Money back for wedding dress

Kynthia

Blindsided wrote: »

I always thought an engagement ring was given as a promise of marriage, if that marriage didn't go ahead I would be giving it back, regardless of the circumstances, (and I have done)

Assuming he paid for it

I think that's the case in America. In England it's a gift and I think it used to be viewed as compensation to the bride if the wedding didn't go ahead.

jackyann

Oh dear OP, I do feel for you - I hope your son does the right thing by you, and yes, I would sell it for as much as you can get.

Reminds me of dear Lorelei Lee "what a gentleman says by moonlight is very nice, but I say *get it in writing*"

McKneff

Does any one know the actual law re engagement rings.


All we are getting is opinions.

azzabazza

McKneff wrote: »

Does any one know the actual law re engagement rings.


All we are getting is opinions.

The gift of an engagement ring shall be presumed to be an absolute gift; this presumption may be rebutted by proving that the ring was given on the condition, express or implied, that it should be returned if the marriage did not take place for any reason.

Although it seems unfair, this means that unless there was an agreement to return the engagement ring if the wedding is cancelled -- which a court could imply if the ring is a family heirloom -- a cheating fianc!/fianc!e is under no obligation to return the ring.

Quote from Findlaw UK

Umistboy

Lily-Rose wrote: »

Weddings are a colossal waste of money IMO. If it's going over 2.5-3 grand in total, for everything (including the honeymoon,) then it's too much.

Ridiculous statement imo. Can't remember the last time I paid less than £3k for a holiday alone never mind having a wedding included in the price.

Not everyone does things on a shoestring.

tea_lover

Let's not have another thread arguing about whether your marriage will last if you spend more than 67p on the wedding. It's been done to death and it's not what the OP was asking about.

meritaten

my sis used to own a bridal shop and sadly this does happen. The shop is under no obligation to refund on any dresses purchased. most bridal shops don't sell 'second-hand' and this is now what this dress is although unworn.so its unlikely they would purchase it back from you.
the best I could advise is if the dress is unworn and a 'designer' you find a 'nearly new' outlet or 'designer dress' outlet which would sell it for you on commission. You would get more this way than ebaying or advertising locally. sorry, but the mark-up on wedding dresses in bridal shops is huge - so the resale value is very low.

Mattygroves2

Umistboy wrote: »

Ridiculous statement imo. Can't remember the last time I paid less than £3k for a holiday alone never mind having a wedding included in the price.

Not everyone does things on a shoestring.

Completely agree. We spent as much on the honeymoon as the wedding 18 years ago and even back then the total was about £8,000 - all paid cash and easily affordable. We had a great day and a fantastic honeymoon. Didn't buy a dress and only 26 guests for the wedding with no evening do but we had excellent food and wine which was what we valued.

Person_one

McKneff wrote: »

Does any one know the actual law re engagement rings.


All we are getting is opinions.

It's just an expensive pressie, no different to any other.

marywooyeah

payless wrote: »

OP has not lost £1000.
They would have spent the £1000 if the wedding had gone ahead.

shazzab1 wrote: »

Hi we purchased our future daughter in laws wedding dress for her but now my ratbag son has called off the wedding leaving us £1000 worse off for the cost of the dress. I paid for it on my debit card do I have any recall on the card for the cost please?

Payless I read it as the OP already paid £1000 either for or towards the cost of the dress, so they have lost £1000 as they have already spent the money in this way.

Blindsided wrote: »

I always thought an engagement ring was given as a promise of marriage, if that marriage didn't go ahead I would be giving it back, regardless of the circumstances, (and I have done)

Assuming he paid for it

Well my trusts law is a bit rusty but the law of trusts says that if an item is delivered (actually or constructively) to a specified object (person) with words of a gift then that item is a valid gift which cannot lawfully be recalled as ownership passes to the recipient.

In the case of an engagement ring the item is delivered with a question; "Will you marry me?", rather than words of a gift "eg here's a ring as my gift to you" so there is certainly an argument that the engagement ring would not constitute a gift.

On the flipside the ring symbolises an intention to marry and I suppose most women would consider the ring as a gift to mark the promise, and azzabazza's link supports that.

I'm not aware of any judgment which specifically deals with the issue of engagement rings though.