When the time came to go dress shopping, I decided what my budget was (did not assume my parents would be contributing at all). I also decided I wanted to go to some local shops in lieu of David's Bridal. So for my first time, I went to a shop around 40 minutes away with my Mom and my FMIL. (I should stop and add here that my mom is not a "girly" person, she is not really into wedding planning at all. She is also a very frugal person. Nothing wrong with that. I figure/hope since I am her only daughter she would enjoy wedding dress shopping and would put her frugalness aside for one day....maybe. I was wrong).
When we arrive at the shop, I start pulling dresses that are within the budget I set for myself. My mother made a beeline for the sale section (mind you these dresses are off the rack, you could not order other sizes). She grabbed one from that sale rack that I hated but tried it on anyway to make her happy. It didn't even fit me, it was a size too small and she kept saying "what do you mean it doesn't fit??" I have no idea the price of it, I don't think I looked because I hated it.
The dress I ended up liking from that shop was around $500 under the budget I set for myself. I wasn't head over heels for it, and I wanted to keep looking. My mom started talking me out of the dress because this shop was so far away, and pressuring me to go to a shop about a mile away from my house. Okay, fine.
The second appointment I made I took just three bridesmaids, and I found a dress I loved that was $200 over budget. I loved it and wanted my mom to come see it. The first thing she asked was "how much?" I made the mistake of telling her the price. When I told her she didn't even want to see it, just said that was too much for one day, too much money for one dress, you need to look at this other shop blah blah. I was a little upset but fine, I will go to the shop she is pushing me to. So we went just her and I. I tried on a few dresses that were all at or just under budget and found THE ONE (with my mother again scanning the sale/as is rack. I know sometimes you can find good deals but I did not like any of the dresses on that rack and I told her that after I browsed it). This dress was $200 under budget. My mother was underwhelmed. Just not the reaction someone hopes to get from her mother when wedding dress shopping.
I went back with my FMIL, my fiance's grandma and his aunt (I am really close with his family. My mom was out of town but knew I was going back to try on more dresses). They gave me the reaction I needed - they loved the dress and raved about how beautiful it is. At this point, I am certain this is the dress. When my mom asked me how the dress shopping went, I told her (via text) I was pretty set on the lace dress that was slightly under budget. She THEN starts pushing me towards the first dress that she did not seem to like at the shop that she said was too far away! This was the least expensive dress I tried on. My dad called me and asked if I looked at goodwill and that the dress I wanted was too much money for one dress. I told him they didn't need to worry about it since I was buying my own dress, but apparently just the thought of my spending this kind of money on a dress was not sitting right with them. So frustrating.
I ended up going back and ordering the dress with two of my bridesmaids. I am still not sure if my mom is aware I bought my dress.
......So it all worked out in the end, and I ordered the dress I wanted but holy cow. I was really hoping for tears of joy from my mother upon seeing her daughter in her wedding dress...but no.
Does anyone else have any wedding dress shopping horror stories?