Two-Dress, Three-Dress Brides? How does it work?

[violet02]

For the budget concious it seems impossible to be a two-dress bride... how can you afford it? What I think I''m missing is this. How much do you wind up losing when you change your mind? I really love my dress now but I''ve been agonizing a teensy bit about another dress that I have yet to try on (don''t want to tempt myself). It would probably cost about $1k more then my currrent dress which I''ve put a 50% deposit down on so far. No fittings or anything ordered in yet. Just a deposit about 4 weeks ago. In an instance like that you can either buy the dress and try to sell it later or just lose the deposit? You''re pretty much bought into it one way or another right? The dress I may like isn''t at the same shop.... if it were do bridal stores let you apply your deposit towards another dress if they haven''t had to order it in for you yet?

I''m just curious how people make it work. I''ve seen some posts with $800 or $1k dresses but when you''re talking about over $3k on the first dress and interested in over $4k on the second that doesnt'' seem workable in my head. I''m not talking myself out my dress or anything (I hope!) ... i''m just curious about it. It seems that quite a few people do go through this and are able to do the two dress thing. (Hopefully its really tough so I''ll know that i can''t look at anymore dresses

)

 

[Independent Gal]

Unless either a) you HATE your first dress or b) you have money (of your own) to burn, I wouldn''t consider just setting $1000 on fire. If you decided that a or b was true, then I would strongly suggest that you just lose the deposit. Your chances of getting more than 2/3 of the original price back are slim, and this way you save the hassle and stress of not knowing whether you could sell it at all.

I''m a two dress bride (and a two part wedding bride though) and I bought one on sale and the other on consignment.

 

[Gypsy]

Okay. I think I can help. I''m impulsive at times and the words "deal" and "sale" make my brain sputter and die a horrible death.

So I bought one gown. Our wedding changed and the dress was too formal. I managed to sell it for a profit. I was never in love with it, but it was a high end designer, the fabric and stitching and everything were TDF, and it was a ''deal.''

Enter dress number 2. Again, a bit of an impulse. I loved it, and love it still, but I''ve gained weight, so much so that I don''t think it''s gonna fit (bought it well over a year ago). But it was a sample of a 4000 gown. I paid less than half that. It needs some alterations work to fix the button loops, and bustling and so forth. So I added all of that up. And said, well, if I sell it for this much, and get a dress for this much. It''s about a wash.

So my dress (number two) is on ebay right now. It will sell, it''s just a matter of time, and for how much. So I found a ''budget'' gown and well, it makes me happier. So, I''ve got some expensive candlesticks I''ve had in storage on there too... to make up the rest of the $$. That''s a bit of ''found'' money as they candlesticks were gifts. Plus I''m not overly sentimental, so I''m planning on selling my ''final dress'' or donating it for a tax write off after the wedding. So I''m figuring I''ll break even on the dress thing.

 

[Gypsy]

It would also help to point out that my shoes were bought on sale for 30 bucks. My headpiece is a flower I got on etsy for 20, and my veil will cost around 80 bucks. My alterations will be done by a woman Amber recommended, so I''m going budget on a lot of other aspects of my attire (not my undergarments though). It''s just about proritizing and for me, my dress is key-- the rest are details to bargain shop for.

 

[tberube]

Date: 2/4/2008 5:54:41 AM
Author: Gypsy
It would also help to point out that my shoes were bought on sale for 30 bucks. My headpiece is a flower I got on etsy for 20, and my veil will cost around 80 bucks. My alterations will be done by a woman Amber recommended, so I''m going budget on a lot of other aspects of my attire (not my undergarments though). It''s just about proritizing and for me, my dress is key-- the rest are details to bargain shop for.

gypsy - I like you, you''re a girl after my own heart. Stunning, regal beauty on a smart budget. I wish I heard more of that on this site...lately I''ve been feeling like more of a cheapskate than a good wedding budgeter. ("Manolo Blahniks on your wedding day? $4,000 dresses? Where am I?")

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 2/4/2008 10:37:48 AM
Author: tberube

Date: 2/4/2008 5:54:41 AM
Author: Gypsy
It would also help to point out that my shoes were bought on sale for 30 bucks. My headpiece is a flower I got on etsy for 20, and my veil will cost around 80 bucks. My alterations will be done by a woman Amber recommended, so I'm going budget on a lot of other aspects of my attire (not my undergarments though). It's just about proritizing and for me, my dress is key-- the rest are details to bargain shop for.

gypsy - I like you, you're a girl after my own heart. Stunning, regal beauty on a smart budget. I wish I heard more of that on this site...lately I've been feeling like more of a cheapskate than a good wedding budgeter. ('Manolo Blahniks on your wedding day? $4,000 dresses? Where am I?')

LOL therube. I'm a bargain shopper. I believe in getting nice things, but also in prioritizing. I have never noticed the shoes on a bride wearing a long gown unless they a) pulled up their dress for some reason or b) had it improperly hemmed. I don't plan to have either happen, and even if they did, my shoes are lovely dyeables. And comfortable. The price tag won't be on them, and none of my guests are going to be able to tell that I spent 30 versus 300.

We do get a lot of this on the site, with our diamond shoppers. Many PSers are into getting the most for the their money and proiritizing their budgets. But with wedding related things, it's one special day, and sometimes people want it all, and you know what? If they can afford it, more power to them.

Now my wedding jewelry? I will be spending some money on, but I will be hitting Nordstrom Rack and the Off Saks and Last Call at Neimans in order to get something I love, but also to maximize my budget.

Also honey, this isn't the first wedding I've planned. Not for myself (JOhn and I have cancelled wedding plans before-- really long story), or for someone else. I know how the snowball effect happens. You splurge here, there... and next thing you know it's everywhere... and you are WAY over budget. So I'm more aware of it than I was the first time I planned, and can step outside myself to say.. hey, does the brand name on the shoe matter? Or do you just want nice comfortable shoes?

 

[misysu2]

I agree with Gypsy. Also, I wanted to say that I LOVE Etsy and completely recommend it too. There are some wonderful pieces of wedding-style jewelry and headpieces on the site.

 

[becoming_sadie]

Well, my two dress thing happened bc I realized that the dress that I bought was not appropriate for the venue or age. We will end up with a beautiful formal hall so I would probably look odd in my first dress (which was diamond white, brand name, princess skirt ball gown, a little too floofy, honestly). I did love my dress when I bought it. The second dress that I bought is silk, very simple, very classical silhouette. But both of my dresses are under 200 w/o alterations. eBay is my best friend.

 

[gtn]

i scour eBay for dresses that I might like and that would fit me, sadly I haven''t been as lucky. I''m jealous Sadie. Of course, I am not giving up hope. I would love to get any dress I''d like for $200. I will have two dresses and I will be wearing both (it''s a cultural thing).

 

[becoming_sadie]

Date: 2/4/2008 2:04:11 PM
Author: gtn
i scour eBay for dresses that I might like and that would fit me, sadly I haven''t been as lucky. I''m jealous Sadie. Of course, I am not giving up hope. I would love to get any dress I''d like for $200. I will have two dresses and I will be wearing both (it''s a cultural thing).

GTN, my second dress was a discontinued Marisa gown which needs some TLC (a cleaning and a button or two replaced) but because the gown is so simple there is nothing to screw up (so I don''t need major bead work redone or anything like that). I have been really lucky. So keep up hope!

 

[violet02]

Date: 2/4/2008 12:11:38 PM
Author: misysu2
I agree with Gypsy. Also, I wanted to say that I LOVE Etsy and completely recommend it too. There are some wonderful pieces of wedding-style jewelry and headpieces on the site.

Etsy rules! They have great jewlery on there. I actually make jewelry, in particular earrings or rings, so I will probably make my own for the bridesmaids, but DIY stuff rules!

 

[violet02]

So basically in most of the two bride instances, one dress was maybe ebay and one sold for at least some or all of the value back. I guess that answers my question to a degree. Thanks!

 

[Harleigh]

Am I wrong or should this be called the frugal brides thread???

As many of you know, I am an ebay queen!

And I have 3 pairs of shoes, all of which were $9.99 each at ROSS and Sear's...I have really high cream and white, and one lower pair of cream in case I could've made the $51 ebay dress work!

Almost everything else has been bought on ebay, too...rhinestone headband, veil, slip...

My girls' dresses were $24.99 at ROSS...

I love bargain hunting!

ETA: And you really don't want to know how many dresses I have from ebay...I figure when I sell them all, I'll have paid for whatever designer dress I end up with!

 

[FrekeChild]

Gypsy, how I wish I could buy your Rivini, but seeing as how the engagement is still at least a year off, I don''t think I can swing it. I don''t suppose you could hold onto it for another year right?

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 2/5/2008 12:15:19 AM
Author: Harleigh

ETA: And you really don''t want to know how many dresses I have from ebay...I figure when I sell them all, I''ll have paid for whatever designer dress I end up with!

I doubt I''m the only one, but I want to know how many dresses you''ve bought (and not just from ebay either!)

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 2/5/2008 12:21:26 AM
Author: FrekeChild
Gypsy, how I wish I could buy your Rivini, but seeing as how the engagement is still at least a year off, I don''t think I can swing it. I don''t suppose you could hold onto it for another year right?

Oh. I didn''t know that FrekeChild! I''m sorry honey. If it doesn''t sell on ebay, I''m going to man up and pay the fee to list it on pre-owned wedding dresses, so I''m hoping it sells before a year passes. But if it doesn''t, it''s yours honey.

 

[FrekeChild]

I am so crossing my fingers. Heh.

 

[Harleigh]

Date: 2/5/2008 12:23:09 AM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 2/5/2008 12:15:19 AM
Author: Harleigh

ETA: And you really don''t want to know how many dresses I have from ebay...I figure when I sell them all, I''ll have paid for whatever designer dress I end up with!

I doubt I''m the only one, but I want to know how many dresses you''ve bought (and not just from ebay either!)

Hehehehe...and that IS the million dollar question!

Sadly, it is WAY too many, but I got them all dirt cheap!

How ''bout I fess up after I actually find one I LOVE???

I''ll even tell you how much I ''didn''t'' spend on them, and then we can do a comparison of how much I got for them when I resell them???

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 2/5/2008 12:31:15 AM
Author: FrekeChild
I am so crossing my fingers. Heh.

heh, indeed!

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 2/5/2008 12:40:32 AM
Author: Harleigh

Date: 2/5/2008 12:23:09 AM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 2/5/2008 12:15:19 AM
Author: Harleigh
ETA: And you really don't want to know how many dresses I have from ebay...I figure when I sell them all, I'll have paid for whatever designer dress I end up with!

I doubt I'm the only one, but I want to know how many dresses you've bought (and not just from ebay either!)

Hehehehe...and that IS the million dollar question!
Sadly, it is WAY too many, but I got them all dirt cheap!
How 'bout I fess up after I actually find one I LOVE???

I'll even tell you how much I 'didn't' spend on them, and then we can do a comparison of how much I got for them when I resell them???

I think we need a whole thread with every detail and pictures of each of the dresses. Mmmk?

 

[Harleigh]

Date: 2/5/2008 12:43:58 AM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 2/5/2008 12:40:32 AM
Author: Harleigh

Date: 2/5/2008 12:23:09 AM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 2/5/2008 12:15:19 AM
Author: Harleigh
ETA: And you really don''t want to know how many dresses I have from ebay...I figure when I sell them all, I''ll have paid for whatever designer dress I end up with!

I doubt I''m the only one, but I want to know how many dresses you''ve bought (and not just from ebay either!)

Hehehehe...and that IS the million dollar question!
Sadly, it is WAY too many, but I got them all dirt cheap!
How ''bout I fess up after I actually find one I LOVE???

I''ll even tell you how much I ''didn''t'' spend on them, and then we can do a comparison of how much I got for them when I resell them???

I think we need a whole thread with every detail and pictures of each of the dresses. Mmmk?

LOL! I think I could fill an entire thread with all of them! My friends just about die when they come over and see the "bridal salon" I''ve got going on over here!