Weddings are easily one of the most beautiful experiences one can have in their life. No matter where you live or what language you speak, something is exhilarating and calming about marrying the one you love. However, they also require a lot of planning and will also set you back financially. In this article, I will answer the question of who buys the bride a wedding dress.
Who buys the bride’s wedding dress? Bride’s family is usually responsible for buying the wedding dress. Traditionally they are also responsible for all wedding planning expenses, transportation, photo/video and even travel.
To plan your wedding perfectly, it is crucial to know the general customs and traditions when it comes to spending money. There are no rules set in stone of course but it will be helpful to know how things are usually done to gauge whether you want to follow them or do it differently. Let’s take a deeper dive into the world of financial wedding planning.
Who buys the bride’s wedding dress?
As per tradition, it is the responsibility of the bride’s family to pay for the wedding dress. In most cases, it is the bride’s parents who spring for the dress but in some, it might be someone else too like an uncle or a grandmother. As mentioned earlier, this is not a firm rule and so some families may opt to share the cost between the bride’s and groom’s family, or the groom’s family may opt for it. However, such cases are quite rare as most people do follow the norm when it comes to buying a wedding dress.
Earlier, almost all of the cost of the wedding used to come down on the bride’s family. Fortunately today, more and more couples are pitching in equally or at least reducing the burden on the bride’s family in significant ways. This is quite crucial when it comes to the initial months following the wedding. If either the bride’s or the groom’s family had to take the brunt of the financial burden for the wedding, it will negatively impact the couple in one way or the other. By spreading the costs more evenly, both families will be able to breathe easier after the wedding which in turn will give peace of mind to the couple too. (If you are wondering who should pay for wedding rings, I recommend this article to you: “Who Pays for the Wedding Rings?“)
How much do wedding dresses cost?
In the lower range, wedding dresses may be available for as little as $100 but on the higher end, they can go up to $2,600 and more. Most couples spend around $300 to $1600 on their wedding dresses while on average a couple spends about $1000 on their wedding attire. While the difference between the lower end and higher end of wedding dresses may seem extremely wide, do note that it encompasses a wide variety of styles, material types, designs and more. For instance, a sheath dress will always cost significantly less than a ball gown with beading and embroidery. However, do note that beyond $1500, wedding dresses tend to be more about extravagance and opulence than anything else.
Apart from the base price of the wedding dress, there are other related costs to consider too such as the cost of alterations, any undergarments or accessories as well as preservation expenses. When it comes to alteration, do note that drastic changes to the dress may end up costing more than the dress itself. Also if you ever plan to wear your wedding dress in the future after your wedding, be prepared to spend around $200 or more for getting it cleaned. Therefore, considering all the potential costs, going beyond $1000 for a wedding dress might not be advisable unless you have money to burn.
Related Questions
Who pays for the bridesmaid dresses?
Today most weddings don’t follow the old traditions when it comes to bridesmaid dresses. If the bride can afford to do so, it is thought of as a kind gesture but she is not expected to do so. In some cases, she may also offer to pay a part of the cost if she is unable to bear the full cost. Generally, the cost of the bridesmaid dresses is expected to be paid by the bridesmaids themselves. However, the bride is responsible for letting everyone know about this from the beginning itself so that none of the bridesmaids will be in a position to take on a financial burden they can’t afford.
Who pays for the bridal party hair and makeup?
One of two things usually happens when it comes to the question of who pays for the bridal party hair and makeup. The bride or her family can take care of all the expenses as a gift to all her bridesmaids with the latter offering tips to the makeup artists. The bridesmaids can also pay for their hair and makeup costs or pool the costs together and divide them equally amongst everyone. Some couples go for the latter whereas others prefer the more traditional norm of the bride paying for it. No matter what decision is made, it is vital to share it amongst your bridesmaids as early as possible.
When is the best time to buy a wedding dress?
While you may find it hard to believe that there is a specific time during which you can buy a wedding dress, it is certainly true. Based on peak engagement and the creation of fresh designs and trends, January is the best month for buying a wedding dress. At the start of the year, the latest runway collections will hit the market; not to mention great discounts in the form of sample sales. Most retailers host a sample sale in both the summer and the winter. In January, most stores will try to clear their previous year’s stock to make way for the new and will slash down prices up to even 90 percent sometimes. The dresses may not be the latest but such a hefty discount is a complete steal. As most retailers will need about 6 to 9 months to create and alter wedding gowns, if you plan to have your wedding in the fall, then January is the perfect time to choose the dress.
Header photo © Charisse Kenion / Unsplash
