Right now I’m up too late watching one of my favorite shows, TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress. The reality program tracks customers’ consultations and shopping experiences at legendary New York City bridal boutique Kleinfeld. Kleinfeld boasts the widest selection available and the show consists of watching brides try on different styles and debate the right one with their loved ones.
Obviously, I’m a fashion girl, and to me, the wedding dress is the dress of your life. No dress in my entire lifetime will be more important. BUT… is it really worth spending upwards of $7 to 10,000 for a dress when that money could be applied to paying off a student loan or putting a payment down on a house?
I want my dream dress; I want something unique, fabulous, and elegant, but lately I’ve been disgusted by the massive amounts of money couples spend on weddings. This is money they usually don’t have, so the average couple ends up paying for their wedding decades later. As a little girl I fantasized about a massive black-tie wedding, but being realistic now, I can’t imagine that the hefty price-tag attached to such an event would really be worth it. What makes me cry about even the thought of weddings (yes, I’m a sap!) is the touching connection between the couple and the declaration of eternal love. That message gets lost easily amidst hundreds of guests and a gaudy reception.
Clearly I’m very young and years (if I’m lucky) away from marriage, but I couldn’t help thinking about the true worth of these material wedding costs while watching a show during which brides regularly shell out over $5,000 without batting a lash.
P.S. A great idea for a designer dress at a bargain price: Try a site like Encore Bridal, where you can shop gently used gowns (Hey, they’ve only been worn once! Or sometimes not at all.)
Pictured are two of my favorite gown designs, both by Monique Lhuillier. The top is Sunday Rose, the second is Scarlet. They’re both so different, but I love them equally. I will be a very indecisive bride someday!
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