These brands have been tried, tested and approved by thousands of past bridesmaids

Being a bridesmaid can be expensive — or does it have to be? Your wedding party can look amazing, and save money at the same time.

After months of research on the endless range of bridesmaid dresses on the market, When it comes to affordable, we’ve narrowed down our top 5 picks for affordable, yet quality dresses.

Azazie.

We love Azazie for having one of the widest selections of bridesmaid dresses on the market, and also because the companyallows you to try their dresses at home before you commit.

Azazie offers cocktail dresses, plunging necklines and convertible gowns. Every dress is customized and made to order to cut back on the San Francisco company’s carbon foot print.

Not to mention, you can purchase swatches to see the colors and touch their fabrics in-person. Azazie has more colors to choose from than any other company on this list.

The company doesn’t just sell bridesmaid dresses. Azazie also offers bridal gowns, mother-of-the-bride dresses and accessories. You can choose from a variety of bridesmaid dresses for under $100 or splurge and spend a little more (and if you’re a student, there’s a discount for you).

Birdy Grey.

All of Birdy Grey’s bridesmaid dresses are priced under $100. The company also offers color swatches, and ready-to-ship dresses in case you’re in a pinch.

We love that Birdy Grey now offers women’s tailored bridal tuxedos on top of their selection of bridesmaid dresses, groomsmen suits and accessories.

The company offers up to three free color and fabric swatches, as well as returns and exchanges.

Don’t forget to check out their “sale” section where you sometimes can find dresses for as low as $29.

Lulus.

Lulus’ wedding category is stunning to say the least! The online store could dress a bride and her bridal party from head to toe.

What we love about Lulus is the variety of styles to choose from. You won’t just find chiffon or satin dresses, which are popular fabrics for bridesmaid dresses. Lulus also offers floral, sequined, lace and sometimes velvet bridesmaid dresses. There are also high slit, open back and off-the-shoulder dresses.

If you’re looking for something a little more unpredictable and alluring then we suggest taking a look at Lulus. Not to mention, the majority of Lulus’ bridesmaid dresses and even jumpsuits will cost you less than $100.

Rent the Runway.

So many bridesmaids never wear their dresses again. That’s one of the reasons why Rent the Runway is perfect.

The growing company has an inventory of high-quality and designer dresses that you can rent and then send back once the wedding is over. Rent the Runway’s rental fees are a fraction of what it would cost to buy their clothes off the rack. For example, you could wear a $650 Badgely Mischka dress for just $100.

If you’re a RTR member, the rental cost is even lower than that. Because it’s a rental, it means you have to return it in the same condition it was sent to you.

The catch is making sure you have enough sizes for an entire wedding party if you’re all wearing the same dress.

Amazon.

Believe it or not, Amazon isn’t just an online store for home goods or electronics. You can also buy bridesmaid dresses on the e-commerce site. Amazon lists bridesmaid dresses for less than $20, all the way up to $200. We suggest doing your due diligence and reading customer reviews as well as return policies before buying.

By now you may be wondering who should pay for the dress — the bride or bridesmaid? This post explains Vows & Forever’s thoughts on that.

Remember it doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg to look stunning. Happy wedding planning!

Written By Vows & Forever Founder and Veteran Journalist Maria Cid. V&F is a wedding vows & speech writing service that also specializes in speech coaching and wedding timeline coordination.