The Smart Girl's Guide to Buying a Wedding Dress

First off, I'd like to start this post with mentioning that Priscilla of Boston Bridal is going out of business and so they are having a 70% everything sale- dresses (gowns), brides maid dresses, jewelry, flower girl dresses, etc. Courtesy of my friend Erin bringing it to my attention! And of course, I asked the question- how are THEY going out of business? One of the biggest names in the wedding industry is going out of business? Is it maybe because of their extremely overpriced gowns? $6000 for a gown, sure! No problem!

Me, I've had my dress for quite a while now. Here's a tip to you ladies preparing to walk down the aisle- try on dresses and LOTS of them! Better yet- try on loads of dresses. Try on dress designs you don't think you would normally like. Go to different bridal shops. Mark down your favorites (or in my case, take a photo of the tag with your phone) so you can reference it later.



Say, you found the dress of your dreams? That's great news. Sleep on it. Your dress will never be the "last chance to buy this dress so you better act now." In fact- call 3-6 months later and see if they still have it. Most likely they will and it will be discounted. Also, you may be engulfed in all the wedding dress shopping and excitement that you may be persuaded by others about a particular dress, you may put down the deposit day of finding it, and then have nightmares about how wrong of a dress it is for you. Just sayin'. It happens. Then you are screwed.

Or you can take the thrifty, smart- think with your head- route when purchasing your wedding dress. Just like I did... Take that photo of the tag you snapped in the dressing room, and GOOGLE it. You may find that dress listed on some second hand wedding classifieds websites, eBay, etc. But trust me, stay away from the website with the low resolution photos that say you will get a dress "like" the one in the photo. Those come from China and are knock offs. I've read reviews where people were happy with their dress they ordered from one of these websites but also read where people were not happy- got a totally different style, bad fabric, etc. Be smart and don't take chances. But you may just so happen find your very dress at a big discount on one of these other legitimate websites. Make sure that if it is second hand that you ask if it has been altered at all and get the details of the measurements of the dress to make sure it will fit you. If it's too large- that is better than being too small because you can alter it.



Or, let's say you know what style of dress you want or the designer of the dress (thanks to all those visits to the bridal shops with family and friends) and try setting up a saved eBay search (which emails you daily with new items listed that day). At the moment, I have multiple searches set-up for email reminders and I get them daily which make my inbox look like this:



Guess what- I actually check them daily to see all the new dresses listed! These listings include second hand dresses, brand new with tags dresses, brides listing their 2nd option dress (a dress which was bought first and the bride changed her mind for a different dress and decided to wear the other dress), bridal shop closeouts, etc. You MAY be lucky and find the dress that you want or one close to the style you want at a much better price!

And with these eBay searches, I snagged my wedding dress- brand new with tags from a bridal shop going out of business for a WHOPPING $75 bucks! (plus $25 for shipping). I am a LUCKY girl! And you can be too if you just play it smart. I have faith in you! No more spending unnecessary money on overpriced wedding dresses!!!

Update 8/4/12: Here is my beautiful dress!

Santa Speedo Run 2011

Every year since I have moved to Boston I have been participating in a charity run that typically falls on my birthday weekend in December. It's a 1.5k run down the ritzy shopping streets of Boston. Starting at the Lir and ending in front of the Lir. Every year, I always have so much fun doing the run and really enjoy having my friends get together to participate with me. I also even appreciate the ones who simply stop by to cheer me on (*ahem, wimps*) But also the continuous support of my fiance, Courtney, I am grateful for all he does every year for the run for me.

This year, I am running again on Saturday, December 10, 2011 with Dana, Meghan, Andrew, Possibly Erin and possibly Bobby. I am super stoked! Even if it is below freezing like it has been some years. It's fun, and it's for a good cause. What's not to love?!

However, in order to run this charity event, I need to raise at least $400. That is the bottom limit you have to hit in order to run. And this year, I really need the help of family and friends to help me achieve the goal.

This years donations go to the Play Ball Foundation:

*In the Fall of 2009 and Spring of 2010 PlayBall! has funded the first new sports for Boston Public middle school students since 2003.
*81% of the students from the four PlayBall! Football league schools are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. The state average is 29%.
*The disparity in after school sports offered in middle schools in the Boston Public Schools versus those offered at a neighboring suburb’s public school.

If you would be so kind in donating to charity (which by the way is a tax right off) and sponsoring my run this year, please check out my fundraising page here.

A special thanks to all those who have donated in the previous years. And thank you all in advance for your donations this year. I will be sure to update you how the run went!





And lastly, a newsclip from 2008: