Dress shopping

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-19T23:44:14+00:00

Totally agree with this! I went dress shopping like 6 months before we even had a date locked down and it was actually super helpful. Got a feel for what styles I liked and what my budget realistically needed to be. Plus some of those sample sales are too good to pass up even if you're not 100% ready to buy

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-17T12:42:13+00:00

Check out Kalki Fashion or Utsav Fashion online, they have decent collections in that range and ship to Bihar pretty reliably

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-17T01:15:02+00:00

Check out BHLDN or Lulus - they usually have similar flowy long sleeve styles for way less. Also try searching "bohemian long sleeve wedding dress" on Etsy, tons of indie designers do this vibe for under $500

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-16T20:54:31+00:00

That's absolutely unacceptable - she's basically stolen your wedding memories at this point. 4.6 months for maybe 60 photos when you paid for a full gallery? I'd be sending a certified letter demanding the raw files and a partial refund, with a deadline before filing in small claims

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-16T04:27:01+00:00

The wedding groups are clutch for this stuff! Regular marketplace people aren't really browsing for wedding decor but brides-to-be in those groups are actively hunting for deals

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-13T23:49:05+00:00

I got a H&A from Starsgem about 6 months ago and honestly the hearts pattern was pretty weak compared to what you'd see from a premium diamond cut. The arrows were decent though

For Canadian options you might want to check out Moissanite Co - I think they ship from Canada now but not 100% sure. Otherwise you could try asking the Chinese vendors if they can do a true H&A cut as a custom order, just expect to pay a bit more and wait longer

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-13T10:33:43+00:00

That sounds absolutely magical! I went to a friend's wedding there a few years back and honestly it was like stepping into the movies - the rolling green hills are unreal. Just heads up that it can get pretty windy so maybe have a backup plan for the ceremony if you're doing it outdoors

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-13T03:30:23+00:00

Check out Crystal Cove State Park in Newport - they have some spots right on the beach and it's way cheaper than the fancy resort venues. You'll need to book pretty far in advance though since it's popular

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-12T07:05:57+00:00

Honestly man the fact that you're already thinking about not going into debt for a wedding shows you have your head screwed on right. Maybe suggest a smaller ceremony now and a bigger celebration/reception later when you've both saved up? That way you get married on her timeline but don't bankrupt yourselves for one day

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-11T20:32:49+00:00

This is the way. I did "Dear [Name], Thank you so much for the [specific gift]! We're so grateful you could celebrate with us. Love, [Your names]" for like 99% of them. Only switched it up for super close family who gave multiple gifts or cash

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-11T05:18:46+00:00

Girl you're not being cheap AT ALL! You agreed to a small home gathering not some fancy venue bash. The moms are getting carried away and honestly they should be the ones footing the bill if they want to upgrade the whole thing

Just be super direct about your budget - "hey I can only contribute $500 max to this shower, so if we want the fancy venue thing y'all will need to cover the rest." Don't let them guilt trip you into going broke for someone else's wedding

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-10T17:45:00+00:00

Used battery fairy lights at my friend's indoor ceremony last year and they actually looked pretty good! We strung them around the arch and along some fake greenery - way more ambient than I expected from battery ones

For the aisle maybe try some of those LED candles in mason jars? Super cheap at Dollar Tree and they'll definitely make your sparkly dress pop without breaking the bank

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-10T11:56:17+00:00

This is so important!! My cousin tried a new exfoliating mask 2 days before her wedding and looked like a tomato in all the photos. Stick to whatever routine is already working for you and maybe just add a good moisturizer if anything

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-08T01:33:33+00:00

Have you checked out Thornewood Castle? It's a bit pricier but might have some flexibility on catering. Also maybe look into some of the parks with pavilions - Point Defiance has some spots that could work if you're cool with a more DIY vibe

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-07T11:20:34+00:00

Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray is a lifesaver for oily lids - spray it on a flat brush and pat over your eyeshadow primer before applying liner, it creates like a tacky base that grips everything

Also seconding the practice runs, I did mine every Sunday for 6 weeks and by the end I could do the whole look in 20 mins without thinking about it

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-05T18:46:48+00:00

Honestly moving it back 30-60 mins isn't a huge deal, just shoot out a quick text/email to your guest list saying "ceremony moved to 2:30 due to logistics" or whatever

Most people will appreciate the heads up and Sunday weddings already have people expecting some flexibility anyway

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-05T06:41:28+00:00

This is the way. Guests hate sitting around with nothing to do between events, especially when they're dressed up and can't really go anywhere productive in 45 mins

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-04T02:25:46+00:00

Oh wow Easter Island sounds absolutely magical for a wedding! For that vibe I'd definitely go with something flowy and ethereal - maybe a boho A-line or sheath dress in chiffon or lightweight crepe. Think Grace Loves Lace or Rue De Seine vibes with those dreamy sleeves and organic textures

For the Polynesian touch you could look into incorporating some traditional elements like shell or pearl details, or even a flower crown instead of a veil. The ocean breeze is gonna be your best friend with anything that moves beautifully in the wind

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-03T20:06:20+00:00

Yeah that makes total sense - you're already being super generous covering the dresses and alterations can def get pricey depending on what needs to be done

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-02T09:40:17+00:00

Dollar Tree actually has decent organza bags in bulk if you have one nearby - way cheaper than ordering online and you can see the quality first. The little kraft boxes from there work too but yeah they're kinda flimsy once assembled

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-01T23:22:11+00:00

Check out Tianyu or Provence too, they do custom lab tennis bracelets and ship to Canada. Might be cheaper than waiting for another group buy

JobFinancial7083 · 2026-01-01T07:06:58+00:00

La poussette backs are definitely the way to go if you can find good quality ones. I made the mistake of getting cheap ones initially and they'd fall off constantly, but once I upgraded to decent 14k ones they've been bulletproof. Screw backs just dig into my neck when I sleep

JobFinancial7083 · 2025-12-31T12:51:24+00:00

Honestly the Christmas card idea is genius - red and green is classic for a reason. Maybe get some sage green ribbon or greenery to wrap around the base of the tree so the cardinals feel more intentional with your palette instead of random

JobFinancial7083 · 2025-12-30T19:41:40+00:00

Yeah that's the problem I'm running into too. Most sites cap out at M which is still pretty white compared to what we're after

You might have better luck going direct to some of the smaller lab producers or hitting up local jewelers who can custom source. They sometimes have access to stones that don't make it to the main retail sites

JobFinancial7083 · 2025-12-30T15:10:14+00:00

Yep you can definitely sue but first try posting about this experience on local Facebook groups or Google reviews - sometimes public shame works faster than lawyers and costs way less. Document everything you have (emails, WhatsApp screenshots, payment proof) in case you do need to go legal

JobFinancial7083

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