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22nd July 2024
05:15pm BST
Planning your wedding feels like a dream when you're coming up with ideas on an aesthetically pleasing Pinterest board, but the reality can be pretty stressful.
Any bride-to-be knows just how expensive the event is, so much so that the idea of eloping feels like a much better idea.
Everything from the flowers to invitations and transportation will cost a pretty penny, but some brides are now switching up long-lasting traditions in a bid to have a financially savvy celebration.
There are certain things that are going to cost more than others when it comes to your big day and an obvious one is the dresses.
We can all agree that the bride's gúna is the star of the show with so much effort going into choosing the perfect gown. Brides-to-be head from bridal shop to bridal shop searching for the dress they've dreamed of wearing since they were young.
The moment you find your dream gown is indescribable, but the hunt isn't over then because you need to find dresses for your bridesmaids too. One of the best things about this is making the decision with your nearest and dearest who are lucky enough to be part of your bridal party.
But we can't help but wonder if the bride should pay for her bridesmaid dresses.
In Ireland, brides usually pay for bridesmaids' dresses. The expectation has been there for decades, but we're now seeing a change in that trend.
According to etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, bridesmaids should be prepared to pay for their dresses if they accept the bridesmaid offer. She told Brides.com that the bridesmaid should be prepared to cover the expenses, but the bride should warn them about the financial expectations from the beginning.
Her.ie readers voiced their opinions about the controversial topic and many agreed that the bride should pay.
One shared, "It depends if the bride and the groom know that they want something coordinated and very specific, but if it's a smaller wedding and they're very relaxed about it then the bridesmaid should pick her own dress and you never know, she might wear it again and again, so then she shouldn't have the bride pay for that."
"If you want them all uniform then I think the bride should pay for them, but if it's a different colour and styles, I think they have to pay for their own then."
One person added, "I think I'd be a bit offended if I got asked to pay for it."
Another said it isn't fair for bridesmaids to miss out if they're not in a financial situation to be able to afford the role.
Personally, I think this is a tradition that depends on each individual bride. Some people will be able to splash out on lavish dresses for six bridesmaids, but others may need their bridal party to pay for their dress partly. Whatever the decision, it's important to do what makes sense to you, it is your big day after all.
What do you think?
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