When will the madness end??

Ask that sales lady if she wears baby hats for her tiny little head with a tiny little brain. GAHHH I hate rude sales people..They make it difficult on us NICE sales people...I just get rude AFTER work.

You've come to the right place, and things will start to come around very quickly. You'll soon have things together.

As far as for jewelry, if you feel you need it--A guy I used to work with and his wife bought their rings on e-bay...They're not actual "Wedding rings" but very pretty bands with matching designs on them..They were handmade. I had a bracelet (gave it to my friend for her birthday) that I bought on ebay from a guy who had bought it for his girlfriend, then she took off and left him before he could give it to her...He paid $600 for it, I bought it for $89.00. Just an idea.

yeah, there is a lot of nice stuff on ebay..And Lorri was definitely on to something about the swap meet..At a flea market around here I saw some gorgeous rings and necklaces made from silver and copper..Very unique..No one would judge you for that.

Thanks everyone!! This information will help out alot!

I think that 2 months salary rule for a man buying an engagement ring is ridiculous!

Personally I have moral issues, for myself, purchasing or wearing diamonds. People in those diamond mines in Africa are enslaved. I find it beyond frustrating how the musicians and athletes perpetuate the 'bling bling' lifestyle, while our fellow human beings are living and working in deplorable conditions so that our mega celebrities can be sparkley and shiney.

I love handcrafted and unique jewelry. Personally I would rather have something unique over a marquis cut diamond that is sold at Zale's in a setting that 1000 other women in America have. But, that is just me

I also fail to understand why so many people take out loans and go into debt to get pay for a wedding. Now, I have never been married, but from what I hear that first year is rough! I would think a big debt wouldn't help the situation! lol It seems like that kind of cash would be better served as a down payment on a home.

I suppose I am coming across as a judgemental 'b' here lol But where is it written that anyone needs to go in debt to feed everyone they know a $20-30.00 a plate meal? Where is it written that anyone needs to put out a buttload of money to get everyone they know drunk? What is wrong with an evening candle light ceremony (after dinner), and a dessert reception with cake, ice cream, punch and coffee? To me a nice splurge would be give everyone a glass of champagne for the toast.

Folks who can afford the big shibang for a wedding...have a ball! My cousin and her ex-husband took out a 4k loan for their wedding. He had 1 child going into the marriage, as did she, and she was pregnant with his child. They were living in a small trailer at the time. I felt bad eating the food or drinking the cocktails, because I knew they could not afford any of it.

I'll get off my slippery soap box because I have my own issues with debt!lol I can honestly say that my payday loan debt was an effort to survive...groceries, prescriptions, bills, bills, bills. But in retrospect, I certainly wish I had sought out a different way...cutting something else out of my life. We all live and learn, don't we? I think the beauty of being 32 and unmarried, is that I have learned from the mistakes of those I know who have tied the knot before me! Although I am sure I will create a new mistake to make for those folks I know to learn from who walk to the altar after me!

I personally hate diamonds!! I told my fiancee/boyfriend let's just skip the engagement ring and go straight for the wedding bands.

My family and his are upset because we don't want to have a big wedding. I actually just wanted to elope because it will just be cheaper on us.

Does this make me a bad person for wanting to elope?

You're right..When I got married, my parents gave me a budget and told me I could plan it on that. I am not joking when I say I had a gorgeous dres with a cathedral length train, a full Catholic mass, 300 guests with a nice buffet dinner, gorgeous flowers, and a terrific banquet hall for dancing until 2am for $5000. A smaller wedding can be done for only a few hundred dollars..I planned for months...I had a lot of people do things for me...The photographer was a friend, I bought my dress at Goodwill( it's incredible)and a family member makes cakes for a living, so we got a 3-tier cake for free! I also borrowed the altar flowers, and we had a cash bar.
You can do a lot for a little. BTW, I do have a nice engagement ring, but It's an emerald set with diamonds in white gold. I get a lot of compliments..And it was a lot cheaper than a big diamond.

Clarissa you are not a bad person for wanting to elope!!!! I would do it to, if my mother wouldn't kill me for it lol!

Fins...I love emeralds. They are beautiful.

Your parents were so generous to give you a budget like that. I am the only daughter, and I bet my budget dress included will be under 1k lol! My parents I swear are the same as all those folks over your way! You know what I am talking about without me saying it.

Yeah, I know EXACTLY what you're talking about!!! I KNOW our moms are sisters!

They must be twins seperated at birth lol!

Just think, Polly..That would make us cousins.

Clarissa---Yeah, some people might be upset if you eloped, but it IS your wedding. Tell them to throw you a reception instead---. 20 years from now know one who matters is going to care whether or not you had a big ceremony, what will matter is if you are happy.

Clarissa, I would say elope. I eloped 24.5 years ago. I am still happily married. Weddings are what you make them. All I wanted was to get married. We used the money for down-payment on house. Good Luck KYSIDE38

Good for you kyside38---see Clarissa? There's a success story for you right there.

Fins I would be thrilled if you were my real cousin, because all of my real cousins are rednecks! lol

That way I wouldn't be the only normal one in the fam

Ah Polly..Remember I am a native Floridian..Only been here 10 years! I fought long and hard to lose my accent (yes, natives have them) when I first moved here in 1995 I transferred to GVSU..I went into my new advisor's office to talk about class options, and she asked me if I had a speech impediment!
But..People like My Mom (and yours) simply cannot be rednecks...It wouldn't be appropriate.

grrl you have me cracking up. Yes how very unladylink and inappropriate!lmao

My cousins aunts and uncles are the rednecks...not my mom.