by DC Bloggette on March 8, 2010
When I first started thinking about the wedding, I thought I knew what I wanted: a satin gown, maybe mermaid cut, simple. I was thinking of hitting David’s Bridal or Group USA, and maybe just spending 500 bucks.
Now the more I look at dresses, the more my first view has changed. Now I want something with sparkle. Maybe lace over satin. I want to show off my waist. I want something elegant but sexy. I want Karl to look at my walking down the aisle and have him say “wow!”
Of course, my budget has gone up a bit (due to cold hard reality of how freaking expensive these gowns are!) but not enough that I can just walk into any shop and go to town.
Where does one find a dress (well, the perfect dress!) for less than $1,000? Has anyone ordered from stores online (and I don’t mean Chinese knockoff websites, I mean actual online bridal shops). What was your experience? I was thinking of trying it on at a salon, then ordering it online, but the delivery time is 12-14 weeks, which scares me…
What would you recommend?
So far, the designer that has the most number of dresses I loved, is Alfred Angelo — which is around my price range on the online shops (haven’t visited a real shop yet).
How soon should I start trying on dresses? I’m thinking of losing weight before the wedding (aren’t we all?), and with a diet and marathon training, I should have no problem dropping 10 or 15 pounds, but by then it might be too late to order anything.
Who knew shopping could be so stressful?
by Stamford Bloggette on March 3, 2010
I learned a lot when I was planning my wedding – many brides rant about napkin colors or bridesmaids not being helpful or complaining about their soon to be in laws being too demanding.
I didn’t have many complaints. I was rather laid back. I did a lot of things myself, like my save the dates, and my invitations. I didn’t expect a lot of out my bridal party, and I didn’t pick super expensive dresses that were hideous.
My biggest complaint?
The registry.
Many say that registries are supposed to be the funnest part of wedding planning. You know, going around, scanning things, etc..etc….
Unfortunately for me, it felt like nothing we registered for was good enough. My MIL told us the china we registered for wasn’t nice enough because you could get a 8 setting box for $200. For the record, I love our china. Even if it’s sitting on a shelf in the closet.
She then told us that we hadn’t registered for enough expensive things – like waterford, and why didn’t we register for any Wedgewood? The Vera Wang china I originally picked, long before we were engaged to be my china, was just…too trendy for me. I wanted timeless. I wanted practical, and I couldn’t see people doling out for a $250 water pitcher (someone did).
But the main thing I learned from the entire experience was:
1. It’s about what you (as the couple, not just the bride and not just the groom) want together. Don’t let anyone tell you what is acceptable or unacceptable to register for.
2. There’s no such thing as too expensive. There’s also no such thing as registering for too much “stuff.”
3. It’s also, okay to not register. If you’re older, and you’ve got a house hold of stuff that works for you? Register for a honeymoon, register at Amazon, or you know, don’t register at all. But the main thing about registering is that it helps people buy you things – and let me tell you – they want to buy you things! They want to share your special day with you and give gifts to show you their love. It’s weird but it makes sense.
I eventually stood my ground. We kept the china we picked out together, though we did once go with my mother in law to look at china so she could try to change our minds, in the end we stuck with our gut. The biggest thing about marriage – and you learn this in wedding planning – is that it’s what you as the couple want. Not what your families want, or what your bridal party wants, but what you and your fiance want. The faster you learn that, the happier you’ll be. Trust me.
Did you have anyone try to “help” you register?
