opinions please

Listen to me,

If you really love the dress then get it if you can afford it, but first check out other stores to see if they have it. My dress comes in 2 versions (evening gown and bridal gown). I've only found it in 4 stores. 2 stores in NY and 2 stores in Chicago. of these 4 stores only one of them had the bridal gown version (which is more expensive than the evening gown version).

Of the three stores that had the evening dress one of them had it for $2850 (Kleinfield), $2000 (Lestans) and $3300 (a store in Chicago). The other store in CHicago quoted me a price of ($2850) for the evening gown dress, but I was able to get them to match Lestans price. I eventually decided to get the bridal version of my dress and we negoiated a price for $2400. (My original bridal attire budget (dress, veil, shoes, etc) was $1500, but my mom really really liked the dress on me so she said she will pay for everything exceeding $2000. Who was I to argue with her since I loved it too.

So that LONG story was to tell you that you may be able to find your dress somewhere else for cheaper. In addition, sometimes a store may have a dress even if it's not on the designer list of stores that carry his/her dresses. First check out the stores that carry your designer and see how much they are charging. You can even call a couple of stores and ask them too if they have the dress.

PS:Another option is to see if you have someone 'copy' the design and get it made for less.

HTH


ETA: Kleinfield's was also willing to lower the price to $2500 if I agreeded to buy it in the next 2 days.

Before I went dress shopping I budgeted myself at no more than 2k - I went shopping and fell in love with a dress costing 5k and guess what I bought it!! Couldn't afford it but you know what, you will only get married once and when you love a dress and try others after THE DRESS, nothing compares.......go for it - I am sure you will make it fit into your budget somehow....shop around for prices and maybe you can get it a few dollars less - but don't let it go.......you will always think about it.....this is coming from someone who thought it was crazy to spend more than 2k-3k on a dress and look what I did!

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Posted by marc_rai

Listen to me,

If you really love the dress then get it if you can afford it, but first check out other stores to see if they have it. My dress comes in 2 versions (evening gown and bridal gown). I've only found it in 4 stores. 2 stores in NY and 2 stores in Chicago. of these 4 stores only one of them had the bridal gown version (which is more expensive than the evening gown version).

Of the three stores that had the evening dress one of them had it for $2850 (Kleinfield), $2000 (Lestans) and $3300 (a store in Chicago). The other store in CHicago quoted me a price of ($2850) for the evening gown dress, but I was able to get them to match Lestans price. I eventually decided to get the bridal version of my dress and we negoiated a price for $2400. (My original bridal attire budget (dress, veil, shoes, etc) was $1500, but my mom really really liked the dress on me so she said she will pay for everything exceeding $2000. Who was I to argue with her since I loved it too.

So that LONG story was to tell you that you may be able to find your dress somewhere else for cheaper. In addition, sometimes a store may have a dress even if it's not on the designer list of stores that carry his/her dresses. First check out the stores that carry your designer and see how much they are charging. You can even call a couple of stores and ask them too if they have the dress.

PS:Another option is to see if you have someone 'copy' the design and get it made for less.

HTH


ETA: Kleinfield's was also willing to lower the price to $2500 if I agreeded to buy it in the next 2 days.

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thank you for all the advice, I called the designer directly and I can only go to Kleinfields but they may be willing ot allow a local bridal shoppe purchase it for me they'll get back to me on Monday and let me know.

what was the original price, they went all the way to 2500? that is great

Yep, they were. I agree with the ladies on the site. If your dress is $3950, try the oh I really really like this dress bit. How much do you want to spend? Maybe you can say, but you didn't only wanted to spend $3200? I think Klienfield's charge $400 for alterations, and they were going to charge me $300 (I think) because that's how much I told them the shop in Chicago charges. You have a lot of power if you can say that you saw the dress at another store at a lower price. Hey, does the designer have vendors in NJ or Connecticut that carry the dress? You never know, maybe they have it for cheaper.

I still think you should call a couple of places and just ask them if they carry your designer. I found the dress in Lestans by accident. I was actually looking for BM dresses and I was like 'Let me see if they have the wedding dress I like'. They did (the evening gown version) and they were not on the designer list on the website. So hey, you never know. I kind of knew that I wasn't going to get my dress at Lestans, but boy did it help me get my dress for less.

Oh, if you go to Kleinfields take some time to look at the Kleinfield thread. Some ladies have had bad experiences with certain consultants, and that thread tells you who the good consultants are.

PS: that was like the best thing I negogiated through this whole planning process. You win some, you loose some.

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Posted by lreigada

You might want to try to contact the designer directly to cut out the middle man. Sometimes designers will sell you direct (at a cheaper price) if you tell them you absolutely love their dress and must have it for your wedding.

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Great idea.
Yeah, I don't understand why some of them don't just make the dress directly if you called them. I mean my designer is based in Manhatten, so you would think that if I called the designer they would say 'Hey I'll make it for you'.

That dress is absolutely GORGEOUS! I hope that you can find a way or as others said pick up sample for a bit less.

Keep us posted & good luck!

so elegant but

thank you!~

I'll keep you all posted

Gni that is exactly how I feel, I feel selfish and horrible for wanting it but I do. I have 2 jobs already maybe I'll find a 3rd to get it!~