Who Pays For Bridesmaid Dresses?

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A bridesmaid in a wedding is the person, who caters to every need of the bride and helps her in pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding arrangements. There is usually more than one bridesmaid in a wedding, but the principal bridesmaid is called "The maid of honor" or "The matron of honor" (if she is a married person).

History says that during the Roman period, the bridesmaids used to form a kind of army that helped protect the bride from thieves or scorned suitors on the way to the bridegroom's village. During the later Roman period, the number of bridesmaids was kept at ten to form witnesses to the wedding. In today's times, the bride gets to choose the number of bridesmaids that she would want in her wedding.

The principal bridesmaid or the maid of honor is usually a sister of the bride, a close relative or a friend dear to her. She, with the bride, helps in coordinating all the planning required before and during the wedding.

Before the wedding, she helps the bride in fixing up the venue to the wedding, helps in preparing the wedding list and sending out invitations to various guests, helping the bride with her shopping for the wedding gown and her other requirements, etc. She also coordinates the other preparations for the wedding with the other bridesmaids. She also takes charge of hosting a party called the Bridal shower, where gifts are brought to be given to the bride.

During the wedding, she helps the bride get ready for the wedding and assists in checking on the arrangements in the reception hall. She holds the groom's wedding ring that is handed over to the bride during the ceremony. She also holds the bride's bouquet and assists the bride in managing her veil. At the reception, she makes a toast to the newly wedded couple followed by a speech to congratulate them and to wish them luck with their wedded life. Overall, she acts as a backbone to the bride in seeing that the wedding goes on without a hitch.

As per tradition, the bridesmaids usually dress up in attire that is quite identical to the bride. This is a custom that originated with the belief that the similar clothing will confuse evil spirits as to who the bride is and protect the bride from any harm. Therefore, a bride would want her bridesmaid to be dressed up for the occasion in a dress that would suit her gown.

This brings up the question as to who has to buy the bridesmaid her dress for the wedding. Traditionally, the bridesmaid is expected to buy her own attire and accessories to go with her dress. She is also expected to bear all her other expenses such as travel, cost for hosting the bridal shower, etc.

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