Smarter with Age

[The Lights of Rose LLC]

Being divorce for over 10 years and raising my two boys physically by myself - I finally found my best friend - something I didn't have with my first marriage, maybe because I was too busy worrying about my biological clock ticking. So I hate to admit it but I married a man I didn't really like! Oh well, live and learn as we all do in life.

Well, anyway I'm much older now and my biological clock no longer works, but I'm wiser (which is a gift that we all get when we age)! I am getting married again on October 11th of this year. I am so excited about marrying my best friend, I love and like this one!!! (((smile)))

We will be having a firefighter theme wedding at a firehouse here in my town. Vince (my love) will be retiring this December after serving 30 years as a firefighter. It's going to be a simple but fun affair.

Shopping for my dress:
Also about being smarter with age, I walked into a bridal bouquet store and looked right into the retailer's eyes and said "You see all those very pretty and expensive bridal dresses? Well, don't bother showing me any, I want that bridesmaids dress thats only $150.00 and order the dress in all White!" The retailer looked at me and giggled.

I'm a size 10 in normal clothes I even fit in a size 10 even on my most bloated days. She told me the sample dress was a size 12. When I put the dress on I couldn't zipper it up. I know some of these sample dresses run small but gezzzzzz. When she measured me she stated that she will have to let me know if I will be charged extra for a larger size. A larger size???? How much larger? She stated if the size is over a 18 there will be a extra charge. A SIZE 18!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!! I shook my head very fast and said no way are you going to charge me extra. In reality I'm sure the sample dress was only a size 5. What a gimmick! They were suppose to call me if the dress was going to cost more - I received no phone call. Some bridal bouquets must love it when a woman of a larger size walks in.

I was looking at the accessories and could not believe the mark up on these items. $199.00 for the same bridal tiara I sell on my website for only $89.00

Just to make sure, I went to another bridal bouquet and they were about the same with the gimmicks.

If only these young Brides can be aware of these certain retailers. But, they are young, and want the best of the best and because of this, some of these bridal retailers overwork the system.

There are a lot of bridal retailers out there that rather make a Bride a happy customer then to make a one time quick sale! Referrals is what keeps us all in business.

In closing:
The moral of this story is, don't get married until your approaching 50 to get it all right! Just Kidding!!!!

All kidding aside, we need to be more aware of the needs of the bride and work with her, only then will we see a profit

Best regards, Annie
http://www.TheLightsOfRose.com

[Lorraine Hildebrant]

Hello and thanks for adding me.
As a wedding planner, I see things like this all the time. Wedding boutiques really treat girls badly. One of my brides left a very famous store in tears because she was told to lose weight before she came back to try on dresses.
I too married an idiot the first time around, but I had known him all my life. Then, I met this tall man with red hair and the greenest eyes you have ever seen: and he loved my son. We've been married for 32 years. Maybe love is better the second time around.
Congratulations on your wedding and much happiness.

[J_Rothstein_Jewelers]

Hi Annie,
Great blog! I agree with you that a wedding dress & bridesmaid's dresses that you will possibly wear only once, especially for someone a little older, should not be so expensive! A person really has to find a store whose owner is honest & reasonable. The results will be a happy relationship between store & client, with lots of referrals, hopefully!! Our jewelry store is like that - we cater to our client's special requests, we don't overcharge, and we treat them like our family, and it naturally pays off. Even if they just buy something small or need a jewelry repair, we welcome them. Congratulations on finding your firefighter! All the best, ~Janet Rothstein in Beverly Hills

[The Lights of Rose LLC]

Thank you Sandy for your Best Wishes on my upcoming Wedding!

My blog is meant for the Budget Minded Bride (who I mainly deal with) . I guess you can say I bought the Corn Sack dress for my wedding. My cost was much lower because I took a bridesmaid dress and converted it into a bridal dress just by changing the color. My dress was originally black & white with crystal trim, by changing it to all white, it's going look stunning! I will share the wedding pictures with all of you. I found a wonderful high end boutique that does not charge for alterations - So I made a great deal for under $300.00! The retailer admitted to me that how the dress is tagged makes all the difference (bridesmaid vs bridal tag).

I haven't dealt with AA Bridal or Giselle yet but I have with Illusion Bridal, you can sell their products if you own a web store as long as you purchase their web CD and your retail price must be double the wholesale price.

My opinion to my customers is not to purchase a bridal dress over the internet, too risky. But thats my opinion and customers still do what they want to do.

I agree with you Sandy about Shop vs Web shop regarding overhead. I know how much everything cost when it comes to merchandise etc etc. But, with anything comes knowledge and there is always a good buy no matter where you shop you just have to know how to shop.
Annie

[Sandy Ouellette]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I too married for all the wrong reasons the first time around. But the second one is perfect.
I have to reply to what you wrote about. One reason the tiara was $199 at the boutique could be because in a store front there is a lot of overhead; rent, utilities, taxes, insurance, etc., etc., etc. When I ran a internet store, I was able to price with the $89 price tag, but now that I opened a store front, I no longer can. Plus to stock items in a store, there is a minimum required order amount.
My question is, was it from the same company you carry? I sell from AA Bridal, Giselle and Illusions. All have the same style but cost different. None are surpose to be sold on line. It's in our contract with these vendors if they want us to sell in our stores.
As far as the sizing goes, that too can be explained. Each dress line runs different. I know when I purchase jeans from K-Mart, the size I wear in Lee jeans is different from Chic. The same goes for dresses. I carry Jasmine B2 bridesmaids dresses. They run 4-6 sizes different then what you normally wear, but my Forever Yours bridesmaids dresses only run 1-2 sizes off. I can't explain why, but I know the sizes you see on the sample dress is the same as a special order. Everything, and I mean every thing is made in China. They must think we are shaped weird. When everything was made in the USA, this was not the issue. There is nothing a bridal boutique can do about it. Believe me, we are the ones yelled at, called names, swore at and blamed.
If you haven't found your dress yet, find someone who carries the Forever Yours line, that line does not charge extra for plus sizes. This is the only line I have been able to find that does not charge extra. And the dresses are beautiful. The bridal boutique is not pulling a gimmick, it is out of their control.
Please don't blame the bridal boutique, it is not their fault the way the sizes are running and look at it from the boutique's side with all the overhead they have to support, then you will understand why.
Your second marriage will be beautiful no matter what you wear. He fell in love with you and will see a princes even if you are wearing a corn sack.
Sandy

[Gail Jones Diggs]

Well Kudos and Congratulations to you and your "Best Friend" ... I'm sure you'll have a "Hot n Smokin" wedding !!
G ~ Gala Girl ~