As the advice columnists would say... this isn't about the money. It's about something else.

I may be wrong, but I'm guessing that we have a situation where a minor wants to get married. Perhaps she's fighting with Mom over how she LOVES HIM and wants to get married. A Mom, rightfully, says that she's too young.

If not, I think the answer is simple. The daughter had the money for what she's paid so far. She needs to take responsibility for paying the rest. As a good parent, Deb, I'm sure that you'd want to teach her some responsibility for having her pay for the dress. If she needs to, she can do extra work around the house to pay you back.

But that's my opinion. If your kind of parenting isn't like that, that's your business.

All I ask is that you look at whether this is about a mother-daughter disagreement or if it's really about contract law.