Bridesmaid dresses - $295 - is this too much to ask?

I think its too much.

There are plenty of manufacturers who make velvet dresses that are more affordable. Look at RenzRags (Etsy) or BHLDN.

I feel like $100-$150 is appropriate for a bridesmaids dress (I personally felt guilty even asking someone to spend that amount, and was recommending $70 dresses from Lulu's or finding something pre-owned from Poshmark).

Have you asked your BMs about budget at all? Did you have a discussion with them about expectations before they agreed to be in your wedding? If you aren't doing a shower/bachelorette, aren't requiring specific shoes/accessories, the wedding is local (so no travel costs), you are letting them do own hair and makeup or are paying to have it done, and there are no other costs associated with being in your wedding, then maybe having them splurge on a dress they love and can wear again is reasonable. But all those BM things add up, so I would probably set an upper limit and pay the difference if you choose those dresses, or find a less expensive alternative.

Price is relative. Everyone has different ideas of what is "too much". I think you should just message each bridesmaid individually and ask them what their budget is. If it just has to be this dress then you should cover the difference in cost (if there is one). I also chose a Jenny Yoo gown and my salon offered a discount for my bridesmaids. I would check with specific salons because you may get a 10-15% discount for ordering a couple of dresses.

I think it's too much, but make sure to ask them all INDIVIDUALLY what their budget is without telling them how much the dresses you found were. I just had to pay $250 for a dress that I really don't have the money for, but every other bridesmaid said yes in the group chat so who was I to be the only one to say no and cause issues for the bride?

Sorry this happened to you, Jessi.

This is such a good example of why the budget conversations should be individual and private. Money is such a loaded (no pun intended!) topic. Not to mention, we are culturally conditioned that it's rude to say no to brides. So it's on brides to ask the right questions in the right way, rather than just hoping that her friends will push back if they can't afford something.

To be fair I do think my issue is more with the difference of opinions between me and the other bridesmaids. We only looked at one shop for dresses and the bride offered to go look somewhere else so we could find something cheaper, but everyone else assured her that $250 is not too much to ask someone to spend on a BM dress so they said there was no reason... as I was trying to say there's no problem in checking lol. Plus I was the person who had to say in our bridesmaid group chat that I couldn't afford a destination Bachelorette party (I said everyone else could go and I wouldn't be offended, I didn't care) and ruined the MOH's plans for a crazy weekend, so I didn't really want to make myself the odd woman out any more than I already had.

But yeah, for my own wedding I will be checking with everyone one on one. FH and I also agreed before we asked anyone that we would like to spend the extra money to help pay for our bridal party so we'll be paying for as much as we can for them.