Cori + David’s Savannah wedding – photographed by Tim Willoughby and planned by Ainsley Croswell of Tricia Huddas and Co. – has an incredible vintage feel to it that works perfectly with the luxe vibe at the Mansion at Forsyth Park. The bride wore a dramatic Mon Cheri gown and carried an all-white bouquet from A to Zinnias. Savannah Rum Runners Bakery designed the couple’s delectably Southern round cake, topped with sugared magnolias, no less! We love the Savannah-inspired invitation suite from White Aisle – further proof that sometimes simple is best… and totally Southern!
How did the two of you meet? I was blessed to meet David when I was open to dating, and open to good people being in my life. We met as facilitators for a weeklong Fraternity/Sorority leadership conference. David happened to be sitting next to me during training. I said something brassy, he laughed, and that was it. We got to work with students together, and we would touch base every evening on how we thought the experience was going. Later in the week, we were paired for a service project, and I was so blown away by how genuine and passionate David was. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something about him was so attractive to me. For us, that student conference was the perfect environment to spark a friendship. At the end of the week, I didn’t want David to drive home alone, so I called the airline and switched my flight. We drove home together and talked the entire time. When I got home, there was already a message from David waiting. That was the last call I got as a single girl.
Describe the proposal. I was the Marketing Manager for a non-profit, and Dave told me he was coming into town for a fraternity conference. We had planned a dinner out and a great night in the city, but of course work took over my night! After I left the work event, David came to pick me up and we gave up on our fancy dinner. We ended up at PF Chang’s, the site of our first dinner date. I was exhausted, and Dave kept holding my hand and talking about our relationship, but I was not focused at all! We went back to my house, and Dave had decorated my dining room with my sorority’s flower, candles and a bucket of champagne. He told me the goodies were to offset my hard week, and when I turned around, he was on one knee. I was so overwhelmed, I couldn’t get up the nerve to put the ring on! He had to ask me to marry him three times before I finally caught my breath and said yes. Then we called our parents and made it official on Facebook!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Intimate, luxe and joyful.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The city! Savannah was the perfect backdrop for a week of wonder. We wanted a wedding that resembled a big, fun Southern dinner party, and Savannah gave us just that.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I’m a victim of “white wash.” Once you watch 200 episodes of Say Yes to the Dress, you get a little non-plussed. I tried on dress after dress, and wanted a dress that would fit with our Savannah backdrop, reflect my love of all things lush and glittery, but still be appropriate for a curvy girl! The dress consultant at the fifth boutique I visited called it the “Hollywood dress!” That dress is still a dream to me. My Mom, Aunt Marsha and her daughter Kim happened to see me put it on for the first time, and I remember turning around and saying to them, “This is the dress. Oh my gosh, I think this is the dress!” And it was.
Describe your wedding flowers: The incredible “shabby chic meets Southern romance” florals were designed by A to Zinnias. The team also created gorgeous birch trees with hydrangeas, bark and hanging crystals and votives. The sweet pea, cream garden roses and ranunculus bouquet was the most wonderful part of my day, and the beautiful blue bouquet for my maid of honor was stunning, as well.
Describe your wedding cake: We chose a Red Velvet cake from Rum Runners in Savannah. The cake was hard to arrange, because most bakers are not thrilled about working on Thanksgiving! Luckily, Minette Rushing was open to making an incredible cake for us!
Why did you choose to have a smaller wedding? We spent four days – including Thanksgiving! – getting to know our families better. We rented a historic home in downtown Savannah, and spent the week spoiling our guests and making the most of every day. We couldnʼt have provided the high-end elements without an intimate party feel. We sacrificed a traditional reception of drinking and dancing in favor of an intimate toast-filled four course dinner party.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? We had NEVER been to Savannah before! Our planning was 100% site unseen! These challenges were minimized by our fantastic planner, Ainsley Crowell, who knows Savannah like the back of her manicured hand. She helped us navigate the Thanksgiving limitations, options, aesthetic, and planning from across the country.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The moment I decided to shoot photos with David before the walk down the aisle. Having our photographer there to capture our first meeting in a Savannah square was priceless to me. By the I met David, I had just let go. My dress was a little dirty, I was a bride on the way to meet my groom, and just felt completely at peace.
Whatʼs next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? David and I really love being in love. Weʼre looking forward to continuing to build our extended family of friends and colleagues, and weʼre looking forward to the next steps. (Weʼll see if that includes a baby, another puppy, or both!)
Congratulations, Cori + David! Thank you for a glimpse into your magical celebration!
This is great advice. I’d say the same thing to a bridesmaid.The most expensive dress I paid for was $400. Which was super pricey! BUT I was the M.O.H. and I absolutely loved the dress. I made it work, and I’m glad I did because I’ve worn it four times since.
Bellissimo blog!
I think that brides should keep in mind their bridesmaids situations. I think the most I would be willing to spend is $250. Also, I am a bride looking for bridesmaid dresses and I love the dress you posted that is royal blue with the orange shoes! Could you tell me who the designer is?
I think $150 is "reasonable" but not necessary ethical. None of my girls were made of money, and if they were never going to wear the dress again, I didn’t want them forking over an arm and leg….. so they wore dresses from Target.com and they all LOVED them! I liked the way it flattered all their bodies so well, I bought one myself!Pics- http://www.tellingyourstoryphotographers.com/2009/10/wedding-story-jessica-and-jeremy.html
I think the most I would ever pay for a dress would be around $300 — but I wouldn’t be happy about it!Unrelated — I love all the dresses in the pictures of this post! Where are they from?
I’ve been in many weddings as a bridesmaid and the most expensive was close to $200. I’ve also been in weddings where the bride budgeted to buy the dresses herself and then resell them. I loved all of these friends, but I’ve always felt like when my day came I wanted to bless my bridesmaids because of the incredible friends they’ve been, not burden them to be in my wedding. I know weddings can be incredibly expensive, but I just think and hope for myself that the priorities stay on people more than on all the other details-though those all contribute to making it a special day, because that’s what it comes down to. You prioritize in your budget what is most important. I understand that it is kind of a rule of thumb that if you accept being in someone’s wedding you will fork over some money for the dress, the shoes, the gifts, travel, etc… and when you love that person you really don’t mind all that much, but why has that become the norm? I say as the bride you should yes really consider the price, but if you are asking them to pay for it, tell them way in advance so they can budget for it.
I was asked to pay for a two $300 dresses while I was still in college for two different friends weddings and that was a stretch for me. I happily paid the money (while I lived on Raman noodles) but for my own wedding I definitely tried to keep the cost as low as possible for my bridesmaids. I also gave them the ultimate decision about dresses and they ended up choosing one that cost $190 which I thought was reasonable.
Although cheaper is welcomed, I feel $250 (300 with alterations) is a reasonable price to pay for a bridesmaid’s dress. I’m not going to lie that I might rather spend that money on something else, but it’s one of your best friends big days! I have a friend who was in a wedding where the bride wanted custom dresses. They cost $600 but the bride asked the party if they were willing to pay for half. My friend didn’t mind because the dress was a beautiful gown she could possibly wear again. Plus, she got a $600 dress for half the price! The bride was sensitive and asked her bridesmaids first.
I think $150 is the most I would spend (or expect my bridesmaids to spend) on a dress. I recently picked out the dress for my girls and they got lucky – $47.00!! I’m going with a simple, cotton dress from Columbia : http://www.columbia.com/womens-dresses/women-skirtsDresses-dresses,default,sc.html?sz=1&start=3 I had to pick a dress that fit sizes 2 – 24, and something that would allow them to wear a bra (no strapless dresses for these girls – large on top!). This dress ended up being perfect!!
Hi Amber and Suz! I added all the dress sourcing information to the bottom of the post — check it out!Emily @ SW
I think less than $200 is best and would be pissed about anything over $250, but I know others have different thresholds. I don’t ever think brides should assume that the dress is so cute their bridesmaids will wear it again so it’s worth the extra expense. Everyone has different tastes and body types so a dress you think is amazing could look terrible on your friend. Brides should go into it assuming that her friends will never wear it again and choose a price point based on that assumption.
Hmmm for myself I think the threshold would be $400…but I would be slightly annoyed with anything over $300. For my bridesmaids, who are all in different situations, I originally was trying to aim for $175 or lower. We ended up finding one at J Crew that they all say they will wear again for $225. We used a student id and got 15% off. I really think it depends on the dress. If it’s long and formal and screams bridesmaid, the cost should be less than something more wearable.
I don’t think your bridesmaids should have to shell out more than $300 (including dress & shoes), especially considering some of the dresses I’ve seen my friends wear over the years. Not that they’ve been ugly, but they certainly ended up in the back of the closet never to be heard from again. What I don’t understand is that with so many lovely dresses out there in the $100-$200 range (hello, Dessy group!), why do people feel the need to go that high? At the end of the day, it’s just very insensitive to just assume people can drop what in some places is a month’s rent on a dress.
If the bride is able, I think helping the bridesmaids out as much as possible is the best route to go (either by choosing less expensive dresses or helping to cover costs).I chose different styles of short, black dresses for my bridesmaids (I actually gave each of them a choice of 2 dresses I thought they would like). Because the prices ranged anywhere from $175-300, we asked each girl to contribute $150, and my mom and I covered the rest. We also purchased the bridesmaids’ shoes and jewelry, so they don’t have to worry about those costs. Luckily in my case, the girls love their dresses and say they can’t wait to wear them again after the wedding.
In the situation described above and my situation (very recent, as-yet-unemployed college grad), I think $100 would be TOPS for a dress – and probably around $50 would be more reasonable. (The last wedding I was in the dress was about $50, gorgeous, and wearable). And any additional expenses (parties etc.) should also top out below $100. Yeah, it’s the bride’s "big day," and I love her, but I also have a very limited budget and no amount of love can change that. The expectation that "if you are my bridesmaid you will pay for these things" is ABSURD, especially when, as a recent college grad, many of my friends are getting married. It adds up! For my wedding, there’s only one woman standing up and I told her she could wear something out of her closet or choose a new dress, whatever she liked. The men are wearing whatever suit they already have in their closets. Weddings are about love and hospitality, not matching tuxes.
Great advice and beautiful dresses! Being involved in your girlfriends wedding can definitely be expensive, especially if you have to travel. I usually suggest that the bride cover at least a portion of her bridal party’s attire. Considering the other costs she has, I think this is one a minor cost with the biggest bang. Possibly saving friendships, uncomfortable situations and allows your bridesmaids to be more involved in your planning process.
This was such an interesting read! Here in the UK, it is customary for the couple to pay for their attendants’ outfits. In some cases, that can send the budget through the roof – for example I was one of four bridesmaids at my friend’s wedding last month, and she chose dresses for us to wear at £160 a pop! It then becomes down to the bride how she plays things – she can either choose colours and styles to flatter each/all of the girls, and consider it part of their thank you gift if it’s something they may wear again. Alternatively, she can pick colours and styles that flatter her complexion and complement her dress in their style – making the maids a kind of frame for her.My maids’ dresses were such a fortunate discovery – my favourite shop, Monsoon, specialises in semi-formalwear and yummy-mummy type clothes. I’m not a mummy yet, let alone a yummy one, but I’ve always said that I want a life that requires a complete Monsoon wardrobe! Anyway, their styles are timeless, and their sales legendary. I managed to pick up dresses that not only were reduced from £80 to £25.50, but by some miracle were in the right colour, flatter everyone from my 5’11" super-slender cousin with her creamy, Irish colouring, to my 5’2" super-curvy matron of honour who is native Malay and spends half the year in sunny Spain. Just extremely lucky, I guess!Back to the original subject – I feel that I would just make it work, however I could. We’re faced with an incredibly expensive wedding a few weeks after ours – flying to a small city in Romania, where it is customary for the guests to give cash gifts of sufficient value to effectively pay for their share of the ceremony. Yowsa! It’s going to hurt, but I missed the Malaysian leg of the aforementioned matron of honour’s wedding due to the cost, and I vowed that I would never let money get in the way of that again!
This is a really interesting discussion- and I love reading everyone’s opinion on the topic. My BM dresses were between $120-160, as I let them choose a style they liked (same color/material/designer). All the girls chose different dresses and are very happy. I also let them choose their own gold shoes (the dresses are blue), so they’d be comfortable and wear something in their price range. I’ve had to dye shoes before, and the ceremony was literally 10 minutes- then she said we could change for the reception. That was frustrating.I’ve also seen a couple people say "if you’re close with the bride", in terms of telling her when a dress is too expensive/or not particularly flattering. Shouldn’t you not be a bridesmaid unless you’re close? This concept eludes me.
Uh oh, now I’m worried. I was thinking the $200-$250 range would be okay…I wish I could find something more reasonable, but I haven’t found anything I like for my girls. They seem okay with what I’ve proposed so far, but maybe they are just being polite.
I am a MOH and the price tag for my dress is $500 before alterations. Thank goodness there is a payment plan and I have several months. I would not do this for any other person but she is best friend and we’ve been bffs since we were like 10. The bridesmaid dresses are $150 to $200. I am also a soon to be bride and I am looking for dresses b/t $100 to $200 and that includes the price of the MOH. I am opting to go with dresses from the Gilt.com but how to purchase several different sizes before they are sold is becoming a chore. :(
I have a double dilemma: not only is the bridesmaid dress hideous, it’s also out of my budget (plus, I have to travel from Atlanta to Chicago). I’m obviously doing the bride’s makeup for free, as she’s been a close friend since college; we met 10 years ago. We haven’t talked as much since I moved south, but we’re still close. She’s not able to help with dress, trip, or hotel costs, but she is asking the other 5 bridesmaids to pay me for makeup services, at a cut rate ($50 instead of my usual $65 BM rate).
Quite honestly, I’m intrigued at being posted in blogs for Worst Bridesmaid Dresses Ever (thisREALLY is that bad), but I’m also really.concerned about affording a week off work, and wedding costs.
What should I do?
Also: apparently both the bride and her sister really like the $200 abomination of the dress. I ain’t think I can tell her how terrible the rest of us think it is.