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trying on dresses that I know I can't afford = Bad idea???

posted 3 months ago in Dress
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  • poll: would you go to the trunk show?
    Yeah! : (36 votes)
    51 %
    Nope : (34 votes)
    49 %
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    1.
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    Newbee
    starburst77    7-25-11  

    I am in loooove with Monique Lhuillier!!! Her dresses are perfection and I would love to snag one for my wedding. But all of them cost way more than I would ever spend on a dress. Her trunk show will be coming to my town soon and I really want to go. I know everyone generally says it's a bad idea to try on dresses out of your budget but my reasoning is that my wedding is still a year and a half away so if I fall in love with one of the dresses I still may be able to find it as a sample or buy it from another bride. What do y'all think? I am setting myself up for heartbreak or is this reasonable???Undecided

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    Ember78      

    If you know you can't afford it, don't tempt yourself. If you fall in love with a dress outside of your budget and that will put you in debt, then everything else you find that you can afford will pale in comparison. 

     
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    Buzzing bee
    honeybun    June 5, 2010   VA

    OK, I voted no. Because the last thing you want to do is fall in love with a dress you can't buy!

    But then again, maybe you could try on a dress there to see what it looks like on you, and then find it somewhere else cheaper? Preowned, I mean.

     
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    zippylef    10/30/2010   St. Louis, MO

    Agree with the above. I voted no, too. I would be heartbroken if I fell in love and then couldn't get it.

     
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    KMSull    August 7, 2010   Lexington, KY (via Atlanta, GA)

    I...4th it? I can't imagine finding a dress you're in LOVE with, then not being able to get it. You'll never be able to find one that compares and you'll most likely always thing "what if?"

     
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    Busy bee
    Ms Mini    July 17, 2010   Medicine Hat, AB

    I wouldn't do it ... you are just setting yourself up for heartbreak ... what if you CANT find a sample of pre-owned in your size and budget in the next year (it is a real possibility)?

     
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    Blushing bee
    mismikado    5/29/2010   Texas

    I actually did just this... And what i found is that the dress I loved on the models just didn't work on me. I also hard core investigated finding dresses preowned. Worst case scenario you can have your dress custom made and it will be designed to fit you but in the gorgeous style you love...

    Also when my MOH and I went dress shopping I had her try on everything no matter the price. When we found the perfect dress I jotted down all the info (style #, color, size) and went home and busted out the good ole internet. We ended up gettering her dress for 10% of the original cost preowned on ebay! :)

    So I say go fro it! :) Besides you still have a year and a half to fall in love with another dress... lol :)

     
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    futuredrbraun    May 15, 2010  

    Go for it!!! :) You only get to try on dresses once!!!

     
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    Bumble bee
    rabbit    September 3, 2010   Milwaukee, WI

    I am very much of a mixed opinion about this, although I voted Yeah!. I think its good to try on many different dresses, even ones out of your price range, because even if you can't afford that particular dress, you may be able to find it elsewhere (ebay, preownedweddingdresses.com, craigslist, sample sale, etc.) actually in your budget. However, I also agree with most of the above girls that if you fall in love with a particular dress and are unable to find it cheaper elsewhere...then what? You'll be upset with any other dress because it is not THE dress, ya know? But, if you are looking at very popular dress makers and are a typical or average size (most sites seem to have tons of dresses in the size 6-12 range, but fewer over or under that) you'll probably end up finding the dress somewhere. The onlyt question is- will you find it in your price range? Even used dresses can go for $$$$ if they cost $$$$$$ in the first place!

     

    So....go for it! But just know that you may not be able to get whatever you fall in love with!

     
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    amanda.lynn    1/07/2011   Austin, Tx

    It depends on how likely you are to get attached. I know that it would be a bad idea for me personally, because I tend to get super attached to stuff, then I'd be VERY upset when I had to walk away from it. But if you're able to not stay too attached, then I'd say go for it.

     
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    Buzzing bee
    cinemaparadiso    12/11/10   SC

    I could never do that... it would kill me! like Amanda said, I'm one of those people who gets attached to things, so i'd avoid at all costs. You also sound like you're already attached, so maybe going might not be the best idea. Sorry, I know that's not what you wanted to hear!

     
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    Blushing bee
    NicLoop    10/10/10   GA

    i say try on anything and try to find it used, as a sample sale, or buy as a copy from somewhere. the dresses i am in love with are waaayyy too much and i plan on doing one of those three things. just be prepared to look, and wait!

     
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    mamaof2brides    December 4, 1977   SC

    You can buy a preowned dress for probably 50% less, so that is definitely an option.  I think knowing exactly what you want is helpful and allows for comparison shopping.  Just don't be pressured to buy anything before you do your research. Selling it afterwards is a way to recoup some of the expense, too.

     
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    Busy bee
    lkbphmd    August 7, 2010   MN (ceremony in Omaha, NE)

    I vote no.  Personally, I would have been so disappointed to fall in love with a dress I wasn't willing to spend a certain amount of money on.  Seems like lots of other dresses could potentially come close, but potentially have the same wow factor.  Yes, you COULD find it on a preowned site or a sample sale but I think it is just as likely you will not.

     
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    moderndaisy    6-12-2010   Live in NYC, Wedding in Philadelphia

    Um.. I would go. Unless you're having a JOP wedding followed by wendy's takeout afterwards. Your wedding is a year and a half away. If you fall in love with a gown and there's any possiblity of selling you a sample, they'll do it to make money. Also, you have time to save up if you love it that much. It's your wedding - I say go for it!

     
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    Guacamole    July 10, 2010   New York City

    If you can't afford it, don't do it!  There are tons of dresses (especially Monique) that I loved.  But to me, its not about finding a dress you can't afford.  The dress of your dreams also has to be in your budget.  Once you try that dress on, if you love it, no other dress will compare.  That is my opinion, but if you do go,  I agree with mamaof2bride, you could always try and sell it afterwards.

     
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    Busy bee
    pren79    10/17/09   SF Bay Area

    I think you should. It's for education purposes. Just because it looks great on the model, doesn't mean it looks great on you (& vice versa). Hence, try all the dresses you think You'll like and you'll know what styles fit you, etc. Moreoever, even if you can't afford it, at least you know what style you like and you can look for cheaper dresses the simulate the style. If you don't care that much about quality fabric, you can also custom make it for cheap on ebay that would have exactly the style you want.

     
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    Kittyachi    August 2010   NYC / wedding in CT

    I wouldn't. I mean, if it's a couple hundred over your budget, that's one thing. I did that and ended up going with one of the ones that was slightly over. But Monique Lhuillier is no joke. I was in love with one of her dresses too and it was 10 grand so instead I showed my consultant the Lhuillier I loved and asked to look at dresses similar to it but in my price range. You can find something gorgeous that you love that won't break the bank, I swear. Here's my ML dream dress and my actual dress, for reference (I'll be adding a champagne ribbon belt to my dress).

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    Kittyachi    August 2010   NYC / wedding in CT

    Oh, and also, I forgot to add that when I saw the Lhuillier in person, I actually didn't like it as much as the dress I ended up picking. It photographed very differently. 

     
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    mandalynn17    June 19, 2010   Medford, OR

    I wouldn't want to risk falling in love with a dress I couldn't afford, so I voted no.  It's too risky! 

     
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    Busy bee
    JoonBee    06/2010  

    It depends on your self-control!  If you can go in with the mentality that you are only playing dress up or to find out if the designer dresses you love would even look good on you, then go for it!  I think I am one of the few who would be ok with finding a dress that I love and walk away without shedding a tear. lol  Also, even if you do fall in love with a dress, you can try to find an used one or a sample one later on since you have the time to do the search. 

    I would go if I were you. :)

     
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    Valhalla    June 26, 2010   Vancouver, British Columbia

    I made the mistake of trying on a dress out of my price range (although it was an accident and the consultant felt really bad abou it - she knew my budget and handed me the dress by mistake). If you fall in love with it (which I did), you are in for some serious letdown knowing you can't afford it. As a matter of fact, I was in near tears! But I found one I loved for MUCH cheaper at another store, and I am so happy (even though its not the same dress).

    Kittyachi has a great suggestion - show consultants at other stores the MH you love, and find something similar for a lower price.

    Good luck!

     
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    Mermaid1082    September 4, 2010   Springfield, IL (by way of St Louis, MO)

    There are a million beautiful dresses out there in your budget.  Why risk falling in love with something you already know you can't have?

    Just because you love the look and style of ML, doesn't mean you have to wear it.  You can appreciate it no matter what designer you wear down the aisle.

     
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    Leafy    September 2010   Michigan (eloping to Colorado)

    I think it's a terrible idea. Why risk finding something that you love but can't afford. It makes no sense to me and if it's just to play dress up then that's not being very fair to the consultant. I think you could be setting yourself up for a heartache. Best wishes on whatever you decide.

     
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    spaniel    March 2010   Los Angeles, CA

    I think this is an awful idea!!! Try on dresses you can afford and you won't be disappointed. There are so many dresses out there that there will always be a better one, anyway, so be smart and keep your options in your budget! Anyway, used dresses in the right size that are STILL in your price range are not always that easy to find, so I'm not sure why you would want to gamble your satisfaction with a dress on this.

     

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