a trunk show – and you’d also be surprised to know that most offer bridesmaid dresses as well. This works best if there’s less ladies-in-waiting in your wedding party, since the chances of finding the same dress are significantly decreased.
– The Bridesmaid’s Closet: Do you share friends with another recent bride? Chances are, some or most of your bridesmaids were in another wedding, and already have a bridesmaid dress hanging in their closet. Give them the chance to really “wear it again”!
If the only dress that could ever be acceptable to be worn by your bridesmaids is at the bridal shop, have no fear – there are ways to getting it cheaper. Try these tips to score a little extra dough and some appreciation from your ladies-in-waiting:
– First and foremost, shop around. If there is more than one bridal shop in your area (or even if you have to drive a little bit to get to one), not all stores are created equal! One may be running a sale, one may have the dress on clearance, or one may offer a substantial discount if you order accessories through them. Check out reviews of the shops, ask the other professionals in your wedding (photographers, officiants and caterers run very small circles, and know what things normally cost!), and don’t settle for full price.
– If you have a large wedding, ask for a group discount. Every store differs on their policy, but usually smaller shops will do anything to get your business.
– Buy off the rack. It really is cheaper to purchase dresses that are already in stock, rather than pre-ordering. These dresses will frequently have sales run on them, and it saves everyone the worry about whether the dress will come in on time. This advice applies to bridal gowns as well, but that’s for another guide.
– Check the sales and clearance dresses. You run the risk with clearance dresses with not finding enough in everyone’s sizes, but if you shopped around, you’ll know which store carries what designer, and can find extra dresses. No one will know they were last year’s dresses, and you’ll still have designer dresses.
Just remember – in the end, it’s not what the bridesmaid is wearing, how expensive the dresses look in the pictures, or that everyone has dyed shoes perfectly toned with the ribbon running down the corset bodice. It’s about a union of two souls, and whether the dresses are what you envisioned as a child or whatever was best for your ladies-in-waiting’s wallets, it will be the perfect day no matter what.
