Finding out that someone you love is engaged can be almost as exciting as being proposed to yourself. If you know that your best friend has been looking forward to this proposal for years or your sister has been head over heels for her fiancé since the day they met, it’s only natural to be thrilled for the happy couple.
But if you’ve had a complicated relationship to weddings in the past, you might be feeling a mix of emotions. And one woman managed to rip open her sister’s old wounds by making a “joke” about her wedding that went wrong. Below, you’ll find the full story that was posted on Reddit, as well as a conversation with Jhona Yellin, Editor at Bespoke Bride!
This woman was happy to help pay for her sister's dream wedding dress
Image credits: Karolina Grabowska / Pexels (not the actual photo)
But she quickly changed her mind when her sister started mocking her past
Image credits: Michael Tucker / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Pablo Merchán Montes / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Humble-Intention3425
In 2023, the average cost of a wedding dress was about $2,000
It can be challenging to know where to even begin when planning a wedding. Setting a date and securing a venue might be your first order of business, but there may be a dozen other topics trying to grab your attention. What kind of food will you serve? How many people will you invite? And what will you and your partner wear? It can become overwhelming quickly.
While planning a wedding should be incredibly exciting, it’s understandable that many couples become stressed when they realize that Americans spend an average of $33,000 on their weddings nowadays. If you’re paying that much, you better be getting the best day of your life out of it!
And of course, you want to be looking your best on your wedding day too. But you certainly don’t need to spend $7,000 to find a gorgeous wedding dress. According to The Knot, brides in the United States spent an average of $2,000 on their gowns last year.
However, the price of the dress can vary depending on the style the bride wants, the location where they live or are purchasing the dress from, and whether they want a custom-made design or will need many alterations.
"Back in the day, the bride’s family paid for the dress, but now, it’s a mix"
To learn more about this topic, we got in touch with Jhona Yellin, Editor at Bespoke Bride. Jhona was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and explain who typically covers the bill when it comes to the wedding dress.
"Traditionally, back in the day, the bride’s family paid for the dress, but now, it’s a mix," the wedding expert shared. "Some brides pay themselves, some rely on parents, and others share the cost."
So is it common to be spending $7,000 on a wedding dress? "That’s a hefty sum," Jhona noted. "Most brides I work with budget between $1,500 and $3,500. But if a bride has the budget for a couture gown, $7,000 isn’t unheard of."
"Designer dresses can carry sky-h**h price tags. However, it's not the norm, especially for most couples planning a wedding on a budget," the editor explained. "For the brides who are just about to start searching for their dresses - check out our post about the trendy wedding dresses for brides this season."
The expert also provided some advice for anyone who has gone through a nasty breakup or had a horrible experience at their own wedding. "Attending weddings can be super tough. It’s okay to feel triggered, but try not to let it overshadow someone else’s joy," she told Bored Panda.
First, Jhona recommends being emotionally prepared. "Know that the day might stir up emotions, so have an outlet ready afterward," she shared. "[And] be honest. If the wedding will bring up too much, it’s okay to skip."
It's also a good idea to focus on the couple. "Shift your focus to their happiness. It helps to put your own memories aside and celebrate their love. I know it's easier said than done, but just try your best," Jhona says.
Image credits: JSB Co. / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
"A little understanding goes a long way, especially if someone close to [the bride] has experienced painful events like a wedding breakup"
"If you're attending, having your seat in a 'safe' location—away from intense emotions like speeches or vows—can help create a more comfortable environment," the expert added. "For the bride and groom planning the wedding - read our tips about how to seat your wedding guests."
So is it a good idea to be involved with a wedding at all if your own is still a painful memory? "Helping with a wedding when you have unresolved trauma is extremely tough. It can trigger emotions and leave you feeling really overwhelmed. If you’re not ready to dive into wedding-related tasks, it might be best to pass," Jhona shared.
Is there anything the bride can do to make her loved ones more comfortable? "As for the bride, she should be sensitive to the emotional states of her loved ones. She doesn’t need to make the event about them, but a little understanding goes a long way, especially if someone close to her has experienced painful events like a wedding breakup," the wedding expert says.
"Also, with social media these days, seeing those perfectly curated wedding photos on Instagram can intensify trauma," Jhona added. "Every scrolling moment brings dreamy images of what you 'should' have had, which can make the healing process even harder. It's important to be kind to yourself and allow space for your feelings without the added pressure of digital perfection. For more about this - read our post about the impact of social media on relationships and breakups."
We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Do you think this woman was overreacting, or was she right to refuse to pay for her sister’s wedding dress? Then, if you’d like to check out another Bored Panda article discussing similar wedding drama, look no further than right here!
Many readers sympathized with the author, noting that she's the only one allowed to joke about her past
However, some thought that the situation could have been handled more maturely by all parties
And others called out the author for overreacting to her sister's "joke"
