Conundrum: Best Friend/ MOH Offered to buy MY dress.

2. BFF makes much, much less money than I do. She made out like a bandit at her wedding (parents paid for everything, plus she got a substantial amount of cash as gifts), but I still don’t like the idea of taking any of it—I feel like she and her DH need it for their lives together.

3. FH feels the same way about allowing her to pay for it. BFF and I went dress shopping and found a dress that I love, but its price tag is $2k. Because he wants me to feel special, FH suggested that we just buy the dress ourselves. Even though I feel less bad about spending FH and my money on the dress, it still feels extravagant, and we are not millionaires (planning to go to grad school next year).

4. I went to a bridal thrift store looking for place settings and ended up finding a simple satin Calvin Klein evening gown in ivory. It’s easy to move in, light, airy, and vintage inspired (as my wedding décor is)-- and only cost me $90. I am happy with it (and I plan to hand-embroider some beading onto it (embroidery is a hobby of mine)), but I know it will not fit the vision of my wedding dress that BFF has in her head. This dress that I thrifted is simple, slinky, and looks like a night gown compared to the ballgown we fell in love with (lol).

Now BFF is coming up in 13 days for my engagement party. I have not had the heart to tell her that I found a dress at a thrift store. My instinct is to just tell her when she and my mom get here, and show her the dress, and maybe she will back off (she has been persistent about my buying an expensive dress). She wants to go dress shopping again when she gets here, and I’m not sure what to do.

I would NEVER let a friend buy me something for $1,500. That's too much. Especially if you make so much more money than her. I don't think that is right. Keep your current gown and ask for her opinion on how to snazz it up with accessories and pay for it yourself!!

I was also weary of spending a lot of money on a dress for one day. I won't pay more than $30 for one article of clothing that I wear once a week for work. But this will be in pictures that you will see every day for the rest of your life. You will have these pictures on your walls, on your phone/computer wallpaper, etc. You can have one splurge day.

To be fair, she is more like family--but I absolutely agree that it is far, far too much money. She has always been super generous, and I'm not completely surprised--She has said to me that it's what she wants to happen at my wedding, and since it's what she wants (and not what I want), she will pay for it.

Tell her you found a dress you love, just don't tell her where you found it.

I bought a 1940s gown from a vintage clothing shop, had the train chopped off, and shortened the dress to tea length. Total cost $100 (but it was 27 years ago).

Honestly, I say let her. This is her one chance to spoil you to something that will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In return, you can make her swear to never buy you anything else, or offer something else eventually to "repay" the favor. Do you really want to get married in hand-me-downs? I'm also thrifty, but I can say from experience -- the last time I got married, I regretted not having a dress I could remember. Let your friend give you this gift.

Maybe she can buy the veil, shoes, or purse instead.

She wants to be a part of the special day, let her be in some way! Just don't let your friend hijack your vision.