Re: criticizing the dress and price tag..
I do agree that girls tend to indulge them selves a bit too much when comes to wedding shopping (I find myself doing the same and stopping myself) but for someone to say that wedding day is not THAT important as you have your whole life to look forward to, is a weird angle, IMO. Your wedding day is the day when EVERYONE attending eth ceremony pays attention to you, teh bride. Of course you want to look your best, it's common sense. You'll have loads of pictures taken that day, which is something you won't be doing on ANYOTHER day of your life unless you are a movie star. So to be a little obsessed about your wedding dress, makes sense if you are the type that generally cares about their appearance. If not, then you most likely won't care on your wedding day either.
P.S. many of US are paying for our wedding dresses. Our daddys aren't.