What Should Each Bridesmaid *Really* Expect to Pay For? (2024)

FAQs

What are you expected to pay for as a bridesmaid? ›

Bridesmaids might pay entirely (or help pay) for the dress, accessories, the wedding shower, a shower gift, the bachelorette party, travel and hotel for the wedding day, and a wedding gift. Bridesmaids might also pay for their hair and makeup on the day of. But if the bride requires this, the bride might cover it.

As a general rule, you should expect to spend $75 to $150 per bridesmaid. Naturally, you'll want to be a bit more extravagant when it comes to the maid of honor, as she is a key figure in the wedding party and has a great deal of responsibility.

While bridesmaids pay for quite a few expenses, not everything falls on them. These costs are most often covered by the bride or the couple instead.

The list of bridesmaids' responsibilities includes: Emotionally supporting the bride at all times throughout the wedding planning and ceremony. Assisting the Maid of Honor in planning and paying for the bridal shower and bachelorette party, and of course, assisting the Maid of Honor throughout the wedding day.

It's also advised to stick with the traditional etiquette regarding the price, which is typically $100 to $150 if you're showing up solo. If you don't have a lot of funds left over to splurge on a special gift for the bride, however, you can always ask a few other bridesmaids to chip in on a present.

Even though you're already spending a lot of your money and time as a bridesmaid, wedding etiquette indicates that you're still expected to give a wedding gift to the couple. Bridesmaids are supposed to get the bride a gift for some prewedding events as well.

It's a good idea to level up the gifting for the VIPs in your wedding party. Your MOH likely took on a lot more responsibility and expenses than the rest of your crew, and while you don't necessarily have to get the maid of honor an extra gift, you should plan to spend a little bit more accordingly.

On average, weddings often feature 3 to 6 bridesmaids, but the range can extend far beyond that, even up to 12 or more. The number of bridesmaids you choose ultimately depends on your preferences, the size of your wedding, and your personal dynamics.

The Answer: It Depends

However, this isn't always the case. Weddings are expensive, and some brides can't afford hair and makeup for a large bridal party. In this case, they may ask bridesmaids to pay for their services. Transparency is important.

Is it rude to ask bridesmaids to pay for bridal shower? ›

Modern bridal shower etiquette states that the shower host is responsible for paying for it. Depending on the circ*mstances, this can be a lot for one person to handle, and there is nothing wrong with delegating both costs and duties.

It's completely acceptable to ask each bridesmaid to pay for her dress.

Most often, bridesmaids cover the cost of their dress and undergarments, shoes, accessories, and hair and makeup for the wedding day. The bride may opt to cover any of the aforementioned costs if she deems it appropriate.

The maid of honor is typically the bride's right-hand woman during wedding planning and on the big day. She also plays an important role in the wedding ceremony, standing next to the bride and helping her with her dress, veil, flowers, and anything else she might need.

On average, bridesmaids should be prepared to spend anywhere from $300 to $1,000 or more on travel and accommodation expenses, depending on the location and duration of the wedding festivities!

The Answer: It Depends

There's no definitive answer of who foots the bill on bridal party glam. That said, the bride or the bridesmaids will pay for the bridal party's hair and makeup. Some brides cover the cost of glam as a “thank you” to their friends for supporting the wedding.

Who Pays for Bridesmaids Dresses in the US? In the US, the tradition is for the bridesmaids to each pay for their own dress, regardless of who is making the final call on what the dresses will look like.