How to Save Money on Bridesmaids Dresses

Bridesmaids' dresses have become very expensive. At times, a friend has to opt out of being a bridesmaid because the expense is just too much. If you are having family members in your wedding party, the expenses likely will impact you directly. Instead of a bridal salon, consider less expensive alternatives to cut costs.

A good resource is off the rack at discounters like Loehmann's "Back Room" which features high-end designers at deep discounts. Also consider chain stores outlets. The sales staff at Loehmann's will often call other stores to Their are outlets for formal wear stores ranging from JC Penney Bridal wear to Neiman Marcus last call outlet stores or Saks Fifth Avenue. Also consider off the rack formal wear from stores like Lord & Taylor, and try to shop when they have the discount coupons in the newspaper.

If the price drops lower, they will price match a previous purchase. A friends' mother went back three times to get a lower reduction of the off the rack price off the bridesmaids dresses, and they became so inexpensive, that they decided to pull double duty and pay for the dress and give the matching earrings as the bridesmaids gifts. The maids were delighted not to have the expense of being a bridesmaid (other than shoes) and the bride found a cheap way to give bridesmaids gifts. If you shop off the rack instead of a bridal salon, you can price match for any sales or markdowns via directly dealing with the store or using a price match credit card.

Another option for formalwear is to review the prom gowns, typically similar to bridesmaids' dresses, but they often go on sale after prom season.

Bridesmaids dresses used to be something you would never want to wear again, but the formal dresses featured in J. Crew and Ann Taylor, while not necessarily the cheapest available, are easily something that a bridesmaid would be able to use again, and then the cost is likely less of an issue.

Consider online sales to find some great bargains at stores such as Chadwicks.com. Available in simple designs, when a dress goes on sale in their bridal department and you find an online coupon via a deal website or a Google search, dresses frequently fall into the $20 - $40 each range. They also have matching shoes and handbags.

Another discount option to consider is Overstock.com, BlueFly.com and SmartBargains.com. They all carry high-end designers at a discount. Sales and coupons are frequently available. Know your bridesmaids sizes in advance to purchase dresses online. Each of these online retailers has been known to carry brands like Vera Wang and BCBG formalwear at a fraction of the cost.

David's Bridal often has dresses in a reasonable range, and the ability to customize dresses to accommodate bridesmaids of different preferences, sizes and body shapes. You dictate a color choice and they can choose a more or less revealing top, an A-line skirt or straight, etc. Often if a bridesmaid can cover up or accentuate their best features, the burden of having a dress selected for you is lessened. At a recent wedding that included bridesmaids whose ages ranged from in their teens to in their thirties and ranged from size 2 to size 18, David's Bridal accommodated all of them and they all coordinated nicely. The colors and fabrics were the same and I did not notice that two younger maids had a more revealing style than the older maid who had a sheer sleeve on the bodice of her gown. As the pieces were actually separates, the black satin skirt of the dress was easily reusable for other social events.

A very expensive bridesmaids dress can be a real burden to a friend who may already to throwing your shower, buying you a wedding gift and traveling to your wedding, finding a deal ensures your friends can afford to be in your wedding party and that doing so will not break the bank.