Question from Ileana:
Oh dear!!! I have 5 bridesmaids who are traveling 6 hours and paying for their expenses to come to my wedding. My 6th (maid of honor) lives here but has verbally assumed that I will pay for her whole attire on the day of. My question is do I really have to?? I am on a tight budget and my fiancee is beating me up about costs as it is but I just dont have the gut or heart to tell my fiancee to pucker up the dough and I am SOO lost as to how to explain to my girls that I just cant pay but I DO want them dresses a specific way.
What ever do I do????
Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:
Hi Ileana, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. The maid of honour and bridesmaids all pay for their own dresses, unless you are VERY generous (and rich). Weddings are costly for the bridal party as well as the couple getting married. When a person agrees to be in the bridal party, they are also agreeing to paying for their wedding attire as well as any expenses in planning the bridal shower or stag party.
Obviously, your maid of honour and bridesmaids are friends of yours, so you need to just explain to them what it means to be in a bridal party–their responsibilities in their respective positions. If you google the roles and responsibilities of the bridal party, you can share the list of responsibilities with them so they are aware of them.
I hope that helps!
Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert
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