At Mamamia, we pride ourselves on asking the hard-hitting questions.
For example…
Exactly how much should you put in a wishing well?
What happens at a $51,000 Disney-themed wedding?
On what grounds can you fire your bridesmaid?
But today, we went one step further. For the purpose of research, we asked 18 unmarried men to share exactly how much they think a wedding dress ‘should’ cost, and to share with us a drawing of their ideal wedding dress.
You see, according to Wedded Wonderland, the average Australian woman will spend around $5,260 on their wedding dress, a 29.5 per cent rise on 2017 when the average cost was $4000.
But according to our research pool… the average Aussie is dead set not aware of this.
The findings were a big ol’ LOL on the spectrum of reality. Not just because they were objectively wrong (well, mostly), but also because unlike women, men aren’t socialised to think about weddings from the moment they’re able to read and talk. Good one, patriarchy.
Wedding wishing well dilemmas. Yes, no and how much? Post continues below.
Harry
Age: 24
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? $10,000. I’m assuming Vera Wang is expensive.
Jon
Age: 30
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? Not heaps. Like whatever it cost to make the dress plus 10 per cent? Ideally you’d be able to wear it again. I'd include the craftsperson’s skill as being part of ‘however much the dress costs to make’ so that could dramatically alter the price depending on how much you rated a designer. Also, the patriarchy and capitalism makes these things ridiculous but you do you.
Leo
Age: 28
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? There is no limit for what a woman and man thinks is right or not. I would say a wedding dress is not a matter of price, it's a matter of four eyes looking at each other's like it’s the first time in Disneyland together or the first time you take the plane together. It's a feeling.
If I'm thirsty and I can afford a $5 can of Coke Zero at an overpriced convenience store, I can afford the price of the dress my future wife will wear and feel like the most beautiful girl in the entire universe. From Vinnies to a little creator located in Le Marais in Paris. From $20 to $4000, let your eyes touch the dress and your skin feel the fabric, it has just to feel right.
Sam
Age: 26
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? I think around the $1500 dollar mark is reasonable but I would pay any price to keep my bride happy. Also, I've never really looked at prices.
Blake
Age: 19
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? I can’t say I have ever thought about the price of a dress but I’d be 100 per cent happy for my wife-to-be to choose it. I’d say/hope for something no more than the wedding ring, so below the $8000 to $10,000 mark.
Sebastian
Age: 28
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? A wedding dress SHOULD cost a clean $25, like a really nice t-shirt on special at Jay Jays. But my serious answer is $2500, because it seems like a fair reflection of the material and labour costs, without being exorbitant.
Shaun
Age: 30
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? $2000 to $3000 I guess. I genuinely have no idea, but more than that seems wasteful.
Kien
Age: 24
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? An amount where you don't ever feel guilty about having spent it, so $500? You can spend more if you wear it more than once.
Lorne
Age: 26
Are you in a relationship: No
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? I don't know, around $500? Any more would be too much to justify. Weddings are too damn expensive as it is.
James
Age: 24
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? $1000.
Luca
Age: 22
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? $1000 to $2000 feels like it might be the normal, but it's your wedding day so do whatever makes you happy.
Jared
Age: 28
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? $50 to whatever your budget is. Who cares how much it is, it’s your wedding.
Hayden
Age: 25
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? $1500. I think they cost too much for a dress that will likely be worn once and the expenses of a wedding already put a big financial burden on a new marriage.
Peter
Age: 60
Are you in a relationship: No
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? A wedding dress should cost between $1,000 to $3,000 and they should be made more available as an off-the-rack purchase. I think wedding dress designers are an unnecessary expense.
Tai
Age: 29
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? Between $1000 to $2000 because you're literally not gonna ever wear it again until you have a mental breakdown.
Luke
Age: 29
Are you in a relationship: Yes
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? Between $1000 to $2000. I don’t know how much wedding dresses cost but I feel that should cover it. I know my girlfriend would rather cancel the wedding than spend more than $2000 on a dress.
Nick
Age: 26
Are you in a relationship: I'm single AF.
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? I feel like $1500 because it’s got to be fitted and sh*t and like it’s a once in a lifetime thing. Shouldn’t be more than a couple of thousand for the same reason though, it’s once in a lifetime.
Damien
Age: 28
Are you in a relationship: No
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost, and why? Up to $4,000. That price will imbue in the wearer the significance of the event that is taking place.
How much do you think a wedding dress should cost? Tell us in a comment below.
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Top Comments
“Drawing Redacated”?? I really hope that was meant to be redacted!
I wear the sample size so I ended up paying $500 for a designer sample - the store had it cleaned for free and I added additional beads from my grandmother. I feel like my grandmother sent me luck from heaven that day for sure!