Are matching getting-ready pajamas and robes actually worth it?
Buying a dozen matching outfits for a bridal party is an expensive expense for items that function solely as single-use photo props. This creates a dilemma for brides who feel guilty about spending money on wasteful clothing they know nobody will ever wear again.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Buying nice cotton pajamas only for close family members staying together and having bridesmaids wear their own clothesDid this help you?
- 2Skipping matching robes entirely and having the photographer arrive later once everyone is already dressedDid this help you?
- 3Using inexpensive plain pajamas or having everyone wear mismatched, oversized men's shirts or normal clothesDid this help you?
- 4Picking a different dress or setting the right background for the photos.Did this help you?
- 5Looking at various Etsy sellersDid this help you?
- 6Considering big-box store options like Target, Walmart, and Old NavyDid this help you?
- 7Searching Reddit and Google for alternative brand recommendationsDid this help you?
- 8Looking at inspiration photos and past outfit choices of others for ideasDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I have NO idea what to wear 😢”source ↗
“I am so uninspired, I only know what I don’t want but can’t really find anything I do.”source ↗
“I'm having doubts. I'm considering a white dress for engagement pictures since I'm not wearing a white dress at my wedding (I'm having Hindu ceremony). However, this dress is almost fancy enough to pass as an actual wedding dress. I don't think I'd want my engagement photos to look like wedding pictures.”source ↗
“I need opinions on getting-ready pajamas/robes because I feel like I might be overthinking this.”source ↗
“now I’m questioning why I’d spend the money on 8 additional robes/PJs basically just for a photo.”source ↗
“buying 8+ outfits purely as photo props feels so wasteful to me.”source ↗
“I’m hoping to find something like midway between target and the higher dollar $100+ sets”source ↗
“I just am kind of looking for a middle ground between big box target pjs and $140 pjs.”source ↗
“I’m struggling because on one hand, I don’t want to pay $100+ for each pair of pajamas. But I also don’t want to just get a crappy $20 set on Azazie or Birdy Grey or Amazon.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 9How to choose between two wedding dresses
- 2Is my mother-of-the-bride dress too formal for a garden cocktail wedding?
- 3How to coordinate mismatched bridesmaid dresses without looking messy
- 2How to match groomsmen outfits to your wedding suit
- 2What should a groomswoman wear to match the wedding party?
- 6How to schedule hair and makeup for a large bridal party