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I know earlier there was a post about how much is too much to spend on an e-ring. What about a wedding dress? I understand spending a lot on the ring...you have that forever and can wear it everyday. But the dress is only one day. I can say my ring was six times as much as my dress because I couldn't justify spending too much on a dress.
I feel like it all depends completely on what you can afford and what you're comfortable with. For me, anything over about $700 or so would have been absolutely out of the question. I had a hard time accepting that my dress was about $550!! But, I totally understand that tons of brides spend way more than that, and I think that's great if you can afford it!!!
For me...anything over $500 would have been too much. Money wasn't the issue...but rather, I didn't want to spend that much money for something that I wouldn't even be wearing for a whole day. This is actually funny b/c I thought my FI spent too much on my e-ring, but he thought I spent too much on my $474 dress...LOL!
I think anything over $1500 is a lot, and I spent A LOT! I didn't mean too but I loved the dress that nothing else looked good! So I bought "the one" for $2500! EEEKKK! I know that other people have higher budgets, but I have a small one. I envy those people!!
My dress is actually more than my ring LOL. Ring was about 1,000 - dress is 1,200. As far as how much is too much? I guess that depends on how much money you have to spend, and which dress you want!
It all just depends on the wedding budget, and also on the priorities of the wedding. When I used the Knot's budgeter, it had calculated a big percentage of our budget for the dress (big to me anyways) so I stayed under that number. but for some girls, the dress is a bigger part of the budget. So I don't think you can really just arbitrarily assign a number as to what is too much to spend on a dress....had I had a 50,000.00 budget I probably would have spent a lot more on my dress.
@jingle....I certainly would have spent more if I saw something else that I just HAD to have...LOL. I didn't even tempt myself...I only tried on things within my pre-set budget. It was HARD...but I did it =)
It depends on what you can afford and what you want to spend. Personally I am spending around 2k on a dress. To some people that might be extravagent and to others it might seem cheap. But it's how much I am comfortable with.
My dress budget is under $750, and I'm aiming for less than $500. If I were wealthy, I wouldn't mind dropping a few thousand (I have expensive taste :P), but probably no more than 3 or 4K.
i say it's relative. it really depends on the couple and their personal priorities. if they choose to spend 10,000 on a dress, more power to them. i cannot afford more than 600 or so on my dress, and if i could afford more you better believe i'd be heading to kleinfield's for a pnina.
@honeybun: me too!! My FI and I picked out my simple e-ring together so I know how much it cost - and my dress is more than double that! I am very very lucky that our parents indulged me on the dress (FILs and my parents are splitting all wedding costs, whereas FI paid for the e-ring himself out of his grad-school salary). It doesn't seem logical to spend more money on a dress for one day vs a ring you will wear for the rest of your life (well, at least until the anniversary ring comes along :), but both the dress and the ring are perfect for me so it makes sense for me! Everyone's got different priorities, like I see the prices for letterpress invites and I am like "WHA???? Direct me to the nearest Kinkos!"
agree with crebre80 100% - Pnina was what I dreamed of but it was not in the budget.
@Peanut: same here!
My dress is actually worth much more than my e-ring and wedding set - combined! but my parents offered me the dress as a gift and mom wouldn't let me look at the price so that's how it happened. However, for the rings, we both did not want to spend too much either, because I want to wear it all the time and we are very active, it WILL get scratched... also because a big thing for us is travel, and everytime I would look at an expensive ring, I thought: we could go "there" with that money, lol!
I think this will have a lot of varying responses because it depends on so many things. For me though, I was not willing to spend more than $1,000 on a dress, even though I could afford to spend much more. So it wasn't really a financial aspect in my decision, but more of a practical one. I just can't fathom spending a ton of money on a dress I wear for one day when I can think of a million other things I'd rather spend my money on.
I didn't really want to spend more than $500, and came in (with tax) at $614. I asked the bridal shop if they were able to offer any sort of discount, and was told "No." So, I'll be taking my gown to an independent seamstress for its alterations, since that shop has proven that it's unwilling to work with me.
I agree with crebre, it's relative. It depends on your financial situation, and also your priorities. Some people place the dress high up on the priority list in their budget. Mine was somewhere in the middle I think. My budget was $1000 and I ended up coming in just under that, around $900 with taxes and I won't need alterations!
My sweet, sweet darlings.
This is true for the engagement ring, wedding dress, wedding ring, wedding, whatever it may be-- What is spent and what YOU feel is appropriate for you is something that is very, very personal. A poll of how much is spent is one thing, but when asking for opinions on "What is too much?" that starts getting hurtful to some folks.
I know you mean no harm by posting this, but I think that things of this nature mignt be better left... less personal? People *will* get their feelngs hurt, and I don't think that's the mood/atmosphere of Weddingbee.
All that being said, I still heart all of y'all here (boards in general 
), and I think, well, I just said what I thought.
To the question at hand, I think that there isn't a "too much" for a dress. My dress was $6,000. I'm 6'3". I had to have mine totally couture and custom, down to the pattern, because there was no other way I could find a dress that would work. Yes, my parents can afford that, but I would have hit that sort of situation ($$ wise) at a lot of different pricepoints, skyrocketing the price.
Edit: There should be a poll option for a "there isn't a too much" etc. Just sayin'.
I guess it does all depend on your final budget number...if you got a great deal on your reception site and did a lot of do it yourself stuff and feel like you have a little more money in your budget now...splurge! But most dont have that luxury...maybe it should be a certain percentage of your overall budget? Or maybe you can convince someone in the fam to help out ;) If not...make sure that when you try dresses on you dont let the sales lady pull dresses that are over your budget...because you may fall in love and impulse buy it!
I have to agree with what 50 said. In my budget, $1000 was my cap. But that is MY budget because I truly felt like that is all I was OK spending. We paid for our own whole wedding--if my parents were paying, I'd likely have spent more like $4,000 on a Jim Hjelm. So, it's a loaded question. I managed $400 for my dress and it worked for me! But if i was seriously disappointed with that gown, I'd have upped the ante a little and changed the budget accordingly. I was expecting monstrous alterations also (buy a 16 to fit my chest, whittle the waist down to an 8. Yeah. that's a lot to chop off) but i lucked out.
So for ME, $1,000 was too much for MY budget and comfort level. Not anyone else's. If you got it, get it, and LOVE it! =]
Right on, FiftyFoot - there isn't "too much."
p.s. i love your dress.
I agree with Fifty and others....there should definitely be a "there isn't too much" in the poll. Otherwise, it does essentially say that people who spent over that are outrageous. As with anything, this all has to do with individual situations. I know plenty of people who spent over $5,000 on a dress, and I don't fault them one bit.
@fifty - I don't really think the responses to this question should hurt people's feelings. Most of the responses have been about what each person personally felt was acceptable to spend on their own dress. I am interested in seeing other's thoughts on what they felt was acceptable to spend on their dress.
I think most of the bees are tasteful in their responses, and I don't really see any of us making an all-out generalization of the question and saying something like "Anyone that spends over X amount of dollars on a dress is crazy!"
I agree that it is a personal decision regarding how much to spend on a dress, so we should be able to hear different people's decisions and their reasoning behind it. Hopefully no one will get their feelings hurt by just hearing personal opinions regarding the prices of our dresses. Whether someone spent $5 or $50,000 on a dress, they should own that and feel comfortable with it because it was their choice...regardless of what other people spent on theirs.
I'm saying more could/will than have/will. In previous threads of this nature it HAS happened, unfortunately.
Just trying to watch out for peeps. It was all said with love. (AND I WISH I COULD DO THE less-than-three here dangit! )
Sorry if I stepped on anyones toes.
Fifty- It was meant to be an anonymous poll. I didn't specifically ask what everyone paid. Everyone throws it out there anyway - what they pay for certain things and that's their own choice. I was just polling to see if anyone feels the same as I do that even if I had an unlimited budget, I could not see spending a lot on a dress.
The question itself can be hurtful since it says clearly that there is a "too much." The question "how much is too much" naturally assumes that there is a line beyond which is unreasonable.
Why does everyone have to over analyze a simple question? If you don't like it or it offends you...don't answer it.
But you see, I don't think I overanalyzed it. It's right there in the question: "too much." I agree with Fifty, I think the question is be hurtful and I don't want anybody on weddingbee to feel that there is a "too much" or a "too little" regarding their wedding. The question as it is posed draws a circle around those who haven't crossed the "too much" line, making those who have immediately 'outsider.' If this is to be an inclusive community, we need to be inclusive of those who spend more and less than we ourselves do. I think the question of "too much" is contrary to those aims.
Maybe if the question was worded "What is the max you would spend on a wedding dress?", it would be less controversial. I think we are putting too much emphasis on the choice of wording for the poll.
Here is an interesting way to put it:
My dress was 1/5 (20%) the cost of my e-ring. I am comfortable with that because I will wear my ering every day.
My dress is also 6% of our total budget for the wedding. This includes tax, alterations, undergarments, veil, etc.
For me, I couldn't see spending a lot on either the dresses or the rings, though for different reasons. For the dresses, we ended up spending about $1,300 including alterations--but that was for two of us. And had it been up to me, I would just have worn a dress I already owned.
For the rings, what we wanted was plain gold bands for the wedding rings, and no e-rings. Thus, we didn't need to spend a lot to get exactly what we wanted.
@fiftyfootbride: You can't honestly come in here saying that people will get their feelings hurt by this post and then talk about your six thousand dollar dress. Criticizing peoples questions and then rubbing in what you spent is most likely not he atmosphere of weddingbee not simple questions to a girl asking other brides their opinion. Besides arent we all adults here getting married? If someone gets their feelings hurt over a poll that is in no way antagonistic....well then they can go deal with it.
@summergirl21: I think that you should spend whatever you can afford and what makes sense. I originally had a budget of 700 dollars for my dress. But when I slipped on the demetrios dress for 1600 i couldn't say no. I have chosen to cut my budget in other areas in order to afford my dress but it was worth it in my opinion. So you have to decide what is best for you. If you can swing it and you're okay with the price tag...you will only get married once and probably never wear a custom tailored garment that is that expensive again. I think it's worth it! Imagine what you will feel like when for once in your life ALL eyes are on you and you know that you are wearing this gown! If you cant justify it...then you'll regret it I think. There's all of these "standards" for wedding and truthfully it should be what makes sense to you.
I don't think Fiftyfoot "rubbed in" anything about her dress and that's exactly my point. We each spend different amounts of money on dresses, flowers, and everything else having to do with a wedding. Someone coming on weddingbee and saying, "I only spent $50" is praised for getting a good deal - why can't we praise the bride who buys a beautiful couture dress as well?
The difference: Fiftyfoot or anyone else stating what her dress cost is an individual decision. A question defining a global "too much" is destructive to the community and hurtful. One's individual dress price doesn't affect you or anyone else on this forum whereas our discussion of "too much" actually does comment on everyone's individual dress purchases.
I vote for "there's no limit as long as it gets you what you dreamed of and you don't go into debt getting it". I think that will vary greatly on the individual and where you live. I live in LA and with a budget of $5000, I've been to one store where I could only try on three dresses that I liked and could afford. However I ran into Maggie Gyllenhaal and Raquel Welch right before the appointment and it still made for an interesting afternoon. That's right, I'm dropping names :)
I dont think fifty was rubbing in the price of her dress! Why is it ok for one person to say what they spent, but shes not supposed to because her budget is higher than yours? Thats a double standard, and the reason why i will never post a pic of my ring or discuss any sort of budget. Dont judge her if shes not judging you! I dont think people can say its ridiculous to spend that much money for one day. I think thats up to the individual. For some girls its very special and they only get one chance to wear something so fabulous. If they have the money to do it, whos to say thats ridiculous. Everyone has different budgets and different priorities, let each individual choose how to live their lives.
@stellar- I apologize for offending you. It actually really shocks and hurts to think that I was thought to be "rubbing it in people's noses." That really wasn't my intention. I also had no intention of chastizing anyone-- that was my exact OPPOSITE intention. I was just trying to keep people aware of what they were saying, because many people HAVE gotten their feelings hurt over things like this. It's not as simple as, "Oh, well don't read it." It is an interesting question, poll, topic, but some responses can start to get on the harsh side.
Again, I apologize for trying to look out for people's feelings, and for apparently rubbing people's nose in my dress. I will remove the price.
Edit: Apparently I can't edit that post. Everybody, just skim over the part where I mention my dress price. lol
Fifty, there's nothing wrong with mentioning the price of your dress. It's not a moral issue, it's a price tag.
I spent $1000 and that was before tax and alterations. That was really about my limit I realy couldn't stomach much more. We were trying to keep the total budget as close to tensound as possible. If I had more total money I might have spent more on my dress, but I don't know maybe I would have spent the money elsewhere.
@stellar: The whole point of 50's post was to say that people with dresses that cost around as much hers, are the people who might get their feelings hurt by this post. Everyone else is posting their prices, why should she not be able to as well without getting some snarky comments back?
Other people post stuff on here all the time about their Christian Louboutins, or their this, that and the other that I could never afford, but I certainly don't think people are trying to "rub anything in." We all have different budgets and priorities, and that's what Weddingbee is all about. It'd be a pretty boring place otherwise.
@50: I never get the idea that you are bragging. I think you are very honest about what's going on in your planning and well, that's just how things go. Some people spend more or can afford more than others. You shouldn't have to feel like you're walking on eggshells just to be excited about your wedding!
I read the question as how much is too much for YOU. Your budget. That's not to say that others spending more X ammount are spending too much because we don't all know each other's budgets/financial situations/who is paying for what in the wedding.
For me, over $1000 would be too much for my budget. And hey, I ended up with a dress very near the $1000 mark and it shocked the heck out of me. That's how it goes sometimes!
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