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If you’re getting married, you’ve probably focused on your wedding dress initially. Once you’ve figured that out, though, your mind will shift to another clothing item: bridesmaid dresses (if you’re having bridesmaids!). No matter how much they love you, they are going to cringe (or cry) when they spend $300 on a dress they’ll wear once. The goal is to get dresses that will make you and the people who have to buy them happy.
So where do we find all of these beautiful and affordable dresses? Here are my favorite options for how to save on bridesmaid dresses.
Frugal Wedding Planning | How to Save on Bridesmaid Dresses
Consider your bridesmaids’ styles and budgets
Most brides have 3-6 bridesmaids. Whether they are friends or sisters, they have different body types. You have to be considerate of this when picking the dress style. You will also want to consider that it is expensive to be a bridesmaid. They love you and want to support you, but they also like to eat. Ask them how much they are comfortable paying for a dress and try to stay below that.
Select colors wisely
You may have found the cutest blue ever on Pinterest. In reality, that shade of blue may become the biggest pain to find in the real world. You’ll save time and money by selecting more common colors. That blue may make a great accent on a few things, but life will be easier for everyone if you aren’t hunting down sapphire blue. Just go with navy.
Let them pick
Sometimes the best decision is to decide to not decide. Give your bridesmaids directions on the style and color and them let them find a dress they like within the parameters you set. You can even have them send you pictures of the dress before they purchase it so you can okay their choice. This way they get a dress they can at least tolerate but it still suits your tastes.
Rent dresses
If they are only going to wear it once, why own it forever? There are some great sites where bridesmaids can rent dresses. You will want to check and make sure you are able to get all sizes needed before selecting this option. Rent the Runway could be a good option for renting dresses.
Skip the label
Any dress labeled as a bridesmaid dress is instantly going to cost more. Look around for dresses that are appropriate but not labeled as bridesmaid dresses.
Check the return policy
Not sure if a dress is going to work? Have one bridesmaid order the dress and try it on. You can tell a lot more about it in person. If it doesn’t work out, it is a nice gesture to pay for the return shipping.
Use coupon codes
If you wait for a dress to go on clearance, all of the sizes you need may not be available. If you find a dress you love look for a coupon code for that store. Can’t find a code? Try signing up for their newsletter. They usually include coupons for new subscribers.
One last note
When ordering dresses, be sure to go by measurements instead of the size they typically wear. Pay attention to the length too. It’s a good idea to stay away from any dress that has the word mini anywhere on the page.
Shop online
Ready to shop? Here are some stores to help you get started:
Modcloth
Maurice’s
David’s Bridal
Etsy
See more ways to save on weddings.
