I bought my dress! I'm so Happy!

dewingedpixie

I swore I was going to wait for the official proposal to buy my dress orginally, but with the push of my soon to be fiance, and my mom I bought my dress this weekend! I won $500 at a bridal show last weekend for a small shop in the area, they were also having a sample sale! I bought a beautiful $3800 Joy Houston Gown for $900! It was a steal! I fell in love with this dress on a dummy last weekend at the show, hence the urgings from mom and my wonderful man(who has no clue what the dress looks like). The shop was so good to me, and made sure to put me in a variety of other gowns similair and different to the one I initially fell in love with. Fortunatly my eye was good when I spotted this one and I went with the one I fell in love with. When they put me in it both times my face had the biggest smile I felt like I was the luckiest woman alive to be getting married next year in this dress and that this completed my fairy tale with my soon to be fiance. I never thought a dress could make you feel so regale, grand, and happy. The sample I got was extremely small which means it needs limited cutting, except the waist where they'll pull about 4 inches. I am also having the dress altered slightly for my personal preferences since beauty and the beast is one of my favorite fairy tales and his as well. I'm so excited to have made this decision. I'm even more excited that we got the sizing rings for my engagement ring this weekend, and we chose the size! We may also have our location nailed down in the next month too which means I can pretty much sit pretty till january and then let the 10 month frenzy really begin.

B

Johan&Kimmie

Congratulations on your dress!  Do you have pics to share?

dewingedpixie

This is a stock photo from the shop. My dress is ivory not white, the lace on the bottom is covered in seed pearls and svoraski crystal. We are also having the straps done off the shoulder.

Eliz77

Love it! Especially the back view! 

dewingedpixie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_i-bought-my-dress-im-so-happy?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:2c688259-5613-4dc3-9dff-034ec49dcebePost:bec5b68e-b69f-45b4-b03b-be67eb447d67">Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy!</a>:
[QUOTE]Congratulations on your dress.  Why do you call him your "soon to be fiance"?  Has he proposed?
Posted by CMGr[/QUOTE]

He has not officially proposed with the ring. We bought the stone which is a sapphire in February, and its in the proccess of being set currently with Krikawa. He'll be shipping it this week a long with the information on the size from the sizing rings. So we're getting there, I got to help design the ring the proposal will be a suprise of his making probably within 1-3 weeks of the rings arrival.

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_i-bought-my-dress-im-so-happy?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:2c688259-5613-4dc3-9dff-034ec49dcebePost:055779cb-c930-45c0-bf04-91f77803fa52">Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy! : He has not officially proposed with the ring. We bought the stone which is a sapphire in February, and its in the proccess of being set currently with Krikawa. He'll be shipping it this week a long with the information on the size from the sizing rings. <strong>So we're getting there, I got to help design the ring the proposal will be a suprise of his making probably within 1-3 weeks of the rings arrival.</strong>
Posted by dewingedpixie[/QUOTE]

Ummm...  my fiance had the ring for four months before he proposed.

Then again, he's obviously really different from yours.  He never would have told me to buy a dress before we were engaged.

dewingedpixie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_i-bought-my-dress-im-so-happy?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:2c688259-5613-4dc3-9dff-034ec49dcebePost:2126e06f-8bb9-4ffe-a152-91a5ea51d66f">Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy! : Ummm...  my fiance had the ring for four months before he proposed. Then again, he's obviously really different from yours.  He never would have told me to buy a dress before we were engaged.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]

The dress I bought was a sample, if I hadnt bought it at this point I would have missed out. He hasnt seen photos but he knew I had the opportunity to purchase a dress I otherwise wouldnt have due to cost. He encouraged me to do it because I am a stickler for budgets and I'm very picky if I see something I like I often dont find another. I dont think he'll hold onto the ring for 4 months for a number of reasons, one of which is he's already started introducing me as his future wife in our transactions for renting a house. We've set a date for next year, and we're probably going to be putting a down payment on a space for the wedding in the next 4 weeks. He's already told his friends the engagement is coming, and asked 2 of his 3 groomsmen to be in his grooms party. Another is we had an agreement from the start of our dating that he's since promised to stick to to propose by our 2nd aniversary which is the begining of june. He was also a little upset when Krikawa told him there was a 9 week lead time to have the ring set 3 weeks back. We have a number of events planned that have a lot of significance to us in the begining/middle of may. This is also a second and final marraige for both of us so super suprise factors werent a big deal. His proposal will be a suprise but the timing wont be, and I told him from the start I was ok with that when we decided we would get married in February.

Elle1036

So do you consider yourself engaged?

Maggie0829

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_i-bought-my-dress-im-so-happy?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:2c688259-5613-4dc3-9dff-034ec49dcebePost:055779cb-c930-45c0-bf04-91f77803fa52">Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy! : He has not officially proposed with the ring. We bought the stone which is a sapphire in February, and its in the proccess of being set currently with Krikawa. He'll be shipping it this week a long with the information on the size from the sizing rings. So we're getting there, I got to help design the ring<strong> the proposal will be a suprise of his making probably within 1-3 weeks of the rings arrival.
</strong>Posted by dewingedpixie[/QUOTE]

I really never could understand how the proposal would be a surprise?  You designed the ring with him, you know that it is coming in the mail, so how can the proposal be a surprise?

I know that everyone is different but I just don't see how a person can be so "surprised" by a proposal when they freaking picked out their ring and know that it has been purchased and getting ready to be shipped to the house.  To me, this takes the whole surprise and romance out of it. 

Maggie0829

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_i-bought-my-dress-im-so-happy?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:2c688259-5613-4dc3-9dff-034ec49dcebePost:f252670a-bb76-4255-8f23-950c5c66f18f">Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy! : The dress I bought was a sample, if I hadnt bought it at this point I would have missed out. He hasnt seen photos but he knew I had the opportunity to purchase a dress I otherwise wouldnt have due to cost. He encouraged me to do it because I am a stickler for budgets and I'm very picky if I see something I like I often dont find another. I dont think he'll hold onto the ring for 4 months for a number of reasons, one of which is he's already started introducing me as his future wife in our transactions for renting a house. We've set a date for next year, and we're probably going to be putting a down payment on a space for the wedding in the next 4 weeks. He's already told his friends the engagement is coming, and asked 2 of his 3 groomsmen to be in his grooms party. Another is we had an agreement from the start of our dating that he's since promised to stick to to propose by our 2nd aniversary which is the begining of june. He was also a little upset when Krikawa told him there was a 9 week lead time to have the ring set 3 weeks back. We have a number of events planned that have a lot of significance to us in the begining/middle of may. This is also a second and final marraige for both of us so super suprise factors werent a big deal. His proposal will be a suprise but the timing wont be, and I told him from the start I was ok with that when we decided we would get married in February.
Posted by dewingedpixie[/QUOTE]

I don't want to sound mean, but geesh, does he really even need to ask you to marry him at this point. Once the ring comes in the mail he might as well just hand it to you and say "here you go".

And you had an agreement that he must propose before your 2nd anniversary?  Wow, now that's romantic.  What if you two weren't ready for that step yet?  Was it more of an ultimatum that it was either a ring or the door?

To me a proposal should be left up to the guy.  No woman should pressure or make her boyfriend promise to propose by a certain time.  He needs to be ready no matter if this is his first marriage or second or third of whatever.  If he isn't ready but asks anyways because his girlfriend made him promise or gave him an ultimatum, then to me, the relationship is very one sided.

dewingedpixie

That is a tough question . I think between the two of us and our closest friends and family yes. We're just trying to keep it DL outside of that in our circles because He would like to give me an official proposal and then announce it after that. My first marraige I never had a real proposal or wedding he knows that really hurt me. His was very rushed as well. He's made the statement he only gets one chance to do it right and he wants to do that its important to him. I really love that things like this matter to him that he understands and shares my sentimental side. At this point a super proposal isnt a big deal to me at all but the fact that he wants me to have that experience means a lot. I've never met a more kind hearted, considerate man. I am very lucky to have him in my life.

I think this is why he pushed me to do the dress now. At first we were all about 100% budget for our wedding, but now he really wants this to be about us and a celebration. We're in budget mode but again we get one chance to have this amazing day that represents us and we want to share this amazing love we've found with those we love together.

B

Johan&Kimmie

Thanks for posting the picture.  The dress is lovely!  And I'm sure it's even better on you.  I really like the idea of making the straps a little off-shoulder.  

dewingedpixie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_i-bought-my-dress-im-so-happy?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:2c688259-5613-4dc3-9dff-034ec49dcebePost:cb55af41-653d-467d-a1ab-c2479cc24669">Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy! : I don't want to sound mean, but geesh, does he really even need to ask you to marry him at this point. Once the ring comes in the mail he might as well just hand it to you and say "here you go". And you had an agreement that he must propose before your 2nd anniversary?  Wow, now that's romantic.  What if you two weren't ready for that step yet?  Was it more of an ultimatum that it was either a ring or the door? To me a proposal should be left up to the guy.  No woman should pressure or make her boyfriend promise to propose by a certain time.  He needs to be ready no matter if this is his first marriage or second or third of whatever.  If he isn't ready but asks anyways because his girlfriend made him promise or gave him an ultimatum, then to me, the relationship is very one sided.
Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

Actually it wasnt one sided. It was something we decided together not by my prompting. He perosonally thought that if you didnt know after 2 years you shouldnt stay. That was his personal opinion from the start. In fact 12 months ago when he freaked out over the prospect of marraige I was the one who told him that though I wanted to settle down eventually it had to be the right time for both of us that didnt mean I had to be married today or tommorow but when it was right. He calmed down then, at the time we hadnt even been talking about getting married. When we started going to several weddings and vacations 8 months ago thats when we started discussing it on his prompting not mine.

As to the ring design it was something we chose to do together. We wanted something to symbolise us, which is why we did it together. We dont live together currently so I wont know when it actually arrives. After he bought the stone I have not seen it since. I will also not see the final cad drawing alterations, I only saw the original setting.

Our entire relationship has been bound in close friendship. He is my best friend.  He has been with me through thick and thin and I am very lucky for that.

Not every relationship is the same. We both came from grounds of past relationships that were not good. We finally found someone we can be ourselves with. Every decision we've made coming to this decision has been together. I know that is not for everyone but it works for us. We have a really great dynamic and I'm happy for that.

Ginabean42712

I'm glad you got your dress, but this whole thing to me sounds wrong.  I know everyone is different but my engagement was a complete total surprise!  That, to me, is what made it so special!  He proposed on our 5th anniversary, but prior to this, we never once mentioned getting married!  I think it was super sweet that he picked out my ring and went through the trouble of making it a surprise.  I hate it when girls know they are getting engaged and pick out their own engagement rings.  To me, that is just not romantic or sweet!  

divinemsbee

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_i-bought-my-dress-im-so-happy?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:2c688259-5613-4dc3-9dff-034ec49dcebePost:cb55af41-653d-467d-a1ab-c2479cc24669">Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy! : <strong>I don't want to sound mean, but geesh, does he really even need to ask you to marry him at this point. Once the ring comes in the mail he might as well just hand it to you and say "here you go".</strong> And you had an agreement that he must propose before your 2nd anniversary?  Wow, now that's romantic.  What if you two weren't ready for that step yet?  Was it more of an ultimatum that it was either a ring or the door? To me a proposal should be left up to the guy.  No woman should pressure or make her boyfriend promise to propose by a certain time.  He needs to be ready no matter if this is his first marriage or second or third of whatever.  If he isn't ready but asks anyways because his girlfriend made him promise or gave him an ultimatum, then to me, the relationship is very one sided.
Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>Ummmm. That was pretty much my proposal and I don't feel like I missed out on anything. We also had an agreement to get engaged at some point before we were living together. Not like I would've refused to move in, but, yeah, we talked about it. I think talking about stuff like that is pretty healthy. </div><div>
</div><div> We picked out the ring together from one of my favorite antique jewelry stores online. We went back and forth between two and then he bought one. It came in the mail about 3 days later (much faster than we had thought), and there was a package in the mail box one night when we got home from running errands. He took in into the bedroom and opened it and looked at the ring. We ordered pizza and were watching TV. He asked if I wanted to see it now or wait. And, and I remember what I said, that of course I wanted to see it because I'm not a terribly patient person, but, "if I see it now, I'm not going to just put it away again." So, while The Soup was on, he went into the other room and came back out with the box. He did do the whole one knee thing next to the couch and asked me to spend the rest of our lives together, but that was my proposal. And I think it was awesome. Yeah, the ring wasn't hidden in a dessert and we weren't anywhere special, but it was fantastic. So, if that's what someone wants to do, then more power to them. </div><div>
</div><div>I don't necessarily agree with the buying the dress business and a good deal of how OP is going about it, because I pretty much think she's already engaged without a ring, but I feel like that comment was a little snotty. I don't think I could've stood having a ring just hang around the house, it would've made me crazy and my FI knew that, so once he bought the ring, the proposal was coming quickly. I think, when someone buys an engagement ring, they buy it for a specific person, it's not like they're just going to hang onto it forever, and I don't see the point of making such a huge purchase if one isn't completely sure. So, yeah, I don't really see the problem with two people opening up a box together or knowing a proposal is coming. </div>

RailWayWife

Congrats, the dress is beautiful!

QueerFemme

wow people...   I'm sort of surprised at how judgmental people are being on this thread.  Yes, she knows that she is going to be engaged, but they don't to make it "official" until she has the ring.   I don't know why this is such a big deal. 

Some couples actually make the decision TOGETHER to get married.  It doesn't have to be the guy following some rules... getting the ring in secret and then having some big "pop the question" surprise.  Sometimes, over the course of a relationship, you are building something fabulous together, and you have communication and dialogue about whether the two of you want to get married and then start planning accordingly.

It may not be the romantic "put my name on the jumbo screen at a hockey game" or...  hire a crop duster to print "will you marry me" in the sky, but that doesn't make it any less special.  Just because it isn't a surprise that she is soon to be engaged, doesn't mean it doesn't feel amazing for her.

Ividian

I'm glad you are so happy and found the right person to spend your life with. Your dress is beautiful, I tried on several like it when I was looking for my dress! I think it's lovely that you both designed the ring. As long as you're happy that's all that matters, don't let anybody tell you otherwise.

Congratulations!

cookn27

So are you all telling me that you NEVER looked through websites and magazies planning your wedding LONG before the engagement? None of you went looking at rings with him, printed out pictures or had your best friend/mom/sister go with him when he bought it to make sure that you got that oh-so-perfect ring? I did! DId I know the specific ring, no. Did my sister know exactly what ring she was getting, yes. And she is just as happy as I was.

 I would have done the same thing as she did. If I had the opportunity to buy my dream dress on such an extreme discount, I would jump on it! Its not like she bought it behind his back. He enocuraged her to do it! I think that its sweet that he wants you have your dream ring, dress, and day. You both did not have the best first marriages, I think that this shows that he cares about you and he wants to be your prince charming. Don't pay any attention to any of  the haters. Have a great wedding and a wonderful life!

kekbug3

I agree with cmgilpin, I don't understand why people are being so mean and judgemental!

Congratulations on getting your dream dress! We are getting married next May, but I just bought my dress this weekend so I understand your excitement! I wasn't planning to buy my dress until this summer after I had tried on more dresses, but I tried on the dress this weekend and knew it was it!

levanlaere

I am with the above post as well. CONGRATS!!

dewingedpixie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_i-bought-my-dress-im-so-happy?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:2c688259-5613-4dc3-9dff-034ec49dcebePost:4804929d-ec54-4279-be57-c1024e31db57">Re: I bought my dress! I'm so Happy!</a>:
[QUOTE]So are you all telling me that you NEVER looked through websites and magazies planning your wedding LONG before the engagement? None of you went looking at rings with him, printed out pictures or had your best friend/mom/sister go with him when he bought it to make sure that you got that oh-so-perfect ring? I did! DId I know the specific ring, no. Did my sister know exactly what ring she was getting, yes. And she is just as happy as I was.  I would have done the same thing as she did. If I had the opportunity to buy my dream dress on such an extreme discount, I would jump on it! Its not like she bought it behind his back. He enocuraged her to do it! I think that its sweet that he wants you have your dream ring, dress, and day. You both did not have the best first marriages, I think that this shows that he cares about you and he wants to be your prince charming. Don't pay any attention to any of  the haters. Have a great wedding and a wonderful life!
Posted by cookn27[/QUOTE]


Thank you for this. There were a lot of other factors that went into us planning like this that I dont want to discuss online. The only one I will disclose is I have a daughter from my prior marraige, and her opinion on this was very important to us since she will be directly affected. I am very lucky to have my wonderful prince charming in my life. He's stood by me through some pretty tough times, and he knows walking into this there will be more of that. Yet he is always there even in my roughest moments, and I couldnt ask for a better more understanding partner. That is why this wedding we celebrate because we both realise how lucky we are.

B