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Wedding Dress Negotiating

elff20elff20 member
10 Comments
in Michigan-Detroit
I'm not really sure I spelt that correctly but who cares I just need some advise.

I have been to many bridal stores about 4 already and found one I love. It has beading and rinestones and everything but found out its being discontinued and doesn't come in white. So I was bummed. I continued my search and went to another bridal store and found a dress that is really beautiful and very similar and has all the rinestones I like but I still continued my search just in case. So now here is the problem...

I have fallen in love with another dress but it is just plain there is no beading or rinestones, just nothing. I was told the bridal store could hand sew the beading and rinestones on the dress to how I like but it would cost more.

So now here is the dilema the one dress with all the rinestones on it already is $800 and my alterations are included. The other dress that is plain that I really love is about the same price $798 but to add the hand beading and rinestone work is $375 so the total now is $1173. And nothing is included.

What would be a good bargaining tool to get the dress? I would love to get them to $900-950 with alterations included not so much the bussel unless you think that too should be included? I just really want the dress and I am really comfortable paying under $1000 if something was thrown in too because I could just go get the other dress ya know and pay less and get alterations. My mom is making my veil to cut costs and I'm going to try and purchase the slip on-line as well as the headpiece in order for me to get the dress.

I just need any suggestions to barter with to get what I want and for them to make a sale.
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Re: Wedding Dress Negotiating

  • LISA RLISA R
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Do you have a picture of the dress?

    I personally would not spend over 300 dollars to add Rhinestones to a dress plus extra for alteration. I Then again if its your dream dress by all means do it.

    In my opinion I don't think that you are really able to "barter" when buying a wedding dress. Granted a few places may carry the same dress at a different price, maybe even lower. That's one option.


    Your second option since you are not comfy spending more than a grand is to continue looking until you find the dress of your dreams. One under a grand that has the beading that you like.

    Happy hunting.
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  • boogerbearoriginalboogerbearoriginal member
    Eighth Anniversary 2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I see a couple options that you could take

    1. you could keep looking, you may find something else you like.

    2. you could get the first dress even though its not in white (I'm assuming its an ivory/diamond white?)

    3. you could tell them you like the idea of adding the beading, etc. but all together its outside your budget and give them a price, you said between 900-950 so say "I really like this dress and adding the beading will make it perfect, but once you add the cost of alterations its outside of my budget. I'd be willing to order it for $900 including the additional beadwork and alterations." and see what they say.

    I think you'd be very surprised how willing shops are to work with a customer who wants to give them business. They may say ok, or they may counter offer or worst case scenario they will say no.
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  • corinne2010corinne2010
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I agree with pp. Another option is to go somewhere else and get your alterations done. I know someone that does alterations and does not charge an outrageous amount. If you would like her info, let me know. Maybe you should just keep searching for THE dress. You have found versions, but nothing quite like the first one you fell in love with. Would you be willing to take the first dress in the other color? Ivory is really not that bad. Alot of girls on here are actually getting their dress is something other than white. Good luck with your decision!
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  • thecatsfancythecatsfancy
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_wedding-dress-negotiating?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:dd0941d1-2461-4ff1-ae4e-f703f1c01eccPost:ccdc0590-aa21-4942-bf1e-d05ddb5e8081">Re: Wedding Dress Negotiating</a>:
    [QUOTE]Do you have a picture of the dress? I personally would not spend over 300 dollars to add Rhinestones to a dress plus extra for alteration. I Then again if its your dream dress by all means do it. In my opinion I don't think that you are really able to "barter" when buying a wedding dress. Granted a few places may carry the same dress at a different price, maybe even lower. That's one option. Your second option since you are not comfy spending more than a grand is to continue looking until you find the dress of your dreams. One under a grand that has the beading that you like. Happy hunting.
    Posted by LISA R[/QUOTE]

    I agree with Lisa 100%.  I'm not really how much you can barter with bridal shops.  If you find the same dress at a different store for a cheaper price, yes maybe.  But a completely different dress?  Doubt it.  Sorry.
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  • Julz629Julz629 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I "bartered" slightly for my dress.  I wasn't on a strict budget for my dress, but I was hoping to keep the price below $1500, including alterations.  I shouldn't have even tried on the dress because it was above my budget - price tag was $1850.  Of course, I fell in love with the dress immediately.  The original store I tried it on at (Elizabeth's in Northville) told me the price was non-negotiable so I kept looking because it was too much.  We were at a different store (Bella Bridal in Ann Arbor) later that afternoon and the woman who worked there knew I was in love with that dress and asked me what price I needed to buy it today.  I told her my budget was $1500, and she said, "so if I can get the price to $1500, are you ready to buy today?"  She got approval from the owner and they sold it to me for $1500 with tax so they saved me over $400.  I will end up spending more than I wanted with alterations, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE my dress.

    So moral of the story is, the bridal shops do have some flexibilty on the price, but I wouldn't go in the expecting it.
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  • thecatsfancythecatsfancy
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Ok...I can definitely see how you could barter on an existing dress...but OP wants the customizations and alterations included for $100-$150 extra.  I guess that just seems like a bit much to ask for in my opinion since alterations can cost several hundred dollars alone depending on what is being done.  But I could be wrong... :)
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  • Julz629Julz629 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_wedding-dress-negotiating?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:88Discussion:dd0941d1-2461-4ff1-ae4e-f703f1c01eccPost:4002fefe-498f-433e-a1f3-040faf0b85eb">Re: Wedding Dress Negotiating</a>:
    [QUOTE]Ok...I can definitely see how you could barter on an existing dress...but OP wants the customizations and alterations included for $100-$150 extra.  I guess that just seems like a bit much to ask for in my opinion since alterations can cost several hundred dollars alone depending on what is being done.  But I could be wrong... :)
    Posted by thecatsfancy[/QUOTE]

    It doesn't hurt to ask.  But I definitely wouldn't expect anything.
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  • boogerbearoriginalboogerbearoriginal member
    Eighth Anniversary 2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    OP - after reading other posts, I think you may want to start by asking if they are able to work with you and then go from there.
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  • lulubunny1lulubunny1
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    The dress shop i went to the lady dropped the price of the dress $300 dollars because i told her i will pay her in cash that way she didnt have to report it on her taxes. so anything is worth a shot

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