Say Yes to the Dress

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Totally not interested. No one can replace that Kleinfeld's crew.

There's a wedding dress show on WE I think that takes place down in Texas. The saleswomen are rude. They don't ask the girls what their budget is (first thing Kleinfeld's ask) and I always see them putting them in dresses that they can't afford, but somehow end up buying anyways. I also never see them asking what style dress they want. They just take a look at them, and pick out whatever they want.

If I ever end up picking out a wedding dress I'm going to lay down the law: Bring me a dress over budget and I shop somewhere else. On the show it seems like one of two things happens when they do this: either the bride buys a dress she cannot actually afford (which I will not do, hands down, end of story) or she leaves obsessing over the dress that can't be topped.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

If I ever end up picking out a wedding dress I'm going to lay down the law: Bring me a dress over budget and I shop somewhere else. On the show it seems like one of two things happens when they do this: either the bride buys a dress she cannot actually afford (which I will not do, hands down, end of story) or she leaves obsessing over the dress that can't be topped.

That's pretty much how it happens. My friend is a planner, but before that, she worked in a rather pricey bridal boutique in the area for many years.

She would always tell me stories of brides crying/arguing on the phone with dad/mom/whoever BEGGING for them to increase their budget to buy a dress that is 2 or 3x their price point. Or calling other vendors while in the store to make changes (ex: going from the 3 tiered cake to 2 or downgrading their photography package) in order to have more $ for the dream dress. Crazy.

I've always felt like YOU are the one in control (like you said). Even if someone brings you something out of your price range, it doesn't mean you have to try it on. It's kind of the same thing with cars. If you know the Lamborghini is out of your range, why test drive it and fall in love? Or house shopping. If you have only budgeted for $x, why let your realtor show you something that is $y?

You don't have to be all "OMGGG NO WAY I can't afford it" but a simple "No thanks." is enough to communicate that you want to stay in your price point.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

That's pretty much how it happens. My friend is a planner, but before that, she worked in a rather pricey bridal boutique in the area for many years.

She would always tell me stories of brides crying/arguing on the phone with dad/mom/whoever BEGGING for them to increase their budget to buy a dress that is 2 or 3x their price point. Or calling other vendors while in the store to make changes (ex: going from the 3 tiered cake to 2 or downgrading their photography package) in order to have more $ for the dream dress. Crazy.

I've always felt like YOU are the one in control (like you said). Even if someone brings you something out of your price range, it doesn't mean you have to try it on. It's kind of the same thing with cars. If you know the Lamborghini is out of your range, why test drive it and fall in love? Or house shopping. If you have only budgeted for $x, why let your realtor show you something that is $y?

You don't have to be all "OMGGG NO WAY I can't afford it" but a simple "No thanks." is enough to communicate that you want to stay in your price point.

Exactly, and when it comes to money, people should have no problem being firm.

Plus, I find it hard to believe that it is NECESSARY to spends thousands on a wedding gown. It might take a little more time and effort to shop around and find the perfect dress with a smaller budget, but reasonably priced dresses that aren't horrible are there. I have a formal dress that I joke will be my wedding dress...it won't really, but it was a $600 dress from a popular designer and was meant to be an evening gown, but really could be a wedding dress just as well. Now I know to think outside the box.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

Exactly, and when it comes to money, people should have no problem being firm.

Plus, I find it hard to believe that it is NECESSARY to spends thousands on a wedding gown. It might take a little more time and effort to shop around and find the perfect dress with a smaller budget, but reasonably priced dresses that aren't horrible are there. I have a formal dress that I joke will be my wedding dress...it won't really, but it was a $600 dress from a popular designer and was meant to be an evening gown, but really could be a wedding dress just as well. Now I know to think outside the box.

From watching this show you'd think it was normal for wedding gowns to be $5000 and up. It's not. In 2/3 of the shops I went to, almost every gown was less than $1,500. The only ones that are thousands of dollars are designer/couture dresses. You can find hundreds/thousands of beautiful dresses - in nice fabrics, I might add - for a fraction of the price of a designer dress. I would never pay a designer price tag for a dress I'm going to wear once, even if it is my wedding gown.