Busy Couple of Weeks - Dresses and Diamonds!

[Rock_of_Love]

Wow! It has been quite the whirlwind...we finally bought the diamond! I''m so excited!!!

Diamond and Setting pics here

And, I went to try on some dresses! I initially was going to wait a few more months (and a few less lbs!), but I was drawn to a particular dress in a magazine. I decided to call the designer because there weren''t any stores in my area that carried it. They referred me to a store that was about 1.5 hours from where I live and said that they would ship it out specially for me to try on! The store called and said they would only have it for a week, so I decided to go up and try it on.

The dress was really beautiful, but while I was there I tried on a few more and I think I found, dare I say, THE ONE!! OMG really???

They wouldn''t let me take pics of the dress I really liked, but they would of the other one I initially drove up to see (said it was a designer specific thing?).

So here are some pics...FIRST - the dress I initially went up there to try on...

 

[Rock_of_Love]

I couldn''t take pics of the dress I fell in LOVE with at this particular store, but I found it locally and went to try in on this past Sunday. They only had it in white...I really loved the ivory.

It is the Sottero & Midgley SSM5154

 

[Rock_of_Love]

pic 2...

 

[Rock_of_Love]

closeup

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Here is the link to it on the S&M website - linky

And, here is another pro pic I found...

 

[Rock_of_Love]

I''m going back up to the original store with some more of my girlfriends...they have it in the Ivory that I like. Plus, they have a gorgeous veil and jeweled headpiece that I like. I am going to BEG them to let me take pics. If I order it, they should let me...right????

Question for you ladies...when I called around to try and find the dress locally, one of the stores expressed to me that they will beat any price and they quoted me a price of $868. They original store is quoting me $1200-1300. That is a pretty bid difference!! I would like to give the first store my business...they were really, really pleasant to work with...but to me that is a huge price difference. Also, the first store is 1.5 hrs away...so for any issues, I have to deal with the drive. What would you do?? Should I ask the first store if they can come down in price? How would you ask them?? Advice please!!!!

 

[Clairitek]

I would just get it locally. That way you don''t have to deal with the price haggling and drive for alterations.

Lovely dress by the way! The hemline is just to die for!

I''ve always been curious- who/what is that in your avatar? Sorry if you''ve answered this elsewhere in the forum.

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Date: 8/25/2009 1:21:20 PM
Author: Clairitek
I would just get it locally. That way you don''t have to deal with the price haggling and drive for alterations.

Lovely dress by the way! The hemline is just to die for!

I''ve always been curious- who/what is that in your avatar? Sorry if you''ve answered this elsewhere in the forum.

The place also has a veil that I like, but I guess I could find that elsewhere, too. I feel bad, though, I''m going up there again in a few weeks with my girlfriends.

My avatar...I think I''ve mentioned it somewhere before, but I''m happy to explain!! The picture is actually of the Brett Michaels "Rock of Love" bus. His show is pretty silly/trashy, but I am a huge fan of Glam Rock! When I was trying to figure out a screen name for PS, I loved the dual meaning that "Rock of Love" has...representing my love of rock music, glam rock, and the crazy show...and how diamonds are often referred to as "rocks" and that the ERing diamond represents "love" - hence, "Rock of Love"!!

 

[rhbgirl24]

Wow! You look stunning in the second dress!

 

[princessplease]

Yowzers!!!!!!!! What an amazing dress!!!!!

 

[Lilac]

That dress is gorgeous!

 

[cocolaw]

what an amazing few weeks for you!!!!! the dress is gorgeous and the ring is stunning!!!!!!

 

[Luckyeshe]

I''m glad you''re getting the second dress since you looked amazing in it!! I was thinking I''m going to have to help dissuade you from dress 1. It was pretty, but dress 2 really looked great on you!

Also, maybe you could tell store 1 what store 2 is willing to offer you. See if you bought everything, what the discount might be. They might work something out with you. You never know, but definitely worth the shot as long as you''re willing to take the drive up.

 

[stephbolt]

I dealt with a similar situation to you, and I told the store that I wanted to give them my business because I had such a positive experience with them, but the $100 cheaper I found the dress elsewhere was a significant consideration to me, and asked if there was anything they could do. They ended up matching the other price.

However, both stores I was dealing with were local, so I''m not sure if I would do the same thing in your shoes. The 90 min drive for however many fittings you have will be time consuming, which you may not want leading up to the wedding, and will add up in gas costs. Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[cleokizzy]

that 2nd dress is beautiful!

i''d try telling the 1st store the low price you got from the 2nd store, they might match it considering the fact that they are 1.5 hours away!

 

[Snicklefritz]

That dress is stunning! It looks perfect on you.

 

[ilovesparkles]

Your soon to be dress is just gorgeous! I love all the lace, it is so delicate!

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Thank you thank you for all the compliments!!! I''m really excited about it!!

So, I was thinking the same thing...about telling store 1 what store 2 is willing to offer, but say I want to bring my business to them b/c the positive experience and all, but when do I bring it up?? I am going up there with my girlfriends and, of course, I''ll try it on again...then they will want to take measurements, etc. Would you bring it up before measurements? It is a small store, so maybe pull the lady aside prior to then and state my case?

I''m willing to do the 1.5 hr drive - and they are not offering alterations, only to refer you to someone. I''m pretty sure I can find someone local, so I guess my only other trip up there would be to pick up the dress.

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 8/25/2009 7:26:03 PM
Author: Rock_of_Love
Thank you thank you for all the compliments!!! I''m really excited about it!!

So, I was thinking the same thing...about telling store 1 what store 2 is willing to offer, but say I want to bring my business to them b/c the positive experience and all, but when do I bring it up?? I am going up there with my girlfriends and, of course, I''ll try it on again...then they will want to take measurements, etc. Would you bring it up before measurements? It is a small store, so maybe pull the lady aside prior to then and state my case?

I''m willing to do the 1.5 hr drive - and they are not offering alterations, only to refer you to someone. I''m pretty sure I can find someone local, so I guess my only other trip up there would be to pick up the dress.

I''m with you on wanting to reward good customer service. I would bring it up before she takes measurements. Say that you found a much better price elsewhere but you want to patronize her store so you''re willing to drive out of your way if she will price match. A friend of mine got her gown price matched to a Pearl''s Place price. There is such a huge difference between store #1 and store #2 that I think it is worth it to ask. Just be honest... whats the worst that could happen? She says no? I bet it will be just fine.

Thanks for explaining the avatar! Makes perfect sense. I spent a while wondering if you had been on the show or something.

 

[MishB]

The dress looks beautiful on you, very flattering.

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Date: 8/25/2009 7:41:29 PM
Author: Clairitek

Date: 8/25/2009 7:26:03 PM
Author: Rock_of_Love
Thank you thank you for all the compliments!!! I''m really excited about it!!

So, I was thinking the same thing...about telling store 1 what store 2 is willing to offer, but say I want to bring my business to them b/c the positive experience and all, but when do I bring it up?? I am going up there with my girlfriends and, of course, I''ll try it on again...then they will want to take measurements, etc. Would you bring it up before measurements? It is a small store, so maybe pull the lady aside prior to then and state my case?

I''m willing to do the 1.5 hr drive - and they are not offering alterations, only to refer you to someone. I''m pretty sure I can find someone local, so I guess my only other trip up there would be to pick up the dress.

I''m with you on wanting to reward good customer service. I would bring it up before she takes measurements. Say that you found a much better price elsewhere but you want to patronize her store so you''re willing to drive out of your way if she will price match. A friend of mine got her gown price matched to a Pearl''s Place price. There is such a huge difference between store #1 and store #2 that I think it is worth it to ask. Just be honest... whats the worst that could happen? She says no? I bet it will be just fine.

Thanks for explaining the avatar! Makes perfect sense. I spent a while wondering if you had been on the show or something.

LOL! Clairitek you are too funny!! On the show...that would be scarrrry!!!! You have seen the show, right?? YIKES!!!

 

[Dannielle]

Oh, I love the Sottero & Midgley dress... and you have found it for a fantastic price