Why are bridesmaids expected to pay for their dresses?

I would really like someone to explain this to me. I'm in Ireland and when someone gets married here it's the bride that pays for the bridesmaids outfits - which I think is only fair since they are asking them to be in the wedding and they are choosing...

I am curious because my last two bridesmaids chose their dresses today and the price tag was $268 per dress. We (bride & groom) are buying the dresses so I am not ...show more

I'm planning a wedding for July 2007. I have my bridesmaids picked out and also know thier financial states. I don't know if I can pay for all the dresses for them and the tuxes and the flower girls dresses, but I don't want to have the problem of one...

im getting married in a little over a year and im not sure what the general thing is when it comes to your bridesmaids and the dresses etc what do i pay for and whatdo they pay for, ...show more

They are pretty cheap I think My logic is that most gals don't get another use out of their bridesmaids dresses anyway! http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?Dep… Most of my bridesmaids are from my softball team and are gay so they voted to make...

Was just wondering whether bridesmaids normally pay for their own dress, and groom's men for their own suits? Just wondering as we do not have an overly big budget since we have to get family to travel to the other side of the world, as i live in Europe...

What is a nice way to tell the friends that i want to be bridesmaids that they will have to pay for their own dresses and such, it is tradition for them to afterall, but i am one of those type of people who dont like to ask those kinds of things because...

Now that I have established that traditionally bridesmaids buy their own dresses...I dont know if the ladies I have asked are expecting to buy their own dresses or if their thinking ...show more

I don't believe bridesmaids should have to pay for their own dress, unless their is special circumstances(like they lost their job, financial burden etc). I feel that if u ask someone who originally didn't ask to be a bridesmaid then you, the bride to...