Buying a wedding gown BEFORE getting a ring?

[2MuchOhana]

Just because you don't have a ring doesn't mean you can't shop for or put a deposit down on a dress.

Others have already said it; but it is the best advise any of us can give you! If you haven't already try it on to make sure you like it as much on you as you do on the hanger!

Good Luck & Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding!

Jodi

 

[Laura]

Can you tell us what the dress looks like? I'm just curious.

Oh, and congratulations in advance!

 

[WDWAurora]

totalia-Of course not! Just because it's the "traditional" thing to do doesn't mean you have to! A ring is just that-a ring.

I'm a boring traditionalist (as is DBF) and we're in the same situation of waiting until he's financially in a position to buy one. That has more to do with making sure he's in the financial position to support us since I'll be in grad school for the next 2 years. With that said, I'm not buying the dress before I get the ring because that's the "fun" part, and I want to save it until then...Just a matter of having all the fun I can with the engagement, and doing it at that point. If you're comfortable with it, go for it. DBF's brother's fiance (follow that?) bought hers beforehand and I thought it was stupid, but that was only because they hadn't been dating very long and had never been in the same city at the same time for more than 3 days straight, but sure enough they got engaged before us, which is another can of worms, but anyway... In your situation, where you KNOW already, which is how we are, we've planned it for years now (planned to get married last month actually) I don't see why it's a big deal as long as you won't feel like you're missing out on the experience later, then go for it. It's your day, get the dress you love.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by totalia
Wow. You need a ring to be engaged? Guess I need to tell my fiance that since I've never had one and don't think I ever will. Maybe we should just stop planning the wedding since we aren't "really" engaged after all.

Did I miss something, where did someone post that you need a ring?

 

[totalia]

The post was sarcasm guys. Sorry I didn't make that clearer. It was from posts that some others made.

 

[Jeafl]

Originally posted by DMickey28
I wanted to add...is it a designer dress?

I bought my dress online for about $300 cheaper than the bridal store was selling it for at www.bridalco.com.

There are also a bunch of other reputable websites out there as well....

Just a thought...

I was going to suggest this too. My daughter stood up in a wedding and after finding the bridesmaid dress in a local bridal shop, we ordered it on line for about 2/3 of the price.

 

[diznygirl]

If it's being discontinued, what will be happening to the display model? I smell a deal....!

Sorry - I love bargain-hunting! And dmickey28 is right - you can find the same exact dress in other places - the internet is a great thing. My DSIL found a dress she loved at a store, searched the internet, and then eventually had it duplicated by a dressmaker. She saved a bundle.

The reason it's being discontinued is fashion - new styles are coming in. Your wedding is not so far away that your dress will be "out" of style.

I say go for it - and let us all know what it looks like!

 

[Kallison]

buy it -- that is a good price. Even if it is $300 over. I don't believe in jinxes, unless it pertains to the Red Sox.

 

[princess pooh]

Originally posted by diznygirl
If it's being discontinued, what will be happening to the display model? I smell a deal....!

That's exactly what I was thinking! I used to work in the "bridal gown district" of my city and I remember the samples would go on sale once the dress was discontinued. I ended up finding a bridemaid's dress for $25 that way! Too bad the bride changed her mind about the colour she wanted

 

[pjlla]

Go for it! I had my church, reception hall, and photographer booked before I had my ring! (It's a long story!).............P

 

[nemo1987]

my mom bought hers about a year and a half before she was married. she was trying on dresses for fun in a shop that was having this huge sale and she found "the one" on sale for i think 15 dollars. she put it on lay-away and two weeks later got a postcard in the mail saying come and pick up your dress we are going out of business (no wonder they had a huge sale going on!) and my grandma flipped out! but thats the dress she used a year and a half later!
**Sarah**

 

[Chicago526]

Wow again! Sorry I haven't been back to comment sooner, I really only post between phone calls at work! It's a Maggie Sottero. I've sent an e-mail for a quote for Discount Bridal Service, which was highly recomened in a budget wedding book I'm reading. They just e-mailed back that they have it for $954! The only hitch is that they want payment in full, so I've gotta cough up $954 right away. The shop only wants 60% down.

I've also found another shop in my area that carries her line, so I'm going to see if they offer it for less.

Here's the dress:

http://www.maggiesottero.com/catalog/window.php?51

As for buying the disply model, I thought of that too, but I'm going to shop around a little first. If I can get a good enough deal on a "new" dress then I'll just order it new. I'd have to get the model one cleaned, and heaven knows what that would cost!

Kallison, the Red Sox and the Cubs! Maybe they'll get to the World Series together and may the best jinx lose! (trading Babe away beats a billygoat any day ).

 

[princess pooh]

Chicago526, What's the name of the budget wedding book you are reading? I could sure use something like that

 

[Chicago526]

I left it at home, but I *think* it's called "Bridal Discounts". It was featured on Oprah. They guarantee it will save you at least $500 on your wedding or they'll refund the book. They have excellent tips.

Another great tip I found in this book is a company called 2G Roses. They're a flower grower that will send the flowers directly to you a few days before the big day, you just need to put the flowers together your self. The rose package has enough roses, greens, and fillers to make 11 table arrangements (18 stems each), 10 boutonnieres (1 stem each), 6 corsages (3 stems each), 5 bridesmaids bouquets (18 stems each), 1 brides bouquet (25 stems) and a head table arrangement (59 stems). Of course you can break that down however you want. For example you could use all 400 roses for tables if you wanted. All this for $502 plus shiping. Of course you need to be comfortalbe to make your own arrangements, but if you keep it simple I think it be rather easy to do (they have info on the site and you could also take a class or read a book on flower arranging).

The book has a lot of other info on all aspects of wedding planning. I definatly recomend it!

 

[binny]

I would.

I had my ring custom made ( I designed it my brother made it, he was a jeweler at the time) and I didnt get my ring until the rehersal dinner.

I bought my wedding dress soon after he proposed. If you know youre going to get married, why not?

 

[binny]

BTW the dress is gorgeous!!


Budget living magazine had a whole issue dedicated to budget weddings last month.
www.budgetlivingmagazine.com

Best wishes!

 

[CBRorBust]

Have you called Pearl's Place to see what their price for that Maggie would be? I have heard that they are really cheap and they carry almost every designer! Also check out www.bridesave.com and www.netbride.com

I thought about doing my own flower arrangements for a while. Then I had to be realistic. I know that if they were not perfect I would hate them, and quite frankly, I know that I am not going to have time to arrange flowers the few days leading up to my wedding.

If you do decide to do your own flowers, I'd get a few test batches from them and make sure that you are 100% comfortable with the outcome. Make whoever is going to help you with the flowers practice with you!

 

[Chicago526]

Originally posted by CBRorBust
Have you called Pearl's Place to see what their price for that Maggie would be? I have heard that they are really cheap and they carry almost every designer! Also check out www.bridesave.com and www.netbride.com

I thought about doing my own flower arrangements for a while. Then I had to be realistic. I know that if they were not perfect I would hate them, and quite frankly, I know that I am not going to have time to arrange flowers the few days leading up to my wedding.

If you do decide to do your own flowers, I'd get a few test batches from them and make sure that you are 100% comfortable with the outcome. Make whoever is going to help you with the flowers practice with you!

Yes, I'm a little nervous about the flowers myself. But a simple arangement in a vase for the guest tables would be easy, and the brides maids bouquetes should be easy, too. I'm most woried about the head table center piece and my bouquet. But there is a flower arranging class offered by my local park district, and I love reading books, so I plan on lots of study and practice before the "main event". I'm lucky to have lots of vacation time so I'll be taking a few days off prior to the wedding, giving me (I hope) lots of time to take care of everything.

 

[Shugardrawers]

I had a friend who bought a dress when she wasn't even dating anyone! She just fell in love with it and had to have it for when the time came. The price was so good she said if she changed her mind she could always sell it for more than she bought it for. I bought a pattern years before I met DH. I wound up going with a different dress but I loved the other so much I just had to have it just in case. I don't believe in "jinxs".

 

[cassi06403]

The dress is gorgeous! I love the ball gown style, mine was a ball gown, too, but in tulle!

I read the book "Bridal Bargains", I'm not sure if that's the book you are reading or not. If not, be sure to check it out!

--Cassi