Post # 1
Member
3245 posts
Sugar bee
I’m wondering if there is anyone else out there who kind of prefers the idea of doing the dress shopping process by yourself, or just with friends and not relatives. I’m going to be making my dress, and it would be fun to go fabric shopping with friends or maybe my mom, but my mom is not as happy about our engagement as I wish she were, and I don’t want her attitude to ruin things. But I know she would love to help me pick fabrics.
Ugh, what to do?!
Curious about what everyone else does. . .
Post # 3
Member
8434 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@Creiddylad: Well considering that everytime I’ve seen my mom she tells me I’m fat, I felt like she wasn’t the best person to take with. My groom helped me pick out my dress and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Post # 4
Member
786 posts
Busy bee
@Creiddylad: i didnt want to go with anyone because i always try to make others happy and if i had taken some other family members/friends i know i wouldnt have the dress i fell in love with- the only reason i took my mom was because she said “im buying it i have to go, ill sit down and shut up and you pick it”
Post # 5
Member
1722 posts
Bumble bee
@Creiddylad: I went with my mom the first time, which was nice. After that she wanted me do fly up to visit her and go dress shopping with a few aunts I don’t get along with, my grandmother, my moms bff, ect. I was willing to go with my grandmother, but I didn’t want it to turn into a spectacle (especially since one of those aunts never has anything nice to say EVER). It turned into a huge fight between me and my mom because she said i was being selfish since i’m the only niece/granddaughter…so I just bought my dress then so i wouldn’t need to fight with her over it. LOL (Granted, I already knew i had THE dress, so i didn’t buy it just to buy it)
Post # 6
Member
20 posts
Newbee
@Creiddylad: I went with a bridesmaid to a Brides against breast cancer used dress sale. (perfect option IMO, good variety and no pressure to purchase.) Then I took my mom and my side of wedding party to David’s Bridal and bought a dress that trip.
Their reaction to each dress is really what helped me make my decision.
Post # 7
Member
11735 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I went a few times with friends to get a feel for what styles I like. Then, I went with my mom, grandmother and sisters to find “the dress”.
Post # 8
Member
12244 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I went with my Mom and sisters!
Post # 9
Member
480 posts
Helper bee
Even though I’m a people-pleaser, I would never be able to go alone. I have done almost all my clothes shopping with my mom, so it was a no brainer that she come. And I invited Future Mother-In-Law along as well. I felt a little silly not having any bridesmaids/younger people there, but they both knew what I wanted and knew what looked good on me. They helped me keep it classy. ;D
Post # 10
Member
2196 posts
Buzzing bee
I planned a few appointments with my mum and my grandma a little while in advance since I needed Saturdays. Before they came around, I ended up going the first time with two of my bridesmaids. My mum wanted to buy my dress, so shopping with friends first was actually a great idea because I was able to try on all sorts of styles without feeling like I was seriously looking. I also tried on some very expensive dresses for the fun of it! That meant that when I did go shopping with my mum and grandma I already had an idea of what styles I liked and we could focus on finding “the one”.
My advice would be to go with whoever you feel most comfortable with, but not more than 2 or 3 people at once. 2 opinions at a time was plenty for me!
Post # 11
Member
834 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: July 2013 - The front lawn of our church
I went with Mother-In-Law and SIL. All my family lives across the country, or I would have taken my mom and sisters.
Post # 12
Member
718 posts
Busy bee
I went with both of our mothers and my Maid/Matron of Honor (and flower girl)
Post # 13
Member
956 posts
Busy bee
Just my mom and I were there the day I got the dress. We did facetime my sister for approval though. LOL
Post # 14
Member
594 posts
Busy bee
I was very tempted to make it a grand affair because I am very close with my 3 aunts and grandmother, as well as my Future Sister-In-Law (who is 17 and dying of excitement to finally have a sister). However, the place that I went to had a 4 person max, so I ended up only bringing my mom, grandmother and Maid/Matron of Honor. Let me tell you, thank GOD I kept it “small” because I’m not sure how I would have handled my super loud, super excitable family. As it is, I am not at all an attention-seeking type, so I think having so many people around to tell me “OH MY GAWWWD HOW GAWWWGGGEEOUUUSSS ARE YOU” or “weeelllllll you knnnnoooowww I’m not craaaazy about the tuuuullllleee” would have probably given me a heart attack. I think less is definitely more so that the bride’s judgement doesn’t get clouded by so many positve (or negative) reactions. As it was I could feel myself beginning to get swayed by their opinions. Lucky for me, they all loved the dress I loved, so it worked out and helped me commit.
Post # 15
Member
7308 posts
Busy Beekeeper
- Wedding: October 2011 - Bed & Breakfast
I shopped on my own, then showed Mr. Lk, my Mom, and teen Lk the dress for their sake before actually buying it. I really wasn’t interested in anyone’s opinion other than Mr. Lk, but my mom would have thrown a fit if I didn’t let her see it first. It was easier to say, Mom here is the dress I am buying, but at least let her feel like she had input than to completely exclude her from the process and have her throw a hissy fit. Ultimately it worked out for the best. She felt included, and I got the dress that I wanted. win!
Post # 16
Member
3764 posts
Honey bee
I went with my friends first, then just with my mom when I found “the dress.”