did you pay for your wedding partys outfits?

I am another Brit and you're right, this is such an interesting cultural difference between us and Americans. It wouldn't have occurred to us not to pay for our bridal party's outfits, and on the three occasions I have been a Bridesmaid the couple or their parents have always paid for what I wore.

I have noticed some other differences:

'Cake & Punch'/ Dry/ dessert receptions. I can't imagine a British wedding without serious food and free flowing booze!

The cake seems to be served for dessert whereas our cakes are usually fruit cakes, always royal iced, and are more symbolic.

'Rehearsal dinners' Not something we do formally and I am glad because it seems to be yet another thing to worry about!

The gifts seem to be given at a 'Bridal shower'. I haven't worked out if people give a gift at the shower and at the wedding. If so, it must get expensive.

'Dollar dances' Not a British tradition and I have never seen one.

Adult only wedding and/or receptions. I have never heard of anyone doing that in England. Weddings are always family occasions and the children are included.

Very short receptions. Sometimes as little as four hours. Mine went on all night and most here are at least seven or eight hours long to include evening Guests and dancing.

More differences than similarities really!

Interesting. I always like reading these questions because of the cultural differences, too!

Short answer: No, I did not pay for my bridesmaids' dresses. To that end, I've also never been in a wedding where my dress was paid for for me. Like you said, it's just kind of an expectation that the bridesmaids/groomsmen pay for their own attire, because it IS an honor to be asked to stand up for someone on their wedding day. :) It's funny - it never really occurred to me that it would be any other way until I started answering questions on Y!A. I don't think there's a right or wrong. If I bride CAN afford to buy her attendants' dresses (and WANTS TO!) that's her choice. I do have a problem when people have the expectation that their dresses will be paid for automatically, though. (Does that make sense?)

I've been in weddings where I was expected to get my hair done with the bridal party (and it was paid for) and weddings where I paid for my own hair. I've never been in a wedding where we had makeup done. Generally, any jewelry/accessories are bought bought by the bride and given to the bridesmaids as part of the gifts customarily given for being an attendant in the wedding.

I'm in the US, if that helps any!

My two bridesmaids (my sisters) paid for their own dresses. I paid for my dress when I was in their weddings.

For the guys, my husband paid for all rentals since he picked them all up at the same time. None of the guys argued with that, nor did my father who also a wore a tux my husband paid for.

I really dont care who pays for what, as long as no one is going broke over it. Its a couple hundred bucks. In the grand scheme of life, I could care less.

Just my two cents:

I actually think the UK way is best, if I may say so. I think the bride and groom should foot that bill for their bridal party. Its a nice gesture. And Im sure it would stop overzealous brides from choosing dresses and accessories that they cannot afford if they had to pay for it themselves! Poor bridesmaids come on here all the time worrying how they are going to afford to be in their friends wedding. And the way brides push them to buy things *or else she is out of the wedding* is ridiculous, some of these brides are very cut-throat about who pays for what and I think its gross. Its your wedding, you should be happy to spend the money on it.

I am from the US and it is usually expected that the wedding party pays for their own outfits. I don't think it is "paying for the privilege" so much as it has become a way for brides & grooms to take a hefty expense off of their wedding budget and so the wedding party views it more as their own way of contributing to the wedding on top of participating in it.

HOWEVER, my fiance & I did not do that - - we paid for our bridesmaids & groomsmens attire.

We wanted to help them out with some expense because we live 2-3hrs drive from all but 1 of them and in order for them to attend the rehearsal and the wedding they would have to pay for 2 nights in a hotel. Some of our wedding party are single, some are families and we didn't want to go down the path of paying for their rooms - - which would mean we don't help the 1 local person, and how do we tell a family "we will pay for 1 room, not 2". We decided that the easiest thing to do was to purchase their attire.

That being said, we did not pay for the girls' shoes, hair or makeup. I told them they are free to wear any black shoes they have (what women doesn't own at least 3 pairs of black shoes???), they don't "have" to buy new. I also told them they are free to do their own hair & makeup - - the girls are doing their own makeup but wanted me to include them in the hair appointment at their own expense.

When you are an attendant in an American wedding, it is understood that you will pay for your own attire. I have been in a number of weddings, and the couple never pays for that. As a bridesmaid, you're usually on the hook for the bachelorette party (hen party), the shower plus gift, the wedding attire, wedding gift. It can get to be very expensive.

We opted not to have any bridal party, as I never saw the point, actually. What are they needed for? And what's the point of them all wearing the same clothes? I've spent thousands of dollars over the years on the privilege of being in someones wedding, and I never understood my actual function. Just stand there?

Here it's known that when you are asked to be in the wedding, you will have to pay for your outfit (usually). If you cannot do that, it is perfectly ok to decline. And that has nothing to do with the cost of the wedding either, my wedding was less than $10,000 US dollars including honeymoon. When the national average is between 20 and 30 thousand.

I also just chose a color and let them each choose what style and length they wanted. I have to admit that I don't like paying for a dress that was chosen for me, but I do it anyway because I love them :)

In the U.S, most of the time the wedding party is asked to pay for their own outfits. However, if you are the bride and you are quite well-off and asking for your bridal party to wear very expensive outfits, then you should most definitely offer to pay.

The norm for my area is to have the wedding party pay for their outfits, but to find them dresses and tuxes that are not outrageously priced or get their opinion on what they would actually like to wear before asking them to buy it.

Your wedding party is mostly going to be made up of your closest friends and family, so they are usually willing to pay for their wardrobe. Besides, you will most likely be involved in most of your bridesmaid's weddings anyway so you will basically be repaying the favor when you purchase your bridesmaid dress for thie wedding.

I am from Wisconsin, USA and when i was in my aunts wedding last fall I paid for my own dress, as did they other bridesmaids... and my sisters wedding 4 years ago, I paid for that outfit too.... when I get maried in June, I am paying for the outfits for the children that are in the wedding but, my bridesmaids and groomsmen are paying for their own outfits..... the reason they are paying for their own is because they are choosing their own dresses based on what they are comfortable in and their price range.... as long as the colors are the right shade they are wearing whatever dress they choose.

Generally yes, although not sure on how strong most people feel about people "paying for the priveledge".

When I got married, my mother paid for her own outfit (although I picked it out for her- she has bad taste!), my sister chose her own outfit and paid for it (i gave her parameters instead of choosing her dress for her).... I did buy my 3 neices flower girl dresses because my sister could not afford it.

I think generally its expected if you're a bridesmaid to pay for one dress around $100 and not more then $150 (your own dress). If you have children in the wedding party parents are generally expected to cover those costs.

Interesting. I constantly like studying those questions on account that of the cultural variations, too! Short reply: No, I didn't pay for my bridesmaids' attire. To that finish, I've additionally in no way been in a marriage ceremony wherein my get dressed was once paid for for me. Like you stated, it is simply variety of an expectation that the bridesmaids/groomsmen pay for his or her possess apparel, on account that it IS an honor to be requested to get up for any one on their marriage ceremony day. :) It's humorous - it in no way fairly happened to me that it could be some other means till I began answering questions about Y!A. I do not consider there is a proper or mistaken. If I bride CAN have enough money to shop for her attendants' attire (and WANTS TO!) that is her alternative. I do have a challenge while humans have the expectancy that their attire shall be paid for mechanically, although. (Does that make feel?) I've been in weddings wherein I was once anticipated to get my hair performed with the bridal social gathering (and it was once paid for) and weddings wherein I paid for my possess hair. I've in no way been in a marriage ceremony wherein we had make-up performed. Generally, any jewellery/add-ons are purchased purchased through the bride and given to the bridesmaids as side of the presents probably given for being an attendant within the marriage ceremony. I'm within the US, if that is helping any!