Are you overpaying for your bridesmaid dresses

New research from high street fashion brand, Oasis, has found that brides may actually be overpaying when it comes to bridesmaid dresses. A survey of 1,563 brides and 673 bridesmaids has highlighted that while 75% of brides say they expect to cover the full cost of the bridesmaids’ dresses, just 59% of bridesmaids expect to pay nothing.  

Falling in line with bridesmaids’ expectations on who should pay for dresses could save brides-to-be quite a bit on their wedding bill. Oasis’s research revealed that the most common cost for bridesmaids’ dresses (44%) falls between £50 and £100 on each bridesmaid dress, with the average cost per bridesmaid dress standing at £114. If brides were to ask bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses, this could result in savings of £342, based on an average of three bridesmaids.  

Over one-third of brides (37%) said they chose the exact style and colours of their bridesmaid dresses. 45% of bridesmaids said they had their dresses chosen for them: 

·         35% of brides picked the colour of the dresses and allowed bridesmaids to pick the style 

·         22% of brides gave bridesmaids a small selection of dresses to choose from 

·         2% of brides select the style of the dress and allowed bridesmaid to pick the colour 

·         97% of brides were confident in the choice of dress, saying that their bridesmaids liked the chosen outfit.

·         Only 80% of bridesmaids agreed, however, with one in five bridesmaids (19%) stating that they did not like the dress they wore. 

Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life, says on the topic: 

“Be clear on expectations as early on as the bridesmaid proposal. Set expectations by saying something along the lines of: ‘If your time and budget allows, I would love for you to be part of my bridal party’. And if you’re asking your maids to buy their own dresses, expect to be flexible on the choices they suggest. You can suggest a theme but bear in mind that asking your bridesmaids to pay means they’ll have a greater say in the style of dress they wear.” 

You can see the full range of Oasis bridesmaid dresses here https://www.oasis-stores.com/gb/occasion/bridesmaids/