Not getting married. Missing out?

[SomethingSophie]

Totally a first world problem. And not too serious..

I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'll never get married. I know it's not a big deal to everyone but I'm a girlie girl and have always dreamt about my wedding.

I feel there are so many things I'll be missing out on. But the bit I feel most hard done by is that I'll never wear a wedding dress. I've had many friends get married so I've been on lots of hen dos. And lots of amazing weddings.

Would it be totally unreasonable of me to go and try on a few dresses, knowing full well I won't be buying one? Just for the experience, so I don't feel so left out?
(Now I've written it down, it sounds totally crazy!)

How do you know it'll never happen?

Why won't you get married?

Welcome to MN, OP.

Trying on a bunch of frocks is not like getting married.

I think you mean 'missing out on a wedding,' not 'being married.' Two different things.

No harm in trying on some dresses for fun. Wedding fairs can be a good laugh too, me and DM enjoyed them despite not buying anything from them as it was too pricey.

Wedding planning can be really stressful and full of drama. I was knackered by the end of it and would never contemplate a second wedding. My wedding day was more enjoyable than not but definitely wasn't the best day of my life.

Would you look at maybe black tie balls for charity if there’s anything like that in your area?
Wouldn’t be an exact wedding dress but you would get the dressing up experience?

i've seen the most lovely dresses on brides that make them look stunning and attended some lovely ceremonies.

I've also seen a lot get divorced over the years too. A dress, no matter how nice doesn't make a marriage, the couples happiness is what counts.

Is your name Muriel?

I never went wedding dress shopping/trying on, I just ordered a dress on the Internet and prayed it fitted. So if you think going and trying on dresses will give you an 'experience' then go for it. Personally I think it's a completely bonkers idea

And unless you have a crystal ball and are able to see into the future, how do you know you'll never get married?

How old are you? I got married in my forties and wasn't the oldest bride in the dress shop by any means. My friend's mother married in her eighties.

What makes you think you'll never get married?

I found dress shopping really stressful. I've been twice now - once when I was engaged to my ex and then again when my sister got married. But if it's something you'd really like to do then by all means give it a go. They wouldn't know you're not planning on getting married but be prepared to talk about your fake fiance :)

If all you actually want to do is wear pretty dresses and go to fancy parties, why not just do that?

I don't know what that has actually got to do with marriage.

All your reasons for wanting to get married are about the day - the dress, the hen do etc.

These are all lovely things but really you get married to spend your life with your partner, not just have a big party and look nice in a fancy dress.

You could always marry yourself - it is a thing apparently!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42415394

You're terrible, Muriel.....

Wedding and marriage. Two totally different things.

Trying on a few dresses won't do any harm, especially if it makes you feel better. I am curious about why you think you won't get married though....

Are you talking about never being married to somebody or about never having a marriage ceremony?

Why do you think you will never have those two things.

I totally get it, never told anyone this. I had a ‘shotgun’ wedding in the early ‘70s as a teenager. My mother said I couldn’t wear white or have a proper wedding dress. I look with longing in bridal shops mentally choosing a dress for myself . Bit silly as I’m past pension age and have been married to the same man ever since, but I still wonder what it would have been like to wear a proper bridal gown. Before I’m shot down, I do know that it is only one day/expensive etc etc

Try wedding dresses on if you want - I've been married twice and never worn, or even tried on, a 'wedding dress'. Can't see the appeal but each to their own.

I understand OP. I'm never going to have a big wedding (I consider them a waste of money so I'm going to a register office in an ordinary, nice outfit) but I still want to try on a few big dresses, for the experience.

If you're based in the North West, we can go together!

@Zampa I thought so about really big weddings before family members decided we should have one and invite every cousin a thousand times removed (and my dad paid for it, because we were pretty young and did not have the money, so I cannot complain)... and we did not even want to marry so soon, but I was pregnant.... and dh really hates crowded events... and one of our guest drank so much that he became sick and vomited... but the longer it has been since we married the more convinced I become that big weddings rule and you make a lot of good memories which help you in your marriage later on (and my fathers money was well spend).

(Just for the record because this may sound odd, our families forced the big wedding including every relative as opposed to a small wedding on us, the did not force us into a forced marriage, just saying because what I said might be misunderstood).

@ParoxetineQueen renew your vows and treat yourself to a beautiful dress, why not of it would make you happy. You're marriage has stood the test of time, you've more than shown it is not about the party for you, why not celebrate your life together

*your

I just put my sister’s wedding dress on after her wedding. So I’ve had the experience.