Wedding cancelled, who pays for bridesmaid dress?

[EMode]

I'd just pay for it and then resell it.

 

[SpecialK]

If I was that bride I would certainly feel that I should step up and pay for those dresses as it was my fault they spent the money on them. If the bride did not offer to pay for them and I was the one that still owed money at the dress store I think that I would just not even go pick it up and take the 100.00 loss- no use adding another 65.00 to that loss!

Agree. The bride should take care of it with the dress shop.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Bridesmaids paying for their own dresses is stupid to begin with (they're NEVER gong to wear the dress again...). You shouldn't have to pay for it if the wedding was cancelled.

 

[shortbun]

Check with the store to see if they'll exchange it for something smaller or another dress. I would really try to work something out with the store, not the bride.

 

[NewRVLady]

Agree. The bride should take care of it with the dress shop.

I agree-its like $60 x 6 girls, maybe-$360
That would be the classy thing to do

 

[Disneylover99]

I agree-its like $60 x 6 girls, maybe-$360
That would be the classy thing to do

She may also want to have another wedding in the future and invite these same girls to be her bridesmaids. I would think twice before accepting this role a second time, if the bride does not handle this situation with some class this time around.

 

[mmbl]

DD was asked to be a bridesmaid for a friend's wedding in June. A few days ago she received a group text from the bride saying that the wedding is cancelled but the bridesmaid dresses need to be paid for and picked up at the bridal shop. The dress was $165.00 and DD still owes $65.00. The dress is not something she will wear plus she was pregnant when it was ordered and they made her order a much bigger size so the dress will need altering if she ever would wear it. I know being in a wedding is expensive, and that when you agree to participate you are agreeing to the cost. Now that the wedding is cancelled is it fair that the bridesmaids have to pay for a dress that they will not be wearing? She does feel bad for the bride but $165.00 is a lot to pay for a dress that she does not want, does not fit and she probably will never wear. What do y'all think?

Lose the $100. already paid and cancel the order. Don't fight the bride over paying. I'm sure she is depressed enough over the canceled wedding. Good luck if you think the groom would pay!

 

[mmbl]

totally agree! The bride didn't even have the courtesy to give them a phone call to tell them in person rather than sending a text-that was the cowards way out.

Maybe the poor bride was too devastated and didn't want to cry on the phone explaining over and over again what happened! Poor girl. Compassion people!

 

[Disneylover99]

Maybe the poor bride was too devastated and didn't want to cry on the phone explaining over and over again what happened! Poor girl. Compassion people!

I understand the group email and I understand not wanting to talk to anyone on the phone, but I hope it wasn't a curt, "the wedding is cancelled, please pay for and pick up your dress."

If the tone was more, "OMG, I feel horrible about this, but the dress shop called, and they need the payment"........etc......, then not so bad.

 

[scrapquitler]

DD was asked to be a bridesmaid for a friend's wedding in June. A few days ago she received a group text from the bride saying that the wedding is cancelled but the bridesmaid dresses need to be paid for and picked up at the bridal shop. The dress was $165.00 and DD still owes $65.00. The dress is not something she will wear plus she was pregnant when it was ordered and they made her order a much bigger size so the dress will need altering if she ever would wear it. I know being in a wedding is expensive, and that when you agree to participate you are agreeing to the cost. Now that the wedding is cancelled is it fair that the bridesmaids have to pay for a dress that they will not be wearing? She does feel bad for the bride but $165.00 is a lot to pay for a dress that she does not want, does not fit and she probably will never wear.
What do y'all think?

If I were the bridesmaid, I would be more worried about my friend and how she is feeling than about the money I might potentially lose on the dress. I would call the bridal shop and make an appointment to go in and pay for the dress, but I would talk to them and see if maybe there is something they can do to ease the blow a bit...maybe they can return the dress, or sell it to someone else, maybe they can give a break on the cost or something, it couldn't hurt to ask them. If not, I would pay for the balance on the dress and then turn around and sell it.

I think the bride probably has a lot more to worry about than the bridesmaids dresses, and I wouldn't ever think to complain to her about the money I was out because I'm sure it's nothing compared to what she is out financially and emotionally in this situation.

 

[wallawallakids]

If I were the bridesmaid, I would be more worried about my friend and how she is feeling than about the money I might potentially lose on the dress. I would call the bridal shop and make an appointment to go in and pay for the dress, but I would talk to them and see if maybe there is something they can do to ease the blow a bit...maybe they can return the dress, or sell it to someone else, maybe they can give a break on the cost or something, it couldn't hurt to ask them. If not, I would pay for the balance on the dress and then turn around and sell it.

I think the bride probably has a lot more to worry about than the bridesmaids dresses, and I wouldn't ever think to complain to her about the money I was out because I'm sure it's nothing compared to what she is out financially and emotionally in this situation.

This. I agree. Pay for it and be done.

 

[RitaZ.]

If it was my friend, I'd give her a pass. I wouldn't want to add to my friend's stress level by asking her to pay for the balance. We don't know the reason(s) behind the decision to cancel the wedding. Think of all the money/deposits the bride is about to lose due to the cancellation. As for sending a group text to her bridesmaids, maybe she feels embarrassed and humiliated and doesn't want to deal with questions about what happened. Really, there could be so many reasons for the way she has chosen to handle the situation.

Life happens and sometimes we lose $ because of it. You can fret about it or view it as a minor inconvenience and move on.

 

[SeaShelley]

If it was my friend, I'd give her a pass. I wouldn't want to add to my friend's stress level by asking her to pay for the balance. We don't know the reason(s) behind the decision to cancel the wedding. Think of all the money/deposits the bride is about to lose due to the cancellation. As for sending a group text to her bridesmaids, maybe she feels embarrassed and humiliated and doesn't want to deal with questions about what happened. Really, there could be so many reasons for the way she has chosen to handle the situation.

Life happens and sometimes we lose $ because of it. You can fret about it or view it as a minor inconvenience and move on.

This. OP, has your daughter picked up the phone and talked with the bride? I would tell my daughter that she should pay for the dress or talk with the dress shop directly about her options.

 

[MrsDuck]

I see two options:
1. pay for it and resell it.
2. see if the dress shop would return it.

I can't imagine asking this bride who is probably quite upset and embarrassed to pay for these dresses.

 

[skylizard]

Maybe the poor bride was too devastated and didn't want to cry on the phone explaining over and over again what happened! Poor girl. Compassion people!

That was my thought too.

 

[Granny square]

If I were the bridesmaid, I would be more worried about my friend and how she is feeling than about the money I might potentially lose on the dress. I would call the bridal shop and make an appointment to go in and pay for the dress, but I would talk to them and see if maybe there is something they can do to ease the blow a bit...maybe they can return the dress, or sell it to someone else, maybe they can give a break on the cost or something, it couldn't hurt to ask them. If not, I would pay for the balance on the dress and then turn around and sell it. I think the bride probably has a lot more to worry about than the bridesmaids dresses, and I wouldn't ever think to complain to her about the money I was out because I'm sure it's nothing compared to what she is out financially and emotionally in this situation.

True. But if I were the bride I'd never ever want my friends to pay the price for my problem. You'd expect your bridesmaids to pay up?

 

[FayeW]

I wouldn't expect my bridesmaids to pay for a dress that is no longer needed. I paid for my bridesmaids dresses when I got married anyway, because I thought it was the right thing to do. I asked my close friends to stand with me because it was important to me that they be there. I didn't think they should be honoured I asked them, I was honoured they said yes! I made it as easy and inexpensive for them as possible.

 

[scoutie]

If I was that bride I would certainly feel that I should step up and pay for those dresses as it was my fault they spent the money on them

Really? Am I missing the part where it was the "bride's fault" her wedding was called off? I had my first wedding called off. I guess it was "my fault". My fiance cheated on me. Luckily, we weren't to the point where my bridesmaids had bought their dresses, but I had bought mine. Believe me...the whole situation was painful and embarrassing. I would never "blame the bride".

 

[Metsfan520]

I see two options:
1. pay for it and resell it.
2. see if the dress shop would return it.

I can't imagine asking this bride who is probably quite upset and embarrassed to pay for these dresses.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[Andtototoo]

When I worked in bridal, we naturally dealt with cancelled weddings. Most commonly, the bridesmaids paid for the dresses and took them home. Every once in a while, no one would pay and the dresses would just sit there and it would be a loss for the store that we generally could not recoup.

Because... in this state, consumers have lengthy rights to their ordered goods. Legally, we could not send them back (even if the manufacturer accepted returns, which most do not) and we could not sell or re-sell them or even use them as samples. By law, we were required to store the garment with the buyer's name on it, keep it in good condition, and...sit on it for the "grace period" mandated by law. We could send them dunning notices or send it to collections or take them to small claims court.

Our only other alternative was to wait for the grace period to expire at which time we could sell it -- but by which time, most of the dresses would no longer be in style (either by cut or color) and could not be sold, even at steep discounts.

Also, commissions have already been paid on the gown, which means the store is not re-couping its costs if the buyer put a 50% deposit down.