Paying for Bridesmaid Dresses

Are you wondering who pays for bridesmaid dresses? Feel bad for asking your friend to cough up the money on a dress she might not like or wear again? Or do you have a bridesmaid who is protesting paying?

 

In most western countries, adult bridesmaids pay for their own dresses. If the adult bridesmaids are still financially dependent on their parents, as college students often are, their parents do as your parents did, and pick up the bill. Parents of child attendants similarly buy the outfits for the children.

 

There are countries where this rule is not followed, but if you lived in such a country, someone would have offered to buy you a bridesmaid dress. If your problem bridesmaid comes from another country, or traditional family of foreign origins, it's possible that she is only aware of her own people's customs. Try explaining tactfully that the local custom is different from what she's used to, and that you had no intention to offend.