Price check on walk down aisle
NO DRESS EXCESS | Maid of honor, groom, even bride mindful of prices
Angela Wells is looking for the right matron-of-honor gown to wear in her friend’s wedding. But, like a growing number of attendants as well as brides and grooms, she’s shopping around.
Wells, 32, is standing up for her friend, Christy Aronson, 33, of Chicago.
(Courtesy)
Gas: 54 percent
Taxes: 11 percent
Groceries: 10 percent
Mortgage/rent: 10 percent
But readers said they were cutting back most on eating out and entertainment (both cited by 18%). Driving (16%) ranked third.
Wells is aiming to spend $150 to $225 and has ordered six dresses online from Macy's, J. Crew and Ann Taylor. She will pick one and send the others back.
Wells, who lives in Atlanta, said she is being mindful of her spending in part because the May 31 wedding is in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, and she will need to pay for her flights, a hotel room and meals.
Wells isn't alone in her careful shopping. So many bridesmaids have been looking for bargains that Target and David's Bridal have expanded their low-priced bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses. David's has $105 "wear-again" dresses and Target is offering $25-$70 dresses -- even a $14 flower girl outfit.
In fact, the entire Aronson-Steven Piotrowski wedding party is cutting back. Aronson, of Chicago, got her $799 wedding gown at Filene's Basement's "Running of the Brides" sale, much less than the $4,500 she was prepared to spend.
The groom, 32, chose Richard Bennett Custom Tailors to make his suit, a $2,000 purchase vs. the $3,000 to $5,000 suits he saw in department stores. "Both of our parents are retired. They are living off their investments," he said. "When the markets aren't doing well, their investments aren't either."
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