Stranger buys wedding dress for financially-strapped bride-to-be

[Bini]

It's nice to know there are awesome people among us. Hope they can pay it forward in some small little way.

 

That's what my first post said.

 

Personally, I still could not accept a seemingly extravagant gift from a stranger, doesn't feel right from my end but was certainly a nice gesture from the stranger's end.

[Litzy]

That's what my first post said.

 

Personally, I still could not accept a seemingly extravagant gift from a stranger, doesn't feel right from my end but was certainly a nice gesture from the stranger's end.

 

I know how you feel. I don't think I could accept such a thing, either.

 

And yet, what practical good is it for such a stranger to do such a kind, generous gesture and have no one willing to accept it? When you need help, it does you no good to turn away real help.

 

Why praise the giver and condemn the taker? (I realize that's not what you were doing, Bini, I just went off on a train of thought!)

Edited March 18, 2015 by Litzy

[Guest]

I will have zero problems accepting the dress. Or a Ferrari, for that matter. Freely given, it gives joy to the giver and I will forever treasure the dress/Ferrari as a blessing from heaven and a constant reminder of the ginormous capacity for kindness of people. And then take the most joy and pleasure from such a gift and show it the respect it deserves by not driving the thing like a maniac and getting traffic tickets...

Edited March 18, 2015 by anatess

[Bini]

I know how you feel. I don't think I could accept such a thing, either.

 

And yet, what practical good is it for such a stranger to do such a kind, generous gesture and have no one willing to accept it? When you need help, it does you no good to turn away real help.

 

Why praise the giver and condemn the taker? (I realize that's not what you were doing, Bini, I just went off on a train of thought!)

In some cultures, when a gift is offered, you accept it - period. So I think demographic will surely play a role in this. But for myself in this situation, it doesn't seem right on my end. I'd rather money spent on a big ticket item go towards a charity or something. After volunteering with battered women and children, I'd love to see more magical moments like this be geared towards people in real suffering.

[mordorbund]

I will have zero problems accepting the dress. Or a Ferrari, for that matter. Freely given, it gives joy to the giver and I will forever treasure the dress/Ferrari as a blessing from heaven and a constant reminder of the ginormous capacity for kindness of people. And then take the most joy and pleasure from such a gift and show it the respect it deserves by not driving the thing like a maniac and getting traffic tickets...

 

What if the gift is a compliment on the toast you burnt?

[EarlJibbs]

I will have zero problems accepting the dress. Or a Ferrari, for that matter. Freely given, it gives joy to the giver and I will forever treasure the dress/Ferrari as a blessing from heaven and a constant reminder of the ginormous capacity for kindness of people. And then take the most joy and pleasure from such a gift and show it the respect it deserves by not driving the thing like a maniac and getting traffic tickets...

 

I disagree. You would show disrespect by not driving like a maniac. A Ferrari is for driving fast and racing. I would be outraged to give away a Ferrari and find out you were driving 10 under the speed limit.   

[char713]

I think the fact that she wasn't going to spend $480 on her own wedding dress, from either her own or her parents' money means that she is more prepared than a lot of other young brides for the financial "constraints" of marriage. Other women see an expensive dress (and other things besides) as a necessity, an entitlement. Clearly this young woman has more sense than that and simply happened to be in the right place at the right time. My wedding dress cost $12 on ebay, and nothing else at our wedding was treated much more extravagantly than that. We have never needed financial assistance from anyone during our marriage, even though we were just 20 and 22 when we started out. We have had periods of unemployment same as anyone, but have zero debt because we have been able to clearly see the difference between needs and wants, and that has made all the difference. I have a friend who got married at about the same age as I did, and threw a hissy-fit when her father refused to dip into his retirement savings for some sparkly embellished Louboutins, after he had already paid for everything else.