Oh and there is always someone who has a cousin who has a friend who knows a girl who has a neighbor whose sister in-law can sew and will make your bridesmaid dresses for next to nothing. ;-)
I have had to buy 5 different taffetta or satin parade float gowns that always cost me a fortune and the bride always thought I might shorten and wear again. Phhooey. Stop pretending I'll wear it again. I know better.
My maid of honor wore an off the rack sundress that cost about $19. Mine for her wedding was $190 and has about 40 yards of fluff in it.
The dress shop where my wife got the bridesmaids dresses was run by a husband and wife. After the initial order for the dresses (including the wedding dress) were place, the husband died. The wife, clearly not up to speed on how the business was run was unable to operate the business and everything got screwed up. In the end the wedding dress ended up as ordered but the bridesmaids dresses had to be changed and all were given a hefty discount.