So much can go wrong on the road to the altar, but dealing with a wedding dress copycat typically isn’t one of the scenarios that come to mind when thinking of potential wedding planning disasters. However, it seems that this issue is actually quite common.
Many of the popular wedding message boards are filled with stories shared by brides who were left dumbfounded after learning that a close friend or relative is planning to (or have already purchased) their same exact wedding dress. In most cases, the copycat’s wedding is first and typically, the ceremonies fall within weeks of one another.
One story that particularly stood out was posted on the popular Wedding Bee message board six years ago. A bride-to-be was equally frustrated and distraught over the fact that a friend would be purchasing a dress identical to hers.
A friend (my fiancé’s friend’s fiancé) has expressed their desire to purchase the same wedding dress as me and host there wedding within a month of my own. I have already purchased my dress (no refunds or returns) and paid for the reception/ ceremony site several months ago.
I did ask the friend (very nicely) to not purchase the dress, but she insists that it is the dress of her dreams, and she should not have to compromise.
We have all the same friends, and will have the same guest list besides our own families.
I feel offended and hurt by the situation. If I were on the opposite end, I would certainly refrain from purchasing the same dress and deeply apologize for even considering it.
A similar situation unfolded on Wedding Wire two years ago.
My fiancé has become close friends with a guy at work whose bride bought the exact same dress as me. They’ve invited us to their wedding which is less than a month before ours. What do I do?
I really don’t know how I would react if I knew that someone purchased a dress identical to mine. My coworkers say that they would be infuriated and would demand that the copycat make a different selection; however, out of all of the stories I’ve come across, the copycat was rarely willing to part with the dress.
What would you do?
