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UKbride Member Request 17 Aug 2017

In regards to bridesmaids.. Are you paying for everything for them dress,...

In regards to bridesmaids.. Are you paying for everything for them dress, shoes, hair, make up, jewellery? Or are you paying for some of the above? In my head I would pay for dress, make up and hair then allow them to choose their own shoes and jewellery but perhaps thats not the done way? Any suggestions of what other brides are doing would be helpful x

61 Comments
Julianne Heffernan
Julie Heffernan 17 Aug 2017

We have payed for the dress and hair and make up. But they will be buying their own shoes or wearing some they already own. X

Cath Evans
Cath Evans 17 Aug 2017

I'm giving myself a budget (e.g. £50 each bridesmaid..haven't decided on how much exactly yet though.. it depends on how much i get my dress for) and will get what i can from that .. I'm happy with them doing their own make up and hair though as only having loose curls and pinned up on the sides (which is easy enough to do ourselves)

UKbride Member 17 Aug 2017

I will be buying their dresses. If they want hair and makeup I will offer to pay for that too. I will ask them to buy their own shoes, as long as they go with the dress I don't mind, I am thinking of getting some jewellery as their gift. Good luck.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I bought their dresses and shoes, they paid for their own hair and make up or don't me it themselves and I gave them jewellery in the morning for their thank you gifts x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I bought everything (dress, shoes, jewellery, hair and makeup) but that's because i wanted them to look a certain way, if you are happy with them choosing their own shoes and jewellery then it seems fine to let them pay for that themselves :)

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I bought their dresses and had their hair done on the day with me, but one already had some boots she thought would go well with the dress, so the other one went and bought some shoes before I could take her shopping, and both wanted to do their own make-up. I'd have been happy to get that for them, but they were perfectly content :)

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

My bridesmaids are paying

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

You choose what you want to buy for them. If they were a wedding guest they would have to buy it all anyway x

Eileen McCann
Eileen McCann 17 Aug 2017

I was thinking of getting their dresses, hair and make up and some jewellery to give on the morning as a thank you gift, was going to ask them to wear any shoes they felt comfortable in as thinking of getting long dresses xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I paid for the dresses and necklaces so they matched but left shoes hair and makeup up to my girls x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I am paying for everything for mine but they are my sister and cousins.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I'm not going to pay for hair and make up. I was bridesmaid at my friend's that's what she did so I'm guessing it's ok to do that.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I paid for the dresses and accessories (necklace and a little bag)
The dresses were long so the girls wore their own shoes, I think it's difficult to find shoes that not only fit everyone, but that are also comfey, plus, shoes are expensive. I wanted my girls to be comfey.
They had the option to get their hair and/or make up done, again I wanted them to feel comfortable, I didn't want to enforce a certain look on them (plus it was also a money consideration)

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I got 7 bridesmaids Iam paying for their dresses and their hair but makeup and shoes they will sort out themselves. Iam buying them all gifts as a thank you also x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

the only thing i haven't paid for is make up, & i've said that if they don't want it done it's not compulsory, but they all want it done.. i don't expect them to pay for hair as i want them all to have it up, & the dresses i am going to resell afterwards so i didn't expect them to pay for that :) x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

We are paying for the dresses, hair and makeup. Accessories and shoes will be paid by the bridesmaids. We think this is only fair as the costs never end otherwise

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I'm paying for everything, don't think it's right to ask them to be part of your day and then ask them to pay for things, unless they've offered to but even then I'd probably say no but that's just me that's just my opinion though each to their own. Plus I want their hair and make up done a certain way.

Marie Collins
Marie Collins 17 Aug 2017

I'm buying everything for our bridesmaids and pageboys as I want them all matching I don't want no miss match on mine and hubbys big day jewellery will be the thank you gift 🎁 x

Siobhan Ireland
Siobhan Ireland 17 Aug 2017

I bought their dresses, all accessories including shoes, got them a pamper/essentials bag for through the day and a present also!! But I asked them to pay for their hair and make up. Xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I would say that if you are choosing it you pay for it. If you want particular shoes etc you need to pay for them. If you're happy for them to wear their own jewellery and have their hair however they want them they pay for it.

Kate Peet
Kate Peet 17 Aug 2017

We've paid for the dresses and hair as that's the only thing we've been prescriptive about. Everything else we've said they can choose xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

Im paying skirts. They are choosing which colour in the style ive picked. Ive asked they wear a cream top in whatever style they want. They are paying for their own. And paying their own hair and makeup. Im hoping to have some money to pay some or all of the hair and makeup bill on the day. They are all very understanding of my financial situation and are more than happy to pay it all xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

When me & my husband got married on Friday, we paid for the bridesmaids dresses, shoes and hair & make up. The way we seen it, we wanted them to be bridesmaids so it should be us to pay for everything and that's what we done x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

We paid for everything. I asked them to be bridesmaid wouldn't feel right expecting them to pay x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I bought dresses for my 4 bridesmaids. I paid for hair and gave them the option of getting their make up done (they all did). They got their own shoes (some wanted to wear heels whereas others were happier with flats). I bought them earrings as a gift.

Claire Rodgers
Claire Rodgers 17 Aug 2017

Dresses hair and makeup i am paying for as well as hair accessories. As they will have floor length dresses i just said wear whatever shoes you like. I will have photo of all lifting the dresses to just show the shoes as a bit of fun. Its all down to your budget. If you are paying then they need to appreciate your budget and wear what you can afford.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I paid for everything apart from their shoes & hair accessory.
I let them choose their own shoes & hairstyle. They know what sort of thing they liked & suited them & I wanted them to have comfy feet for the day! ‍️

Ashley Power
Ashley Power 17 Aug 2017

2 out my 3 bridesmaids are my daughters so I will obviously be paying for all their items. My maid of honour is my h2b's niece and as she'll be 21 at the time of the wedding and I assume she will want to look a certain way, I have asked if she'd be ok buying her own dress and shoes that way it's in her budget, style and I know she will be comfortable. She said she had no problem with that and asked what our colour scheme was so she could fit in and it's worked out really well. Go with what suits you and yours xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I paid for it all accept make-up. That's only because they both always look perfect with their make-up due to their jobs. In the end they both paid and had it done just because they wanted to. I got the dress, shoes, jewellery, and paid for their hair. I also got us all personalised pyjamas to wear for the morning

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I am paying for dress hair and makeup. I'm not making
Them all wearing the same shoes so given them free range on this x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I paid for everything... And a gift.... They kept their dresses too x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

Dress, hair and makeup. Also shoes as we're all wearing matching converse style pumps so they're only cheap but I wouldn't be if they were wearing heals x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

My bridesmaids are paying also

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

We did dresses, hair & makeup. The girls got their own shoes & accessories :)

Stacey Jarrett
Stacey Jarrett 17 Aug 2017

I'm going to pay for the dress and have bought there jewellery as their gift. They are paying for the shoes xx

Sophia Stonehill-Brooks
Sophia Stonehill-Brooks 17 Aug 2017

I'm paying for dress, hair and makeup of the hair and makeup is a reasonable price , they will pay for there shoes and anything else they need ☺ my bridesmaids are being quite reasonable at the moment so they have all agreed this x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I bough dresses, paid for hair, make up and shoes (although I let them choose the shoes as I wanted them to be comfy!) and bought their jewellery as their wedding day gift x

Zoe-Laura Finch
Zoe-Laura Finch 17 Aug 2017

I'm buying dresses and paying for make-up and hair, dresses are long and I know each girl will want something different on their feet so I'm letting them pick their own, if they're struggling to pay for anything though I'm happy to chip in since I've asked them to be part of our day ☺️ xxx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I am paying for dress and jewellery, hair and make are being done by friends as a wedding present but would have paid for that. Letting them get their own shoes so they can be comfortable xxx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

As a good rule of thumb I'd say anything where you want to dictate what they wear/how they look you should pay for, but anything you're leaving to be their choice they can pay for. So I'm paying for dresses and jewellery (as a gift) but everything else I am letting them choose (shoes, if they want their hair/make up done) so they can pay for it if they want it

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I'm paying everything for my 3 girls except their shoes. They can wear what they wish so they are comfortable on the day! Good luck! Xx

Natalie McCarthy
Natalie McCarthy 17 Aug 2017

I am buying, dress bag and hair, the rest is up to them xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I've bought the dress and they're doing everything else. I've bought them bracelets for gifts and hair clips if they wish to wear them on the day. Also looking for jackets. Hair and make up I'm leaving that down to them

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I bought dresses shoes jewely they payed for makeup and hair

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

My bridesmaids paid for their own dresses shoes and make up i paid for their hairs.

Kate Phillips
Kate Phillips 17 Aug 2017

I'm
Paying for everything x

Paige Warwick
Paige Warwick 17 Aug 2017

i'm bridesmaid next year for my stepmother and i have offered to pay for everything for myself to ease the load. i will also be asking my bridesmaid to pay a contribution to everything when i get married in a couple of years xxx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

We paid for dress and shoes and their gift from us was a bracelet. They did their own hair and make up but by us not paying for it I said they could do it how they wanted. That'd be my only thing. If they're paying, don't dictate what they can do, I don't think that's fair.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I paid for everything other than their shoes and they were able to have whatever shoes they wanted (existing or new). It completely depends on what your budget is like and what you're friends are like too. Congrats and good luck with everything xx

Anita O'Sullivan
Anita O'Sullivan 17 Aug 2017

We're paying for everything for ours ...

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I paid for everything, dress shoes make up hair nails etc. I wouldn't of done it any other way. It was my choice to pay. feels wrong making them pay for things when you want them to be bridesmaids at your wedding. Xx

Emily Barnett
Emily Barnett 17 Aug 2017

This can be a mine field if you're not very clear with the bridesmaids who is buying what upfront. I would definitely say they should get their own shoes as this is something difficult to pick for everyone one may want a cheap pair another may expect something expensive! I will be paying for hairdressing on the day for definite but everything else comes down to what they want currently the dress I want is £120 the one they like is £275 !

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I've paid for hair, nails & tan, they're doing own makeup and paying for own dresses x

Shannon Whaley
Shannon Whaley 17 Aug 2017

I'm not paying for anything, they're paying for their dresses, doing their own make up and hair (most likely) and buying shoes

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 17 Aug 2017

I bought my maids (I had 3) there dresses shoes bags and fur shrugs (November wedding) and only spent about £65 on each maid for everything I also paid for 2 maids to have there hair done 3rd already had hers done

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 18 Aug 2017

I've bought them their dress and bolero and paying for their makeup and hair to get done as well as their hair trial. I'm giving them both money to choose their own shoes that they are comfortable with so they can use it to pay for them all or put the money towards the cost of shoes, it's up to them, and will be including jewellery in their gift I'll give to them the morning of the wedding xx

Marie Sutherland
Marie Sutherland 18 Aug 2017

Im planning on buying dress, shoes (want us all 2 match having custom trainers all round) and jewellery as their gift....if they want hair and make up they are paying for that x

Alys Brierley
Alys Brierley 18 Aug 2017

I'm paying and payed for their dresses ,alterations shoes , jewellry , hair and make up and nails . I chose them to be my bridesmaids not fair for them to fork out for my day or my vision

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 18 Aug 2017

I'm paying for; flowers, dress, underwear, shoes, fake tan, hair, make up, nails, accessories & hotel rooms. But I'm their mum / step mum so I have too

Emma Gibson
Emma Gibson 19 Aug 2017

I am paying for their dresses and shoes. Hair and make up we are doing ourselves x

Sam leigh Evans
Sam leigh Evans 19 Aug 2017

although i haven't asked my bridesmaids to actually BE my bridesmaids yet, what we are gonna do is give them a £50 budget to find their own dresses that fit our colour scheme (they're all different shapes and sizes, and i'd rather them be comfortable than try and put them in one dress). if they find a dress that's more, then they'll have to pay the rest. as for other bits, we're going to pay for make up and accessories, but shoes-wise, they can buy their own or wear existing ones. we're having an outdoor wedding, so they can wear anything they like on their feet. personally, whilst its clearly now not done as much, i think that the bride should contribute as much as they can towards bridesmaid costs, as at the end of the day, you're asking them to be a part of your day, and not the other way around. XXX

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