bride's beef with the wedding industry

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Feb 12 5:05 PM posted by Team Ricki

Jessica's open letter to future brides and their potential bridesmaids:

I’m a bride-to-be & I’m ticked off! I’m writing this letter on behalf of my bridal party who recently had their first fitting for bridesmaid gowns. Allow me to go back to the time when the order was placed.

Each girl lined up one-by-one to be measured and was told the size of the gown that would be ordered for them. Many of them questioned the size being ordered for them being too large. It was at this time the consultant helping us insisted they get the recommended size using the mantra “you rather be safe than sorry.” As a bride putting myself in their shoes, I, too, would have ordered the larger size recommended by the professional even if I knew I was a size 14 and she insisted to order a size 16. After all you wouldn’t want to be “the one” to cause an “issue” for the Bride on what’s supposed to be the most important day of her life.

Let’s fast forward to when the dresses come in; one by one my girls try on their gowns and OF COURSE they’re too large & alterations need to be done. The bridal shop was kind enough to cap the alteration fee at 115 dollars. Gee, thanks.

One of my clever bridesmaids asked to be re-measured only to discover that her measurements didn’t change from the time we placed the order in October. She then confronted the consultant who was at a loss for words. I feel like my girls were taken advantage of so they would be charged more money.

I would like all brides to BEWARE of these types of tricks that may come across your path, the wedding industry isn’t a multi-billion dollar industry for no reason. Some wedding professionals may take offense to this letter, however, we all know that this industry is notorious for sinking their greedy teeth into the flesh of the emotionally vulnerable.

Is Jessica right in assuming the dress shop was trying to hike up the price for alterations? We don't have enough information to even speculate. But DIY Wedding Expert Sarah Shewey says it's important for a bride to empower herself before beginning the wedding planning process. 

"Planning a wedding is a complex task and one most brides have no prior experience in, so by definition it makes them vulnerable," says Sarah. "I believe in empowering brides and grooms to make informed decisions to be sure that last minute surprises are kept to a minimum."

Sarah's Tips for Brides-to-Be

• Ask questions! Never worry about asking your wedding planner or vendor too many questions. You are the client and deserve full transparency on their service, product and any associated fees.

• When in doubt, get a second opinion. If you feel like you're being taken advantage of or need advice, don't hesitate to reach out. Online forums, wedding websites and even friends can be great resources. At sites like ours at PinkCloud9, connecting to a qualified wedding professional is just a click away and totally free.

• Join a community and read reviews - thousands of couples tie the knot every year, learn from other customers and not from your mistakes.

Sarah adds, "At the end of the day, mistakes may and will happen so be sure to work with people who are 100 percent in your corner. After all, this is Your wedding day and it should be as happy and carefree as possible!"