What’s it gonna cost me?
Let me start this entry by saying that being a bride is just like being a tourist in your own city. Vendors know you have money to spend and they want it bad. They try to capitalize on your fairy tale wedding visions by charging enormous sums and charging you even when you don’t think you’re being charged. Like a tourist, a bride can be a vulnerable target, lost in la-la land.
I nearly fell off my chair when a florist came back to me with a $20,000 proposal. Wait just a second - what part of my budget did they not understand? I realize flowers are one of the most important parts of evening, but let’s be realistic here. Do I really need an $900 bouquet? I think not. So the search continues for the florist who can orchestrate my orchid inspired wedding for an amount that is not bordering on my yearly salary.
Now here’s a good story. An acquaintance of my mother’s (let’s call her Sue) is a stylist. She’s been on those Fox 5 style segments you might catch on weekday mornings and a variety of other fashion reality shows. When I got engaged Sue graciously offered to go dress shopping with me when I came into town. She said she could get me in to all the top places and maybe even finagle a discount. She’s very cute and dresses impeccably so of course I took her up on her offer. Soon after, we spent one weekday afternoon in NYC (approx. 4 hours) frolicking from one bridal shop to the next. I would model for Sue and my mom, and wait for their thumbs up or down. At the end of the day we all enthusiastically agreed on a winner. Within a few days of our outing my mom received a bill in the mail from Sue…for $675! I felt completely taken. I thought she was doing this out of the goodness of her heart. Was I simply naïve?
What I’ve learned from this experience is to always, without fail, under every single circumstance even if it’s just a phone call, ask: what’s it gonna cost me?
I nearly fell off my chair when a florist came back to me with a $20,000 proposal. Wait just a second - what part of my budget did they not understand? I realize flowers are one of the most important parts of evening, but let’s be realistic here. Do I really need an $900 bouquet? I think not. So the search continues for the florist who can orchestrate my orchid inspired wedding for an amount that is not bordering on my yearly salary.
Now here’s a good story. An acquaintance of my mother’s (let’s call her Sue) is a stylist. She’s been on those Fox 5 style segments you might catch on weekday mornings and a variety of other fashion reality shows. When I got engaged Sue graciously offered to go dress shopping with me when I came into town. She said she could get me in to all the top places and maybe even finagle a discount. She’s very cute and dresses impeccably so of course I took her up on her offer. Soon after, we spent one weekday afternoon in NYC (approx. 4 hours) frolicking from one bridal shop to the next. I would model for Sue and my mom, and wait for their thumbs up or down. At the end of the day we all enthusiastically agreed on a winner. Within a few days of our outing my mom received a bill in the mail from Sue…for $675! I felt completely taken. I thought she was doing this out of the goodness of her heart. Was I simply naïve?
What I’ve learned from this experience is to always, without fail, under every single circumstance even if it’s just a phone call, ask: what’s it gonna cost me?
posted by TLK @ 1:16 PM
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