Agreed. She is a grown woman. If she could not handle an opinion that was not adoring or in line with hers, perhaps she should have refrained from asking. The same people calling him the AH are the ones that would ALSO criticize a man lying to his spouse. Can't have it both ways. If he does not like the dang thing...he simply does not like it. Lying about it to spare her feelings is childish. She needs to grow up, realize SHE loves it and SHE is the one that will have to wear it for hours....and not to ask for honesty if all she wants is placation.

Counterpoint: Once he says "Do you want an honest answer?", both know that something really negative will follow, so why did they continue?! It seems they don't know each other.

Same. Don’t want an honest opinion? Don’t ask for an honest opinion. Because when you say you want an honest opinion, I’ll assume an honest opinion is what your grown aᵴs want.

Yeah, that's an absurd amount for something that's worn only once. Even if it is for your wedding but if they have the funds then who an I to judge? And I completely agree...don't ask for an honest opinion if you don't want it. Especially since he was trying to be tactful. I guess she asked more for validation than anything. I don't know...

I'm Spanish, and indeed, I share the opinion that they are happily throwing their money in a over-planned wedding that easily will deceive (and bridesmaids and groomsmens matching dressess and suits is an alien concept to me).

I too do not understand spending that amount of $$ on a dress you're going to wear once, I'd rather use the $$ for the honeymoon. And, as a woman I'm always bemused when other women act like this, if you ask for an honest opinion then you have to take it on the chin if it's not what you wanted to hear. The only AH in this exchange is the bride

I'm not German but same. You can't complain about receiving an honest opinion when you specifically said you wanted one. Frankly, I wouldn't want to be married to somebody if I needed to second-guess everything they say, in case they really meant the exact opposite. I think this couple needs to have a long and serious talk about communication before they get married.

Right.... And if his opinions that much why are is she mad about a dress he doesn't like that he probably wasn't even around to help pick out. Kinda counter productive to do what gets nothing fine but waste time over a dress she wants him to like....

DUDE! Generally speaking Americans CAN'T handle the truth. I always tell people don't ask me a question if there is a possibility that you won't like the answer. I won't be a d**k about it, but I sure as hell won't lie to you to make you feel better.

Honest opinion can be delivered tactfully and 'honest opinion' can be used to put someone down.

I spent $2000 on my wedding, another $1100 for the rings. All out of my own pocket. If somebody gave me $200K, I would use it to buy a house, not blow it all on a wedding! I think the standard $30K people spend on weddings is way too much.

Shopping for a wedding dress is high stress, you can get so turned around with pressure from salespeople, family and friends that you might get the next dress just to stop the process. Also if multiple stores didn't have what she was looking for she might have changed to find something more readily available. Unless it's already tailored the shop will likely return or exchange it. She should go in with a literal photo of what she is looking for with references of what changes she is willing to make.