Being chosen by a good friend to be one of her bridesmaids is very exciting....theoretically.  The bridal shower, all the shopping, taking photographs -- all of these activities are great fun.  Reality will set in when the newly appointed bridesmaid realizes she will have to purchase a dress. - not just any old dress, but a dress that could potentially be unflattering and that she may never have occasion to (or want to for the matter) wear again.  

However, the bride's fairy-tale wedding doesn't have to be a cheap horror flick for the bridesmaids.  There are cheap bridesmaid dresses to be found that are not only stylish and flattering, but budget friendly as well.

Don't be afraid to mix it up a bit.  A current trend is to have each bridesmaid wear a style of dress that will work for her personally.  The dresses should be coordinated in some manner, either by length, color and/or fabric.  Many times you will find that retailers use the same color hues and/or fabrics from one season to the next. Therefore, finding coordinating dresses in different styles is not as hard as it may seem.  

See that lovely bridal boutique?  Keep walking right past it.  Shopping in a bridal boutique is just asking to spend extra money.  Prices are always higher in a bridal boutique simply because everything is specifically for a wedding.  To avoid this trap, search at common clothing retailers such as Express and Ann Taylor.  You can also shop at local department stores such as Dillards, JC  Penny's or Nordstrom's.

Shop out of season.  Most retailers have sales at the end of the season.  This is a perfect time to pick up your bridesmaids dresses.  This is one time where you may be able to visit that bridal boutique and still score some great dresses at an affordable price.  

Consider renting the bridesmaids dresses.  While this is not a common option, it can certainly save a great deal of money.   This is especially true if you want a designer gown but don't want to pay the designer gown prices.  Most bridal boutiques don't offer gown rentals as an option.  However, there are some websites where you can find gorgeous dresses for just a small fraction of the price than if you were to purchase the same dress. 

Keep it Simple.  While most brides want everything involving their wedding (including those bridesmaid dresses) to have a "wow" factor, common sense dictates that the more sensational and glamorous the dress, the higher the cost.  Another thing to keep in mind with a more elaborate dress is that the opportunities to wear the dress in the future will be reduced.  A good way to save money is to purchase a simple, elegant dress that is inexpensive and use accessories to dress it up.  Think something on the lines of "little black dress" and you are sure to have a winner.