Good news on dresses.

[HiTech]

AnastassiaAsh: Besides the dress,I believe she would be happy with me doing the rest of the wedding planing. She would be happy with a quick Las Vagas wedding, My guess is her complete outfit will be about 400 - 600.

Only other point of contention is she wants me in a white tux. Have no idea how I am going to turn this one, any ideas?

HiTech

[AnastassiaAsh]

Maybe classical gray?

[KenC]

Hi Tech,
Are you a virgin too?
 
KenC

[Faux Pas]

The connection is simple: the American economy has gone through an exuberant period these past few years buoyed by house prices going through the rough and people spending a lot of money financed by easy credit (including overpriced dresses wedding or otherwise). With the collapse in house prices and the recession that America is certainly in at the moment, I have the feeling that fewer people will be paying $10,000 for wedding dresses these coming few years.

I'll be the first to admit that I am no economist, nor do I play one on TV. But even I know the economy is based on several varying indicators. The housing market is only a small one. The new housing market a larger one. This market also has different peaks and valleys in different areas of the country at any given time. The main indicators are Wall Street, national debt, prime lending rates and unemployment. So your simple connection to over priced wedding dresses doesn't exist. I had hoped your comment was in jest but I guess it wasn't. The recession we are currently experiencing is the lack of confidence in the stock market and the rising national debt fueled by a war in Iraq. Not by high priced wedding dresses. But I digress  

[Misha]

gabaub,
Do you have a perminant rain cloud over your head like that character that hangs with Charlie Brown?
KenC

Nah, but I am a realist however. This whole story strikes me as very odd. This is what I seem to remember:

1. HiTech met his fiancée on his first trip, spent a few days with her and then proposed by Skype. He was inquiring about wedding dresses before even embarking on his second trip;
2. HiTech goes back and his fiancée is shopping for dresses and seems to want the most expensive dress in all of Ukraine;
3. HiTech can't refuse because of her "sad eyes."

Is is just me or does something just not add up? The other numbers also don't add up. $1,000 to have a dress sewn in Ukraine? The average salary in the country is $250 per month. So, if I get this straight, HiTech's fiancée is claiming that it will cost the equivalent of four months salary to get a dress sewn? Scott pointed out that the cost should be less than $200 which is a much more reasonable figure in my opinion. To be honest, I find the whole thing very peculiar.

[HiTech]

gabaub: I would thank you to keep your nose out of my business, and making completely in accurate statements.

and gabaub: You are incorrect. The USA is not in a recession, if we will have one in the next year is to close to call.

KenC: Shhhhhhhh, no one is supposed to know.

[Misha]

gabaub: I would thank you to keep your nose out of my business, and making completely in accurate statements.

and gabaub: You are incorrect. The USA is not in a recession, if we will have one in the next year is to close to call.

As for the recession, according to Warren Buffett "the United States was already in a recession and a deep and prolonged slowdown could not be ruled out.

Mr Buffett, the billionaire who controls the Berkshire Hathaway global conglomerate, said: “By any common-sense definition, we are in a recession.” He added that although the economic environment is “nothing like ’73 or ’74 yet”, when the US suffered a severe recession and surging oil prices, there remained a possibility of a repeat of those conditions.

Source: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article3479367.ece

As for keeping my nose out of your business, fine by me. However, it is a publicly accessible forum and you are opening up your "business" to the entire world. 

[Jet]

  She says if you arrange for someone to make a dress for you, the maximum would be around $200.  She was very surprised that anyone would have to pay $1000 to have a dress made in a small village such as Druvskova.

Do what you feel is right, but Liliya had her heart set on a dress offered at a high end retailer in N. Novgorod in June '03. She was very nervous about the price.
When I told her to go get it if she liked it that much, she was on cloud 9  (it can be seen here)

The cost, including veil, hair accessories, and shoes..............$280.00

I guess it's just tough for some of us to wrap our minds around the prices quoted, even those at the low end  :noidea:

[Admin]

Nah, but I am a realist however. This whole story strikes me as very odd. This is what I seem to remember:

1. HiTech met his fiancée on his first trip, spent a few days with her and then proposed by Skype. He was inquiring about wedding dresses before even embarking on his second trip;
2. HiTech goes back and his fiancée is shopping for dresses and seems to want the most expensive dress in all of Ukraine;
3. HiTech can't refuse because of her "sad eyes."

Is is just me or does something just not add up? The other numbers also don't add up. $1,000 to have a dress sewn in Ukraine? The average salary in the country is $250 per month. So, if I get this straight, HiTech's fiancée is claiming that it will cost the equivalent of four months salary to get a dress sewn? Scott pointed out that the cost should be less than $200 which is a much more reasonable figure in my opinion. To be honest, I find the whole thing very peculiar.

Just a thought - but you might consider taking HiTech at his word. If that doesn't work, then maybe pose a civil question or two directly to him. Beyond that, maybe offer the benefit of your direct experience - if you have it.

FWIW

- Dan

[Blues Fairy]

  Blue Fairy's dress was just stunning!!! No Fair!! LOL
So what I am trying to say: it IS important for most of women so guys, please, if you can afford it, make your woman happy!

My dress was a little over $1000 (mostly because of the insanely expensive fabric which I found in a high-end textile store in Moscow) and my shoes were from Nine West for $29 (sale price). 

I paid for everything myself and would not even dream of subjecting my guy to such expense.  My dream = my own money.  Fair?   

BTW we split the wedding expenses, too, and my folks and friends paid their own travel fares.

[Jazzyclassy]

I do not know how it is in Ukraine, but in Moscow you can have a fairly cheap wedding but it will be as stunning as the one you have for millions of dollars or whatever.

My hubby did not even pay for my dress I bought it myself with my parents help cos they wanted to give me a present. it was under 20 000 roubles, he bought me white fur coat(3 500 roubles) which was rather expensive considering it is just artificial and you really can wear it only if the weather is dry and sunny and not that cold, plus he bought me a bridal veil (1 500 roubles ) and tiara (800 roubles) am writing the prices especially  for Hi Tech to show that wedding can be really stunning without being too expensive. My sweet lovely white shoes on high heels (900 roubles) I bought them myself, Free make up ,I simply did not have it. And just (1000 roubles) for hair cut and  I arranged it myself.

Oh yes I forgot 2500 flowers and his flower

So only 27 200 roubles  , and most of it I paid myself

The other part was almost the same amount of money , it was Ukrainian restaurant for 10 people so the cost of our wedding was approx 50 000 rouble for everything

Our both parents helped his mamita and papita and mine

I am very satisfied with my wedding , it was the most special wonderful and just how we both wanted , the only little thing which could be done more properly it is my hair which I should have done at the beauty shop and not myself, but I had no choice as our wedding was very early and no beauty shop is working that early, so I had to do that myself.

Plus considering that I am probably the lowest paid person in Moscow , I saved money for this event and a lot of things I was not expecting from my lovely hubbichka to buy , cos he also just started working and how can he have so much money for those things, I did not want to have bridal veil as I thought I would look like an old fart but he insisted on buying me both bridal veil and a white fur coat.

My sister paid for our limo it costed her 10 000 roubles, it was her  and her hubby present to us

[Zhena]

As for me,better to spend those money for a great honeymoon trip,than for a dress you ll wear just for a one day...But this is my personal opinion,for someone the dress might be very important...
My dress was very reasonable by price but you would never say it cost that little

[Bruce]

Here in the NYC area there are huge dress warehouses.  Before we got married my wife and my mom went to one of the warehouses and got my wife a really nice dress for under $200.  I do not believe there was anything in the whole store for more than $400.  I guess this is one of the benefits of being around the fashion capital of the Western world.  Take a trip to NYC, go to one of the many bridal stores around Brighton or go to one of the fashion dress warehouses in the NYC suburbs, save a bundle, get something really fashionable or traditional etc.  I always recommend a guy gets a K-1, marries here and does it in front of family and friends in as intimate a situation as possible.  Vegas is for the honeymoon, not classy enough for a marriage in my opinion. 

[Turboguy]

I know this will surpise everyone but I did not get VWRW's wedding dress at WalMart.

[Jazzyclassy]

I know this will surpise everyone but I did not get VWRW's wedding dress at WalMart.

hahah of course you did not , she had a pretty glamorous great dress

[AnastassiaAsh]

Ladies, i am very proud of you for participating financially in your wedding! Good for you! Isn't it nice to be able to share these happy expenses after all and feel confident and equal with your fiance? That's the way to go. 

[Nando]

Jazzy and Anastassia, I couldn't agree more with you

[mischief]

My dress was a little over $1000 (mostly because of the insanely expensive fabric which I found in a high-end textile store in Moscow) and my shoes were from Nine West for $29 (sale price). 

I paid for everything myself and would not even dream of subjecting my guy to such expense.  My dream = my own money.  Fair?   

BTW we split the wedding expenses, too, and my folks and friends paid their own travel fares.

BF, as long as the fact that you paid for the dress with your own money makes you feel good about yourself, I am happy for you... No need to rub it in... I got married the same year I graduated university and in spite of the fact I worked part time it would never be enough to afford anything... I have no problem at all that we live on my husband's earning right now and I buy sometimes expensive things which make me happy... as well as I will not have problem supporting my family when it will be my husband turn to stay at home and take care of our children... In our family there is no such things as his money or my money... savings are equally divided so one of us can have immediate access to money if anything happen to another one... I have my debit and credit cards he has his, and joint account where all the income goes... This is the way it works for both of our parents and for us...

[Sort]

If the "daddy's" want to spend several $$$$$$ on a weddingdress let them do it.
I for my self of course want my future wife to have her dream marriage.
Maybe i need a good healthinsurance..........or a good lawyer..........no......Money can buy happines....(joke)

[Blues Fairy]

BF, as long as the fact that you paid for the dress with your own money makes you feel good about yourself, I am happy for you... No need to rub it in...

Mischief, I had no intention of moralizing, I was just commenting your "No fair!" exclamation. 

[mischief]

Mischief, I had no intention of moralizing, I was just commenting your "No fair!" exclamation. 

And I was just complimenting your choice of dress and 'no fair" meant nothing but a joke... if I say: you are too beautiful! no fair! will you comment this too?

[Blues Fairy]

And I was just complimenting your choice of dress and 'no fair" meant nothing but a joke... if I say: you are too beautiful! no fair! will you comment this too?

Sure I will! От такой и слышу!

[mischief]

Sure I will! От такой и слышу!

thanks... :angel:

[BC]

We spent about 2500 EUR for the whole shebang.. dress, shoes, two cars, ZAGS, documents, dinner for 30, photographer, video, etc etc..

Yeah was 5 years ago.. today maybe twice, maybe three times the cost we paid... still a bargain.

[smartcat]

Here is Kharkiv site with different models of the wedding dresses.
http://www.margorita.com.ua/sv01.php
When you put cursor over a dress, you'll see the prise in $. Average is $250.

If I were the bride, who likes some certain dress, I might ask them to sew the same model . I guess it would not be more than $300-500. Just to save the future husbands' money.