Wow prices: say yes for the dress

[yeahdisney]

DD told me for fun she had watched some episodes of say yes to the dress. So I checked it out. Wowzer, I googled, during your appt you get to try on 4 dresses and starting budget should be $2500. I’m thankful I don’t have that store anywhere near me! For DD to dream in.

 

[disykat]

I just googled "how much of your budget should your wedding dress be" because I was curious what current recommendations were. It suggested that attire for both bride and groom should be at or less than 10% of your budget. Looking back, DH and I hit slightly under 10% for clothes for our low budget wedding 30 years ago. Many of my friends had bigger weddings, but also spent WAAY more on their dresses - I'm pretty sure it was commonly more than a 10% of the wedding expense at that time. (It's funny how some things seem to have gotten less expensive over time rather than more expensive.) Obviously I can see different people prioritizing different things, but it's kind of an interesting guideline to keep in mind so you know you're going to have to cut other things back if you have a set budget and spend a lot of it on the dress.

 

[AnnaS]

My dd got her dress at Kleinfeld. Just add head piece, shoes and veil - veils can cost as much as the dress

 

[AlohaNow]

Or Kleinhell, as it is also known. I recall a memorable trip there as a bridesmaid, back when it was in Brooklyn. Much champagne was consumed.

 

[AnnaS]

Or Kleinhell, as it is also known. I recall a memorable trip there as a bridesmaid, back when it was in Brooklyn. Much champagne was consumed.

We got plenty of bridesmaid dresses many moons ago in Brooklyn!

 

[mom2rtk]

I especially love when you say your budget is $2500 and they roll their eyes and talk about needing to look at the "low end" gowns!

 

[tcufrog]

I got my dress (including detachable train and matching wrap) for much, much, less at a wedding outlet store. It was off the rack so I didn't have to try on a sample and wait for my dress to arrive months later.

 

[mnrose]

Kleinfeld marks everything WAY up. You can buy the same gowns from other wedding stores without the gouging. My DD works in a bridal salon. They sell some of the same exact gowns as Kleinfelds and their TOP dress sells for something like $3K. They would not roll their eyes at you if you wanted to spent $2-3K on a dress. They would treat you very well. LOL. There are only so many wedding gowns out there, people. Now, if you want that "experience", fine, go to Kleinfelds. But if you are looking for a wedding gown, go to one of your local salons.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Bought mine off the rack at a local bridal shop for $450. Alterations cost about $250. I don‘t even have it anymore. The hem had an inch of mud on it, red wine got sprayed at some point, etc. The cleaners wanted $600 to clean and preserve it. I said nope! Toss it!

Buying the dress was the worst part of planning. I didn’t care about it one bit.

I did keep my veil, though.

 

[TCRAIG]

At Bridals by Lori (Say Yes Atlanta) - IIRC, if your budget is less than 4K - you can’t even get to the main floor - you’re routed to the budget floor. My daughters veil alone cost more than my whole wedding!

 

[Eeyore daily]

I love this show for some reason. I just know I’d never be able to shop there unless it’s at their sample sale!

 

[ronandannette]

Or Kleinhell, as it is also known. I recall a memorable trip there as a bridesmaid, back when it was in Brooklyn. Much champagne was consumed.

Tell us about it...all about it. Seriously, I've watched so many episodes of that show over the years I feel like I've been there but I'd love to hear a first-hand account.

I especially love when you say your budget is $2500 and they roll their eyes and talk about needing to look at the "low end" gowns!

I can hardly ever remember them selling a gown that inexpensive and the few times they do, they make it out like the bride is Cinderella.

I must say I'm fascinated at how much some people are willing to pay. Lots and lots of 5-figure sales, and the sky's the limit for the prices on the Pnina Tornai stuff. I did see an episode or two where they were promoting Randy Fenoli's own designs and I must say, they were (mostly) lovely and quite well priced, respectively.

 

[kerry1379]

I have a love/hate relationship with that show. I enjoy watching it, really I do, but I also get very frustrated with the number of brides that are told their family's budget on a wedding gown, go way above said budget, and then either 1. act like their whole wedding will be ruined if they don't get THAT dress or 2. give the puppy dog look until their family gives in to pay more. I end up shaking my head wondering if they are really ready to get married. As much as I like the show, a wedding isn't all about the dress!

 

[EMom]

Alterations can add a lot to the cost too, and people don’t think about that.

 

[ronandannette]

I have a love/hate relationship with that show. I enjoy watching it, really I do, but I also get very frustrated with the number of brides that are told their family's budget on a wedding gown, go way above said budget, and then either 1. act like their whole wedding will be ruined if they don't get THAT dress or 2. give the puppy dog look until their family gives in to pay more. I end up shaking my head wondering if they are really ready to get married. As much as I like the show, a wedding isn't all about the dress!

And I can't help but wonder why on God's green earth the stylists have brides try on dresses that are well above their budgets - they discuss the budget up-front with whomever is supposedly paying the bill. Maybe it's all been agreed upon beforehand and is just for drama but it does seem to happen a lot and appears to be a very manipulative sales tactic. If I was the bride, I wouldn't even want to see anything I couldn't have. If I was the parent of a bride, I'd be furious.

 

[fly girl]

I cannot tell you how to spend your money, but when you say $6-10K for a gown my eyes automatically roll. Turnabout is fair play, you cannot tell me I cannot roll my eyes!

That much for a dress you're going to wear for only 1 day? ONE DAY!!! No, no I cannot do it. Call me cheap.

And sorry, if it is for one of those see through Pnina dresses then I really lose it.
How are you paying $10K for a bandana size piece of fabric attached to one of grandma's doilies with some BeDazzler sequins? (yes, I am being sarcastic)

 

[MrsPete]

I just googled "how much of your budget should your wedding dress be" because I was curious what current recommendations were.

I understand you were curious about "current recommendations", but I reject the idea that a wedding dress should cost a certain amount -- sounds like a way to encourage people to spend, spend, spend. What if you wear your mother or grandmother's dress? Is that "wrong"?

My daughter was married three years ago, and her dress cost less than $300. It was an all-lace white bridesmaid's dress, which fit her casual outdoor wedding very well. It looked great on her.

Many of my friends had bigger weddings, but also spent WAAY more on their dresses

I also reject the idea that a bigger wedding should require a more expensive dress!

My dd got her dress at Kleinfeld. Just add head piece, shoes and veil - veils can cost as much as the dress

And belts. A rhinestone-y belt is a "need" now.

I especially love when you say your budget is $2500 and they roll their eyes and talk about needing to look at the "low end" gowns!

That's just rude to put down your budget as "low end".

Alterations can add a lot to the cost too, and people don’t think about that.

Yes, when I was married 30 years ago, my alterations cost more than my dress. Of course, the dress was $99 and the alterations were just over $100 (admittedly, my skirt had ruffles-ruffles-ruffles around the edge, so they had to remove the waist and "yank it up" to make it short enough for me.

And I can't help but wonder why on God's green earth the stylists have brides try on dresses that are well above their budgets

Oh, I understand why the stylists bring out the dresses -- in a nutshell, commission. What I don't understand is why the brides are willing to try them on (or why their mothers/other support system members) don't say, "This is a bad idea.".

 

[fla4fun]

And sorry, if it is for one of those see through Pnina dresses then I really lose it.
How are you paying $10K for a bandana size piece of fabric attached to one of grandma's doilies with some BeDazzler sequins? (yes, I am being sarcastic)

I don’t know, I think that’s a fairly accurate description. I don’t have a problem with a figure fitting dress, but some parts of the bride should be reserved for the groom’s eyes only.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

My future daughter in law went to Kleinfelds in December. Her budget was 2500. I think you have to pay 100 just to get an appointment. She was in the main floor. I was face timed into the visit. Her stylist spoke very broken English. Glad her mom could speak to her. She liked a dress for 3k and they got her to take 500 off. I never heard my future dil say she loved any of the dresses. Girls were buying like 4 to 6 k dresss minimum.
Alterations there are 650. Non negotiable.
She ended up getting a dress closer to home.

 

[MamaLema]

I cannot tell you how to spend your money, but when you say $6-10K for a gown my eyes automatically roll. Turnabout is fair play, you cannot tell me I cannot roll my eyes!

That much for a dress you're going to wear for only 1 day? ONE DAY!!! No, no I cannot do it. Call me cheap.

And sorry, if it is for one of those see through Pnina dresses then I really lose it.
How are you paying $10K for a bandana size piece of fabric attached to one of grandma's doilies with some BeDazzler sequins? (yes, I am being sarcastic)

I rented my wedding dress for $80 because I knew I would probably never look at it again plus I didn’t have space in our then tiny apartment. I never regretted it and got tons of compliments.