Weddings - whi is supposed to pay for the bridesmaids dresses?

[PanicPants]

We're paying for the wedding ourselves, butI don't know the protocal f6r who pays for the bridesmaids.

I've only one older bridesmaid and her daughter will be my other bridesmaid.

So who pays?

TIA

IME, the bridesmaids pay for own dresses/shoes.

whoever is paying for the wedding

Traditionally, they pay for them themselves. But I think that tradition is not really observed these days.

if you choose the dresses you pay

if they choose their own dresses (and have something they'll wear again) you could ask them to buy their own

I am paying for my bridesmaids dresses.

depends on who si lodaded

MIL has bought her own

what's it like cod?

I thought it was traditional for the bride to pay

It is something you need to decide with your bridesmaid. I have been bridesmaid a few times and have never paid for my dress.

My DB is getting married next year and I will offer to pay for my dress myself, as I know that they do not have much money. I don't know if they will accept though.

Bride.

Blimy that was quick.

Ok, thank you!

Bride

I didn't have any bridesmaids because I couldn't afford dresses for them. Wouldn't have occurred to me that I could have asked them or anyone else to pay! Maybe I missed a trick there!

Should elaborate and say, IME experience bride and bridesmaids choose dresses together so bridesmaids aren't lumbered with something 'dreadful'. There is usually the general aim of choosing a dress that bridesmaids might be able to/want to wear again at a non-wedding occasion. Bridesmaids pay for their dresses as part of their 'gift' to the bride, and for the 'honour' of being asked to be in the wedding party.

Should say that I have never been married myself, so am only speaking from the perspective of having been a bridesmaid a few times...

"Bridesmaids pay for their dresses as part of their 'gift' to the bride, and for the 'honour' of being asked to be in the wedding party."

I've never heard that!

in fact I did vice versa - 'the bride pays for their dresses as part of her thank-you present to them for supporting her and for the hassle of being part of the wedding party'

I've been a bridesmaid twice - both times in the kind of outfit that you would never wear again

I didn't pay for the dress or the headdress on either occasion

agree with MrsB
Honour Schonour
you usually get no choice of dress and it should be paid for by the bride.
you know the bride (fair enough) doesn't want her maids to look too good

Well, I'm not British, so perhaps my experiences/suggestions don't hold up outside my 'country of origin'.

Again ime, the bride gives a special gift to each person in her bridal party as a way of saying 'thank you'. Groom does the same for his groomsmen.

Bride?s Father
Most importantly, the father gives the bride away and receives the guests at the reception. Traditionally, though, he is the one who pays for the wedding dress, the bridesmaids? dresses, the cars and the photographers. He has to foot the bill for the flowers
for the church and reception, together with the printing of invitations and any press announcements.

from here

do whatever you and your bridesmaids are happy with.

Thanks everyone