THE average cost of a UK wedding is between £20,000-£25,000.
And one of the big ticket items for the big day is the bride’s dress.
Bride-to-be Jennifer Rastutis was set to marry for the second time and she turned to the wedding dress gurus on Say Yes to the Dress to help her find the perfect gown.
She wanted a dress that fit the “princess-romantic” theme, but without “the beads, and the frills”.
She went onto reference a designer dress she had seen and loved, which had a “corset-dropped waist, and gathered skirt”.
“Simple, beautiful, elegant and romantic”, Jennifer added. “But a little bit of fairy tale princess as well!”
The dress assistant then asked: “Is there a budget?”
Jennifer replied: “Really, there is no budget – technically – for the perfect dress. But I would really like to stay under $10,000 (£7,760).”
And in her piece to camera, the bride-to-be revealed who will be footing the bill: “My grandmother and grandfather will be buying the dress.”
She added: “If I could find a dress that I loved that was $3,000, I would love that much better.
“If I found the perfect dress and it was $10,000, but it was the dress…grandma would be ok? She wouldn’t be happy with it, but she would be ok with it.”
Jennifer’s mother, Lori, added her opinion on the wedding dress budget and said: “Her first wedding was very extravagant, this is her second one, which I feel she needs to tone down.
“My family does well [financially], but in today’s economy, their businesses are really struggling.”
The dress assistant started pulling dresses for Jennifer to try on and when she showed her family and friends the first gown, Randy stepped in to help.
“How are we on price point? What can I spend?” He asked before hitting the rails to find other dresses for Jennifer to try on.
“My grandma and I have had certain conversations – and I knew if I really found a dress that was ‘it’, she would get it [for me],” Jennifer said.
But this isn’t how Colleen – Jennifer’s grandmother – really felt.
She said: “Jennifer and I haven’t really talked about her budget, but it’s important for her to think about her budget, especially during these economic times.”
If I found a dress I really wanted, my grandma would pay for it.
Jennifer
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a dress straight off the rail that Jennifer loved.
Instead she wanted to embellish and change certain design elements to make her dress bespoke – and each alteration added to the bill.
When the dress assistant priced up the dress, extra embellishments and alterations, the bride’s outfit came to a whopping $8500 (£6.6k).
And at that price, Colleen couldn’t let her granddaughter ‘say yes to the dress’ on the spot.
Instead, the family decided to go and have lunch to discuss the dress.
Viewers were then told Jennifer didn’t get her dream wedding gown.
People were quick to share their thoughts in the comments section.
Sophie Creed, bridal designer and founder of bridal brand e&w Couture shared the most popular wedding dress designs for this year.
Sustainable Chic
Bridal fashion in 2024 is embracing a powerful shift towards sustainability, with brides looking closely at what fabrics are being used to make the dresses.
Many brides are also looking to wear a second-hand dress or a vintage number.
Boho Bliss
The bohemian aesthetic is effortless and laid-back elegance – ideal for relaxed weddings. Whether in a garden, on a beach, or under the stars, the boho trend is also great for nature-inspired weddings.
Couples opting for outdoor venues, and bohemian-inspired dresses with flowing silhouettes, floral lace, and whimsical details with blend in with the natural setting. It’s about bringing the romance of the outdoors into the wedding wardrobe.
Bohemian-inspired dresses often feature vintage-inspired lace, flowing sleeves, and ethereal details that stand the test of time.
Satin Elegance
Satin wedding dresses are capturing the hearts of brides who appreciate the marriage of modern simplicity and classic luxury.
This trend suits weddings that prioritize an elegant, refined aesthetic, making it an ideal choice for formal celebrations, chic city weddings, or any event where the bride envisions herself in a gown that exudes sophistication and grace.
Bold Romance
Oversized and bold modern showcase a shift in bridal fashion.
This trend is for the bride who dares to be different, breaking away from tradition and embracing a vibrant, contemporary aesthetic on the most important day of her life.
One person said: “Such a spoiled brat! She had no respect for her grandmother.”
“Second wedding – she and her fiancee should cover all the costs! Parents and Grandparents have already paid once,” agreed a second.
A third commented: “She said this is a grown-up wedding, I doubt it because she still didn’t grow up…
“Expecting her grandma to pay for an expensive dress just proves that she’s selfish…
“I totally agree with her mother, this is her second wedding, when for the first already a fortune was spent, she needs to be on a low budget for the second wedding.”
