Young bride wedding dress shopping experience

When I found my dress, at an antique/thrift store of all places the owner was like awe is that for when you go out on halloween it was a bit upsetting but I just ignored him and bought my dress.

When I went dress shopping with my FH (i know completely against tradition) and best friend the people at David's Bridal did NOT take me seriously at all. I'm guessing it's because of the same thing, seeing as how I'm 20 and most people who don't know me don't take my engagement seriously.

I know the feeling. I'm just about to turn 23. You better bet people look at me and just blow me off. It is really rude! I am just as much of a customer as the next woman! I may even SPEND more!

I just turned 26 and I still look like I'm in high school, so I get it. I got carded for a rated-R movie last year... yeah, you have to be 17 to see that! I also was pulled over at a DUI check last year after my grandparents 50th anniversary party and was honest and said I'd had a few sips of champagne earlier in the night. The officer asked if I were even old enough to drink. I wish I were kidding about those stories! (Also, I get cut in lines all the time... like what... I'm too short to notice or look young so it's ok?!?)

Anyway, I never went into a store without my parents, and I think that made a difference. I went to 3 stores on 2 days and one day took both my parents and 1 friend and the day I found my dress had my parents and 2 friends. I think if you're just trying to figure out what you're interested in, you should still bring your mom along. Or stick to browsing online. I think it's that you'd not bringing someone important with you (mom/friend).

I wish I could take my mom everywhere with me! I would SO do it too. =P

I agree, most of stores I went into browsing alone were nasty to me.

Lol I had a horrible experience at Nordstroms. They were all too snooty to help me out. I just wanted to be like "b I'm probably older than you and definitely make more money than you!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I've had a hard time going back. They're pretty stuck up there.

@ NJ Bride S. Any person important to me except FH lives 17 hours away so I can't go browsing with them. It's so different seeing the dresses in person though than online. I tell them when they ask if I'm going to try anything on, that I'm not going to until mum comes with me and I explain that she lives interstate.

Perhaps it is the whole going in alone.. I would like to see their face if I bring FH in with me haha!!!

They seriously may as well scream "CHILD BRIDE" at me!

Yup me I'm 24 about to be 25 next month and people think am in my teens. Today we went pumpkin picking and one person thought I was 17. I get carded all the time for anything and once when I went to a theme park they said I couldn't ride cause am also short. lol It sucks big time!

I know the feeling. I just turned 28 and people still think i'm 18. I haven't had any problems with this during the wedding planning process but I had a lot of issues with it when I was pregnant at 25/26. I got all the nasty looks (particularly from the elderly) and remarks about me being a young single mother (FH and I were not engaged until our daughter was 1 so there was no ring). I still get the looks when I take my daughter alone to the mall.

Even sadder than this...when I was 24 I got id'd at the mall. At our mall on Fri and Sat you have to be with and adult after 4pm if your under 18. The friggen mall cop id'd me thinking I was too young to be there...now that is bad. I've learned to deal with people since I know my face is not gonna age anytime soon (seeing as it hasn't in the last 10 years) FH has the same issues as me and he's 32, so at least i'm not alone in this and people don't think that i'm super young marrying someone twice my age!

I know how u feel.. I havent been dress shopping yet but im 27 & people always think im under 18. A few months ago I got carded at the casino i went to with my mom.. they wouldnt let me in at first because they thought I was using a fake id.!!!! OMG.!!! But they finally let me in after about 15 minutes or so, after they verified that I was not using a fake id.

Yes, I can definitely relate. I'm 28, but people think that I look younger than that. When my BM and I went to Priscilla of Boston to look at dresses, we were treated like complete crap. They acted like we were just there to play dress up (I wound up not trying anything on there). When I asked about one of the dresses, I got a snide remark about how it's really expensive...she never asked me my budget, so I was a little thrown off. BM and I went straight to the store from work, so we were dressed professionally. We both have pretty decent salaries. I just felt like if I wasn't there with my parents' credit card that they wouldn't take me seriously. BM's mom went shopping with us the next week, and we were treated like royalty. I can only attribute that to the store thinking that we were too young.

I had the same problem. I'm also 21, but most people guess I'm around maybe 16 at the most. When I went to DB my mom was with me and the lady asked her how she felt about her daughter getting married so young. My mom was 18 when she got married so she told the lady I was plenty older than she was when she got married. The lady looked appalled and was like well how old were you thinking she was like 12 or something. The sales lady acted a lot different after I told her my actual age. Side story though, after that my mom and I met up with my grandma and sisters for lunch and I got offered a kids menu at the restaurant. Oh year I feel like an adult lol.

I'm 22, but look much younger. People always guess/assume between 18-20. I don't take it personally. I'll be thanking some of these people when I'm older & they'll be jealous of my 'young' traits. I didn't have much of problem dress shopping. Each time I went with my mom & my sister [MOH] so I think most of them knew it was 'for real'. But, when people find out I'm engaged though I'm often asked how old I am, if I'm sure I'm ready for this, etc. Those questions typically bother me more because even I was 18, who is to judge [like strangers] if I'm ready for marriage or not. But alas, I'm a big girl & take these comments like a champ ;].

I don't think it's that you look 17. You are upfront and say you are just looking and don't want to try anything on. Sorry- but that is a waste of their time. They work on commission, and you have no intentions of buying. They are going to let you be on your way and just look.

As much as people don't want to admit it- we're a paycheck to bridal consultants. If they spend ANY time with you, that's time they can't spend with a bride who is ready and looking to purchase that day.

I think it's alot less about your age than you think... However to the brides who are saying people don't take your engagement seriously, I'd do some serious introspection. If your own close friends and family don't take it seriously that you're getting married- maybe they know you aren't ready. While that happens more with younger brides, it's not just limited to age. I have a frined who is 39 and just got engaged... but I know her. I'm hoping the guy sticks around until Christmas...

I read somewhere that if you dress formally (like something you'd wear to work at a business) then you'll be treated better at bridal salons because they'll take you seriously. I made sure that I was wearing dress pants and a nice blouse and didn't have any problems. I also took my mom and sister with me (they flew in from out of state), which may have helped.

Perhaps if you dress and present yourself intentionally formally you will be treated accordingly.

@Meghan, they were trying to sell me formal dresses before I even told them about my intentions. I told each of them if I find something I like I will bring mum back. I preferred to look alone, I have no issues with them not assisting me, it was more the reaction they gave me when I said I was looking at wedding dresses not prom dresses. This was way before I told them I don't want to try anything on yet... I know you need to make an appointment for these things as well. Also, all of my friends and family haven't said a thing about our age, it's only the random wedding vendors who appear to believe you must be dead on 25 (and look it) to be married.

@Andrea, I wasn't dressed trashy but I wasn't dressed formally. I wear formal work wear monday to friday and really couldn't care to do it on weekends so a bridal consultant will take me seriously. If they don't care for me, then I will move next door to the next store.

I am 31, and alot of people swear im under 18, I got carded for a rated R where you got to be over 17, My FH died of laughter! I didn't have any issues at the bridal store.

The bridal consultant trying to push a prom dress on you was inexcusable. Even if she thought that you looked young, that was beyond rude.

Meghan, sometimes, I think that it is the age. I had an appointment, and every intention of trying a dress on. I decided not to try any dresses on and leave after the consultant told me that a dress was too expensive for me without knowing my budget (btw, she lied to me and told me that it cost $3k more than it actually did). Granted, the store was located on a strip of Miami called "Miracle Mile" which is basically a mile of bridal salons after bridal salons. It is a tourist draw. The salons probably do see a lot of shoppers who are not serious. When I went there with an appointment, and I was in my work clothes (not dressed like a tourist), I can only attribute the consultant's attitude to her perceiving me as young.