HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

FROMJLATOJLK Posted: Oct 24, 2010 05:29 PM

HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

Ok went looking for dresses for the girls with all the girls today. Narrowed it down to two dresses, Bill Levkoff style #420 and Jim Helm style #5888. Here comes the dilemma...I really do like both of them and the girls seemed to like them both also for different reasons. The JH seemed to edge out the BL but then we found out the price...JH was $300 and the BL was $180. HUGE price difference!
Even though myself and the majority do like the JH better, I really can't be comfortable asking for my girls to be spending THAT much on their dress. What do I do?

CantWaitMrsH Posted: Oct 24, 2010 05:52 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

$300 - where did you go??? Could you wait until a Jim Hjelm trunk show? I know that Bridal Reflections and The Wedding Salon of Manhasset recently had them for BMs for Jim Hjelm. That is a lot of money when you start adding shoes, hair, makeup, gifts, shower etc. Especially for one wear. I would try and do a trunk show.

My girls ordered their BM dresses this past weekend. The location was having 10% off so they got designer dresses under $200!

CantWaitMrsH Posted: Oct 24, 2010 05:53 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

I also took a gander at your date and you have plenty of time! You may want to wait till the new dresses come out in January and see if there is something you love more!

FROMJLATOJLK Posted: Oct 24, 2010 05:54 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

We actually got the price of $290 from The Wedding Center in Commack who claim to have the lowest prices around. How exactly does a trunk show work for bridesmaids though? Don't you have to purchase the sample?

FROMJLATOJLK Posted: Oct 24, 2010 05:55 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

Yeah but the problem is they actually are the 2008 collection so I kind of feel like if they were going to be cheaper they already would be, ya know.

SoontobeGallagher Posted: Oct 24, 2010 06:35 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

JH dresses are so gorgeous! My girls got their dresses from Davids Bridal. I think they were like $145. I couldn't ask them to spend any more than that. I would've felt to guilty, plus they paid for my shower and we went to Vegas for my bachelorette party.

CantWaitMrsH Posted: Oct 24, 2010 06:53 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

Nope you dont buy the sample. They just may have samples that they dont 'own' yet. You can still try it on and order and you usually get a percentage off (10-15% off). I went to a local salon and my BMs got their dresses 10% off. They saved $20 bucks which covered their taxes and kept their dresses under $200!

suzie411 Posted: Oct 24, 2010 07:14 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

i actually really like the Bill Levkoff one!!!! a lot.

I agree, I couldn't ask a BM to spend that much on a dress. I just found my BM dress last week. I got them down to $153 from $170. Do you have a lot of BM's? That could be a bargaining tool. Or if you are getting, or got your gown there.

If you really like the JH dress, maybe they could come down. Just tell them. . .$250 and you gotta deal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GL!

Watermelon5 Posted: Oct 24, 2010 07:16 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

I agree w/ the others,..$300 is A LOT for a BM dress..maybe try the trunk show idea or maybe look around more for a similar style?

LMEL1223 Posted: Oct 24, 2010 07:33 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

see if u can order them on line they are usualy a lot less money. I have heard that h o u s e o f b r i d e s has a good reputation

FutureMrsCat050412 Posted: Oct 24, 2010 08:08 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

its your wedding....if they want to be in it they will have to pay. and of course if majority rules then get that one...

We spent over $300 on the dresses for my brothers wedding too! I thought it was crazy.

But on a positive note, I wore the dress the following year on Halloween. I bought a sash & crown and was Miss America

merelynn10 Posted: Oct 24, 2010 10:55 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

Love the JH Dress!!! You can try RK Bridal No Frills program. The only thing is that they dont do alterations there if you do the program

toniann921 Posted: Oct 25, 2010 09:42 AM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

LOVE the JH one.

I am going through the same thing you are... i LOVE a JH dress (#5924), but I can't find it for less than $280. I have 10 BM's and they all say that they don't care... but I know they are just being nice.

I know there is a JH trunk show at Village Bridal this Sunday- Halloween. I would check it out.

Good Luck!

MrsSx2 Posted: Oct 25, 2010 09:52 AM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

Just throwing my 2cents in here, but if someone asked me to purchase a $300 BM dress...I would be pissed. I would go with the cheaper dress. If you like both of them, just let the girls get the cheaper dress and then everyone can feel good about it.

AwaitingAugust Posted: Oct 25, 2010 09:53 AM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

honestly, i would not have my girls spending $300 on just the dress ... that's insane - don't forget they'd also need alterations and shoes! it's just too much.

can you find a similar dress for a lower price? if not, then i'd just go with the cheaper dress. it's not that big a deal since everyone will be looking at *you* on your wedding, not your BMs

Gerbera Posted: Oct 25, 2010 10:12 AM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

If it were me I would just go with the Bill Levkoff.

$300 is a lot for a dress as much as I love JH!

Have you tried looking online yet?

I've heard good things about bridesmaids.com and RK Bridal has a 5% price match policy as well.

GL!

FutureWifey Posted: Oct 25, 2010 11:10 AM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

If you really can't decide.. then survey them. They might want to spend $300 on a dress they really love rather than spend $180 on a dress that isn't their favorite. Depends on how much they really like the dress.

FutureJOC Posted: Oct 25, 2010 02:27 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

I'd say that if you're girls all agree that they have no problems paying the extra money, then order the JH. If there are 1 or 2 of them that really would prefer not to spend that much than go for the BL. the other thing to consider is that the dress costs X amount but then you have to tack on the price for alterations and depending what we needs to be done, it may cost up to an additional $75-$100.

I've been in a few weddings and I've paid anywhere from $150-$400 for my BM dress (after alterations).

AdriandSteve Posted: Oct 25, 2010 03:13 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

I found Jim Hjelm dresses around the high $100/low $200 mark at B*urtons Bridal. Call all the retalors for Jim Hjelm if you like him and get the lowest price.

Gerbera Posted: Oct 25, 2010 03:44 PM

Re: HELP! Tough bridesmaid dress choice...

bridesmaids.com has really great prices.
They carry JH but you have to email them for pricing.

gosavvybride.com also has JH and I got my veil from them. Cheapest out of all the sites I found, even RK.