Woo!
Though, really, I shouldn’t be. Especially seeing as I left work early on Friday, writhed around in bed with severe stomach pain, chugged some Pepto and then…ate Mexican food for dinner.
What can I say? I like living on the edge and also, guacamole’s siren song is impossible to resist.
Luckily, many of my symptoms have subsided and fully functional Clink is back in action. My uncle, the doctor, is monitoring the situation and seems to think that everything is fine thus far.
(Now watch, I’m going to totally die tomorrow and you’ll all be like “that idiot should’ve gone to see a doctor. She gets no sympathy from us.”)
Anyway. This weekend was so wedding-licious I can’t even stand it. I seem to be back in the wedding-planning swing after having been apathetic during much of the summer (must’ve been all that sangria I drank).
On Saturday morning, a few of my bridesmaids, my mother, my sister and I ventured into the garment district to try on bridesmaids dresses. Initially I thought that I wanted the girls to wear an array of dresses in the same color and fabric but different styles. That is until everyone tried on the sweetheart neckline dress in chocolate brown with a light pink sash and be still my heart, all of them looked breathtaking in it. So, um, yeah, that “an array of dresses! My bridesmaids will be individuals!” idea is hanging on by a thread, dependent on what the rest of the bridesmaids think. Seriously, little known secret: a sweetheart neckline looks amazing on everyone.
Though - gah - is $270 entirely too much to ask? My bridesmaids seem okay with it but part of me feels a bit guilty, even though it’s over $100 less than I was asked to pay for the wedding I was in. I should probably go consult my wedding guru (”Hi Martha Stewart? It’s Clink.”)
Sunday, M and I met a potential photographer in a Starbucks near our apartment and I think we both left with a little crush on him. He’s personable, talented and absolutely on the same wavelength (also: hot; bonus for the bridesmaids). He’s shot at our reception site before and says that Greek weddings are actually his favorite because, in his experience, Greek weddings have the most personality (if he was saying that just to butter me up a bit - it worked). Also: he costs about half of what the other photographers we’re considering cost. It’s like he hasn’t yet realized that, yeah, hi, you work in Manhattan and that in and of itself means you can charge an exhorbitant amount of money to photograph a wedding.
We might meet with another photographer just to say that we did but, really, I think we found The One.
Who says this wedding planning thing is hard? Puh-lease. (Brushes shoulders off.)
Such Great Heights
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I’m glad you feel better. Major points for finding a hot photographer, your bridemaids will thank you.
I’ve only been a bridesmaid once and my mom made the dresses. She also made them for my wedding. So my bridesmaids didn’t pay anything. Now they did have to pay for their lodging. I think it’s the cost of the total package you should worry about, not just the dress. But kudos on the photographer, that’s just awesome!
Also, I totally know what you mean about guacamole’s siren song, totally irresistible.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah it’s soooo easy. You’re lucky I heart you.
In my opinion (which clearly you asked for) one of the most frustrating parts of wedding planning (other than the money part) is all the appointments. If you think the photographer is the one maybe you should just declare him the one and be done with it. Remember your gut? It may have been hurting but it knows what is good for you…trust it!
But yay for being back on the wedding bandwagon. Exciting!
Woohoo wedding planning! That’s this coming weekend for me (meeting priest, selecting reception menu, florist, etc), so I hear you on both the excitement and exhaustion!
As far as $270, I personally think it’s a bit pricey for a dress they’ll never wear again. If your ‘maids are darling (I’m sure they are), they’ll pay the price and not say anything to your face. To each other? To others? They might complain about how they shelled out $270 before alterations for a chocolate brown dress with a pink sash that they’ll never wear other than on your (beautiful!) wedding day. It might be worth checking out House of Brides online (they’re reputable, from everything I’ve heard) if the dress is by a known bridesmaid dress designer, since their gowns are usually at least 25% cheaper than in stores. That being said, chocolate brown with a pink sash is NOT hard to come by in the chocolate brown/pastel wedding craze that is current, so you can very likely find something exactly the same for a lot less money.
Just my two cents (I’m struggling with the same thing! The dress I love is $289 in stores, but $289 at HOB).
I meant $189 at HOB. Oy.
Awesome about the photographer!
But $270 for the bridesmaids’ dresses - honestly, it’s kind of a lot and I might be a little put off if I had to spend that much. Plus travel, gifts, etc. However, I have only been in one wedding - my stepsister’s - and my parents paid for my dress, so I don’t know the going rate.
$270? That’s not too bad. It’s a lot if any of your bridesmaids were broke, starving students (not that I know anything about that), but I’ve heard of much worse. The good thing about the one wedding I was in was that even though the dress was absolutely awful, it was only $100.
Yay on the photographer!
I’m probably biased because my bridesmaids wore chocolate brown dresses with a sweetheart neckline and a pink sash and i loved it! Their dresses were actually about that same price. (Are yours Saeyoung Vu?) I balked at the price originally, but they were the ones that chose the designer and they all agreed that they liked those dresses much better than all the cheaper ones we found. So I say, if your bridesmaids are on board- go for it!
***glad you’re feeling better***
Glad you didn’t die. I have paid $300 for a bridesmaids dress and I still curse the bride to this day. However, they were amazing dresses and looked great. And still looks great hanging in my closet to never be worn again.
With that said, do share the info on this dress. I have searched everywhere. EV-ER-Y-WHERE! for a great bmaids dress for my girls. Come on Clink. Share the goods.
Wow, it feels like it’s been awhile since you’ve done a real wedding planning update, and I’m so happy to see it–we are also starting to pick back up after ignoring the whole situation for awhile, and it’s going well. And yay for finding a photographer you like–having a good vibe with your photographer is so important, since it’s all about capturing moments and feelings.
so glad you are feeling better.
This photographer better be good because we’re going to be seeing his work. Right?
And I don’t think that’s too much to ask for a dress- is it one that they’ll be wearing again?
Glad you aren’t dying!
I don’t think $270 is bad for a dress if you can keep the price down on the shoes and jewelry, don’t force them into hair and/or make up appointments. Our dresses were $200+, and I barely felt it- I made a deposit when Bride decided on a specific dress and I had measurements taken, and then had a whole year with which to make payments against it if I wanted. I just paid the other half when I picked it up, which sucked, but again, I could have easily sent them $20 every month between the deposit and the wedding.
Do you have a mole? If you have a bridesmaid that will tell you what is going on with the others, you can check the reactions….
Sounds like it’s coming along nicely. Yay! I’m so happy for you. Congrats on the hot photographer. You bridesmaids are gonna luuurve you. The $270 dresses would be worth it.
Haha.
Glad you didn’t die! And that you found THE perfect hot photographer. Maybe you should show us a photograph of him? Hmm? HMM?
I’ve never been a bridesmaid so I don’t know the average price. But maybe they can ebay it later instead of letting it sit in the closet and make them feel bad about spending that much on something they will not wear again.
The thing is, I actually think the girls WILL be able to wear the dress again. Take off the sash and it’s just a gorgeous, strapless chocolate brown dress - who doesn’t have a use for those?
Ok. Maybe I’m just trying to talk myself into this dress. It’s knee-length though and not formal so it really can translate into “real life.”
So underwrite the cost of the dresses if you like them so much–you’re saving on the photog, right? It IS a lot of money to ask.
btw Legally Blonde: The Musical is on again on Friday 11am…if you want to tape it
glad you’re feeling better clink! we were all worried!!
and chocolate brown dresses sound wonderful. i could definitely find use for that again.
Honestly? I think 270 is a bit pricey. BUT, if the dress is really THE ONE and all of your bridesmaids like, LOVE you, and you make them all homemade cookies, well then I think you can get away with it.
Yay for finding the one. The photographer, I mean
Oh good lord. I chug pepto like… somebody in the desert might chug water if they had any left. Like that.
Glad you’re feeling better! $270 is kind of a lot- depends how affluent your bridesmaids are. If my sister asks me to spend $270 on a dress I’ll say “fine, but only because you’re my sister and I love you and because sweetheart necklines look good on everybody.” (Laura- if you’re reading. Sweetheart necklines?)
Congrats on surviving!
Is it Greek Orthodox? Do they have crowns and much standing?
I’m sure the dresses are lovely. I’m sure! You have great taste.
Personally, since I work in research and am poor, $270 is A LOT of money to spend on any article of clothing, let alone a dress that I would wear once. And, I really think that every kind, unselfish bride thinks that the dresses can be worn again, but I have yet to see that happen unless the bride lets the girls wear a black dress of individual choosing. It’s sweet that you are thinking of them, but I think that is a pipe dream most brides have.
That said, and I just recently had a conversation about this exact topic with a friend who I’m a bridesmaid for, it’s your special day, and I bet your girls are thrilled to be a part of it, and if it’s the dress, I’m sure they’ll buy it and wear it and smile.
having been a bridesmaid a couple of times, i would think that $270 is alot for a dress. of course, i spend another $100 in alterations (basically remaking any dress). so if your girls are off the rack bodies, and you do their jewelry (and maybe shoes) as their gift, and don’t enforce a mandatory professional haird-do, i think that’s cool.
just think about where your girls are in their lives, and if $270 is a drop in the bucket for them, or 2 months worth of food.
Okay, share the photo link, please! Show us his work!
Dresses sound gorgeous. You know your maids and what they can pay.
brush that dirt off your shoulders, girl! way to make some headway.
but i totally have to google the sweetheart neckline thing b/c? i just can’t picture it right now.
i don’t think $270 is too much as long as you don’t make them buy specific jewelry and shoes as well. i was in the EXACT same spot as you, wanted all the girls in the same color diff dress, then could not find anything that worked like that so picked a “standard” dress. then i found the dress i am actually using: http://twobirdsbridesmaid.com/
its $20 more per dress, but they will DEF wear this again. i am buying the dresses for my girls, but they still went nuts over this dress. and ariane (the 2 birds girl) is beyond sweet.
Wow. Good going with the photographer. AND the not dying. You’re on a roll!
thanks goodness you’re alright and feeling better! and the bridemaids dresses sound so cute!
here’s my 2 cents on bridesmaids dress cost … if its a dress that can actually be worn again then they can bea little more expensive. If though its way tooo bridesmaidy or hideous (which yours doesn’t sound) then I’d say try to find one a little less. I have been the MOH in 2 wedding and paid more for first outfit but its probably wearable again and the second dress no way will I ever wear it again.
Feeling better, dresses, AND a photographer - sounds like a successful weekend!
My two cents on the dresses: As a bridesmaid, I would pay whatever the amount for the dress because it would be for my friend’s wedding. Thankfully, I can’t imagine any of them picking something horrible or horribly expensive. I don’t think $270 is outrageous. A lot, but not outrageous.
I agree with Mel too. I would pay that, no problem. As long as there way a promise that the money saved would be spent on more alcohol.
Just kiddin’
I think no one ever jumps up and down with joy at having to shell out the big bucks for a BM dress, but if they truly don’t seem to have a problem with it, then don’t let your guilt get you down! Also, I’m sure someone else has already mentioned this, but you may want to try poking around online to see if it’s cheaper if you don’t buy it from a boutique. Plus, bonus, you wouldn’t have to buy it from a boutique! Trust me on this–ALL of our wedding drama stemmed from the stupid store we bought our dresses from. They were awesome up until the point we handed over our credit cards, and then they became the bridal shop from hell. And it seems to be an incredibly common occurrence!!
Glad you’re not dead and that you found a great photographer
What a productive weekend!
When you factor in dress, hair, shoes, makeup, jewelry, the bachelorette, engagement/shower/wedding gifts, hotel, food, and transportation, the price really adds up.
So my point was that $270 is a lot to ask for a dress. Try David’s Bridal or another retailer, which will have similar dresses for half the price.
Honestly, the more you can do to keep costs reasonable, the happier your bridesmaids will be, especially if they are coming from out of town.
Oh and also I know I already commented but I was reading this entry again and I wanted to say that I am also sort of in love with sweetheart necklines for my own dress (because I have been suppressing my urge to buy my dress already by admiring tons of them online), and also that I think $270 for a dress is okay as long as that’s the only expense, but if they have to buy particular shoes and jewelry and pay for their own certain hairstyle and makeup then that’s going to start adding up real quick.
And also, didn’t I tell you on Friday to be careful of that Mexican food? Tsk.
I think $270 is alot for a bridesmaid dress. A suggestion is to balance it out by paying for their hair and makeup and letting them wear their own shoes and jewelry? The cost of going to a wedding is alot when you add up presents, flights, hotels, and even depending on how extravagant your bachelorette party is - most bridesmaids keep a tally of ALL of it in their heads…
I think $270 is bit too much. This is most likely a one-time-wear dress. It’s a lot to shell out to wear once and hang in the back of the closet. That, and they can’t wear just the dress to the wedding. They’ll need shoes, jewelry, make-up and other accessories too. Not to mention the costs of gifts, wedding showers, transportation…
Bummer, my comment is about the same as everyone else’s. $270 is a lot to ask, at least it would be for me and the friends I would ask to be my bridesmaids. The dress sounds great but also pretty simple, do you think you could find something similar at another retailer? I know it’s hard once you’ve fallen in love with something, but like everyone said, all the costs really do add up.
When are YOU going to go dress shopping?!
I was in a brown and pink themed wedding over the weekend, that involved $300 Vera Wang bridesmaid gowns. Add $180 in alterations, and boom! you’ve got yourself a $500 bridesmaid gown. Insanity! But you know what? We looked HOT, and I’m already planning to have my gown cut off to cocktail length in hopes that I WILL wear it again someday.
And not only that, I had to travel from Denver to Philly for both the shower and the wedding ($500), stay in a B&B for 2 nights ($250), buy shoes ($60), jewelry ($35), and gifts ($150). All in all, the wedding ended up costing me about $1500.
But it was worth it because it was for one of my best friends whom I love to death, and it was an amazing weekend.
But damn. Bitches better be ready to ante up when I get married. haha.
So now that your stomach is (almost) better and your dresses are basically picked, as well as your photographer, does this mean you can devote some time to making those incredible oreos?!
Hooray for the hot photographer! Ours is pretty hot and reminds me of this guy I had a crush on in college. But we totally hired him because he’s talented and has good style, I swear!
Hi. I’m glad you’re alive. I have the flu or something. In bed. Watching TV. BLAH.
Glad you’re feeling better; maybe well enough to plan my whole wedding too? Kthanxbai.
I consulted with my roommates (you were a friend from work, not a fellow blogger of course) and we think that as long as the overall cost isn’t insane than $270 falls into an acceptable range. It is a bit high but not completely ridiculous. That wedding you have to spend a ton of money on was ALSO taking place when you and I assume most of the bridal party were younger and making less money. Keeping that in my mind, I would also like to remind you that you are in Manhattan. Not Iowa, etc. I would expect to pay more for every part of a wedding taking place in a big city vs. small town.