Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta - General Discussion

[poeticlicensed]

I don't think both friends could have worn the dress. One was clearly bigger in the chest than the other one. The only way for it to work would be for the one who was slightly larger to have her wedding first, then the gown would have to altered to fit the other. I would also worry about stains, damage, etc. I didn't understand why they both didn't get the dress. Is that thing of thing verboten? Are we supposed to assume that when one buys a wedding dress, they are the only one who wore it? And frankly, the guests, even if they are the same, wouldn't  remember a detail like like to the extent that they would recognize the dress on another bride. I also think it would be a cool thing for besties to have each other to their respective bridal portrait session for a casual shot of both of them in the same dress. 

 

As for the mom hates the barn wedding, are they not from the damn south? Barn weddings are "the thing" and they can be quite formal. I do think that satin would be heavy, but outside of that, anything goes. 

 

I also am constant amazement of the opinion change of the negative (fill in the blank, mom, granny, sister, etc) is then reduced  to tears once a piece of tulle gets tossed on the bride's head.  

Edited January 25, 2015 by poeticlicensed

[laredhead]

I thought from the description of "the barn" that it was a venue regularly used and set up for weddings, so it probably wasn't filled with straw and smells of animals.  Having said that, I think that $5,000 is a lot to spend on a dress to be worn for a couple of hours one time.  Agree with a previous poster that if someone is generous enough to pay for your dress and sets a limit, it you find something you just cannot live without and it cost more than that limit, then pay for the difference yourself.  All of the people who pout and whine about it being their day and they deserve what they want comes across as being very selfish and uncaring.  if the parents are also footing the other expenses of a wedding, then they should be able to budget for a dress and the bride should be satisfied with that.  The entitled princess act is wearing thin.    

Edited January 25, 2015 by laredhead

[lark37]

 

I also am constant amazement of the opinion change of the negative (fill in the blank, mom, granny, sister, etc) is then reduced  to tears once a piece of tulle gets tossed on the bride's head.

 

Oh but you forgot about the sparkly belt!  It always makes me chuckle when they have a budget of say, $2000, and the dress shop puts a gown on them for $2000 (not including alterations), then "jacks" it up by adding that sparkly belt (which retails between $250-$500) and a veil which also costs at least $200.  Then, nothing more is said about that budget.  Shopped with my daughter for her wedding gown 2 years ago and learned very quickly that If your budget is really $2000,  you need to look at gowns in the $1200-$1500 range.  That way when you throw in the cost of alterations and veil/accessories you can stay within your budget.

[sweetaspie]

Can someone recap the controlling groom everyone is talking about with the mother that came along to enforce his wishes. I don't remember that ep.

 

Also just my two cents on a couple of things, while I don't think if a dress is ill fitting or downright ugly the "jacking up" helps, I can see how when the bride has on the veil and all jeweled up the parents finally see their daughter as an adult and she's getting married and it becomes an emotional moment for them so all the pettiness takes a backseat for a moment. Especially when she is crying about how pretty she looks and feels. Sometimes the veil wins me over too. 

 

As for saying someone looks like a princess or wanting to look like one, I don't think (at least I hope not) most people mean they want to be a princess, disney or otherwise, I think, people are looking for a word that encapsulates looking beautiful on what is supposed to be one of the most important days of your life, whether you have a simple low key wedding or a big blowout.  I've had both and even though the marriage didn't last I still love looking at pictures of me in that big wedding gown and seeing how happy and pretty I looked and felt that day. For my 2nd and hopefully last wedding, it was a simple cotton maxi sundress and I love it just as much. 

 

[ZaldamoWilder]

I'd agree with you, except for the one episode with disney princess bride.  Girl, that was the name she ascribed herself and in case we weren't sure, she named Jasmine and Cinderella n' them as reference points.  That actually doesn't bother me at all, maybe because it reminds me of the grown up version of little girls twirling in the mirror playing dress up.

 

I get the veil thing too.  I don't think they suddenly think it's the dress when it wasn't before, per se, but you know how people on those house renovation/shopping shows can't see the potential in what is clearly a beautiful structure until the thing has actually had its guts torn out and there's granite and stainless steel everywhere?  It's that I think.  Before the picture is complete, all the naysayers see is a girl in a dress.  After veil, glittery mess and they pin back her hair, they get it.  I actually appreciate that they do this at the bride's direction as I think it's kind of a shitty thing to object so vehemently to a dress the bride loves.   Budget blowing is a different issue  :)

 

cosigning what poeticlicensed said about bff brides.  I hadn't even noticed their bust size difference but they were also noticeably different heights.  The one who tried it on first (and frankly whom I thought it looked better on) was much more statuesque.  That dress was for a bride with a long torso imo.  The second dress she tried by the same designer looked equally gorgeous and the weird part was that I thought because she did too, she was going to *let* her friend have the first one.   When everybody started crying I just knew they were going to King Solomon it out.   I wouldn't mind wearing a once-worn wedding dress but not the same gown as my best friend.

[missbonnie]

Yeah, the amount of money being spent on some of these dresses just boggles my mind. I know that they may very well look different in person than on tv, and some of the expense is the quality of the fabric and appliques, but a lot of the lower end dresses (under $3,000.00) look just as good (better, if it's a Pninna stripper fairy dress) as the 5,000.00+ ones.

We live in Kansas, 7 years ago my daughter got married in a Maggie Sottero ballgown that was on sale for $500 at a bridal store in Kansas City. I loved the dress. That being said, when my son got married a year and a half ago, my daughter-in-law's mom bought her a Pninna ballgown (not a stripper gown) with a beautiful veil and her mom paid $9000.00 on SALE at Klienfelds in NYC! I about died and was glad that I wasn't the one paying for it. However, when I saw it in person it was quite beautiful and the quality of the work was very evident.

What happened to the blonde gal who was always on the Atlanta show?

Edited January 31, 2015 by missbonnie

[camom]

Wait a minute, that first couple both play for the WNBA?  They are both female?  Well, Brittany (?) really hides it well.

Edited January 31, 2015 by camom

[mjt626]

Brittney isn't hiding anything well. She's a 6'8 woman. It's not a secret.

[scootypuffjr]

Random thoughts:

Brittany is indeed quite masculine in her demeanor, but she and her bride seem to care for each other deeply and make a lovely couple.

Brittanys bride's sisters need to be told it is indeed possible to have too much hair. You couldn't find their faces through all that hair.

Perhaps I have no business saying so, not being of color myself, but I thought The sister of the long distance bride looked gorgeous with her natural hair. You don't see much of that anymore, and I appreciate d her bucking the trend. I wouldn't know, but I imagine it would be easier to take care of as well.

I thought The long distance bride looked best in the first, fitted gown. The ballgown style did indeed swallow her. Her bff has seen Coming to America too many times.

Forty year old bride was in fantastic shape and looked marvelous in the gown her fiance picked. He really nailed that one. I'm glad she chose that dress even though her fiance had already seen it - that was definitely the right dress for her.

Forgive errors, I am posting on my kindle and sometimes it has a mind of its own.

[Shugardrawers]

Why is it not a red flag for the brides who won't get a dress they love because they're worried about their fiancee's reaction?  I'm watching the episode with the bride who is eloping to Colorado and who's fiancee is "opinionated" (which is often a euphemism for controlling), but she is not the first bride who has acted this way.  The young woman who was marrying someone with the last name Chicken or Turkey or some other foul comes to mind.

 

Wanting your groom to think you are beautiful is fine; picking what the groom wants so you don't have to listen to him complain or worse, get bullied over making a choice without him, is not.  It's disheartening to see this dynamic on what should be a happy show.

I thought the same thing!  Does he pick out her underwear too?

 

 

Because the bridal fashion industry TELLS them that this is "fashion forward" and "classic" and only features that horrendous silhouette in their myriad magazines and online sites.  And since most brides these days are immature, easily led, and swayed by media they go along with it.  Thus the bridal fashion houses only carry that horrible crap.  When those brides look back at the pictures in 10 years (if they make it that far, few will) they will laugh at how truly bad they looked.  Just like brides in the 70's laugh at their enormous puffy sleeves.

 

If you want a classic look, remember Princess Grace and Kate Middleton and Vera Wang and some of the dresses designed as far back as the 40's that still look wonderful today.  But today's brides don't want to look different, they are led like sheep by advertising to purchase the flavor of the year even when it makes most of them look like sausages with exploding feet.

Looking like you just wrapped up in a bedsheet and ran off to get married is NOT classic!

 

Is "spoiled sister of the football player" going to expect her brother to pay for everything she wants even when she's married? She'll drain his bank account dry if he doesn't put a stop to that attitude.

 

She'll expect everyone for the rest for of her life to cater to her because her brother did.  Having a rich and famous relative doesn't make you rich and famous!

Well, my husband and I (just the two of us) also went to Colorado to get married in the Rockies, and I wore a beautiful beaded lace wedding dress and he wore a crisp black tux.  We wore the standard wedding fare for us, not for anyone else.  I wasn't about to let someone else tell me what I did or didn't need given our choice, though it sure didn't stop one of our more judgemental family members from trying.  Can't imagine my wedding pictures would give me as much joy as they do if I'd worn anything else.  My favorite photos is of me in my dress with the long train traling behind, arms around my handsome groom, with the mountains in the background.  But, to each her own.  Anyone who can look at her or his wedding photos decades later and not lament their clothing choice is a-ok by me.

 

Provided the groom dresses the same as the bride I see no problem.  When he will only wear jeans and a t-shirt but the bride wears a $5k gown.....I have a problem there.

I haven't watched any bridal shows in ages because most of the families were narcissistic and deluded. After last night, I can see this is still true.

 

All I'll say about Rocky Mountain fiance is that I bet he is a controller of infinite degree. And that the bride broke her mother's heart. Hope the controller-possibly-abuser is worth it.

 

The deacon daddy was acting the fool. In fact his bug eyes called to mind some old stereotypes that many modern folks avoid.

 

I wish I could wave Lori's magic wand and forever remove the words "princess" and "queen" from bridal vocabularies. This is America, dammit. We don't have royalty, and all the proclamations by self-absorbed infantile spoiled brides don't change that. (And while we are at it, let's strike "fiance" for anyone who lives together for extended periods of time with no concrete plans to marry in the near future.)

 

I hate the emphasis on the pornographic display of clown boobs and behinds. If that's what a bridge and groom think is most important on their wedding day, then the bride is essentially a sexual object, not a beloved family member and friend getting married.

I wouldn't do it because I always would want my family around but if you are eloping and your family won't be there what's the point of spending so much money on a gown?

[Bellalisa]

I noticed on that show Something Borrowed, Something new, the bride always has a budget of between $1000-$2000 and the dresses are beautiful! Kleinfelds and Lori's shop acts like that is a low budget. You rarely hear anyone say $1500 but it seemed like some gorgeous Something New's for $1200-$1500 on that show. 

 

My other pet peeve (beside the sausage dress mentioned above) is the way that ruched satin bed comforter dress is picked out for all girls of color who are kind of plus sized. I think they think the rouching makes them look thin. I feel that one is really going to look like crap 10 years from now in the photos. It's strapless, super shiny. rouched from top to bottom, with these kind of comforter looking pleats in the kind of mermaid shape. They all think it "shows their curves" GAH!

[Julia]

Here's another one that bugs me:  Women (especially plus sized women) who look at a fitted dress from the front and declare it gives them an "hourglass" figure.  Are they not looking at it from the side as well???  Because from the side you look like an overstuffed sausage!  Your butt and your gut are STILL sticking out like crazy!

Extrapolating from my experiences as a tough size to fit back before I embraced the matronly, for some of them it's probably been a million years since they owned something which fit their top and bottom and came anywhere near their waists.

[RealityCowgirl]

I cannot believe that grown-ass woman let her grandfather go $3000 over his $5000 budget (PLUS "bling," of course) so his "baby" could pout her way to her "dream" dress.

Edited February 7, 2015 by RealityCowgirl

[laredhead]

If she wanted that dream dress so badly, she should have coughed up the difference.  i didn't think it looked any more special than others that I have seen and were less expensive.  Hope she drags it out of storage every year on her anniversary and wears it a few hours so she can get her, excuse me, her grandfather's money's worth.   

[scootypuffjr]

I was so effing mad at Monte for "jacking up" (hate that term) the granddaughter in the nearly $3000 over budget dress! Why couldn't he put the magic veil on with the more flattering, imo, ball gown dress that was in budget? These entitled brides who can't cough up a couple of thousand dollars for their dream dress drive me insane. Five K was a very generous budget to begin with, but no, that wasn't good enough for his baby girl, he had to kick common sense to the curb and go WAY over budget for a dress the granddaughter will wear for a few hours and put into storage after. Hope he was able to pay the gas bills this winter - oh well, I guess it doesn't matter, as long as his baby girl got her dream gown. (Insert annoyed noise here, my kindle insists on making it into a real word.) Sheesh!

[DHDancer]

Despite what Laurie (Lori?) and team may say on screen, they are going to encourage someone going over budget: its all about the $$s in the end.  So persuading grandpa to go over budget is in THEIR best interests.  And yeah, I agree with the others: over budget?  Pay the difference yourself, spoiled entitled immature brat.

 

Pet Peeves about this show for me, not in any particular order:

1. "Jacking Up"  --- I find this term to be incredibly vulgar and if someone said that to me, I would probably leave the store.   I understand this is probably a commonly used term (only in the south?) but I find it offensive every time I hear it.  And yeah, why don't they jack up every dress?  Better still jack up the bride BEFORE she tries on any dress.

2. The trotting out of the same dresses over and over again.  I've come to the conclusion there's some agreement/contracting with designers to peddle particular models  during the episode/season.  The same happens on SYTTD original.

3. As someone said above, the pushing of mermaid/trumpet and sweetheart necklines.  The only girls these flatter are the ones who are straight up and down.  Personally I can't imagine spending my wedding reception stuck in one of these (or looking at someone in one)

4. I really wish when asked about the budget, someone would say $2000 "all in" meaning that's it for alterations, veil, accouterments.  If I was shopping at either of these stores (Kleinfelds, Loris) I would either say this OR adjust my declared budget much lower so they wouldn't do their usual thing of starting with dresses right at the budget limits.  I actually find this pretty unprofessional when they know there are significant additional costs.

5.  The reason people go to these stores, apart for selection choice, is for the professional advice (yes?) so why don't the professionals steer people immediately to the most flattering versions of the style the bride asks for (or better still, just the right style).  I really struggle with watching them let people try on wrong choice after wrong choice (yes I know there's editing for drama)

6. I don't want to hear about the groom/fiance.  I don't care. They're always the most wonderful person in the world.

7. I don't want to hear sob stories.  I'm truly sorry you've had difficulties in your lives but many people have. 

8. 15 minutes of actual content in a 30 minute show.  Enough with the repeating what we've seen already.

9. Brides-to-be turning up not prepared to try on gowns, with hair everywhere (please tie it back, or put it up girls) and wrong colored underwear (black bras?  really?)

 

OK, rant over (for now).   I still watch, dammit....

Edited February 7, 2015 by DHDancer

[laredhead]

DHDancer, great summation of many things that bother me about these shows as well.  WRT #9, wouldn't you want to look your best on national TV?  I would, but many of these people evidently do not.

[DHDancer]

I can only assume they don't know what they really look like.  Maybe there could be a runup-to-the-show done by Stacey English!  Whoa girl, you need help ....

[Shugardrawers]

When I went dress shopping a few years ago they asked what I wanted.  I said I didn't know.  I wanted what looked BEST on me.  The crap they brought out was HORRENDOUS not to mention it looked like SHIT on me!  There may be some caring consultants out there but for the most part they want to sell you a gown that is EXPENSIVE.  When I told them my budget I was left completely on my own.

[Gardencrown]

I haven't responded in this forum in forever because I rarely catch any new shows. At least the Atlanta version has a slightly better selection of dresses than the New York Pnina-All-the-Damn-Time show.

 

My theory on Monte is and has been that actually he is straight, straight, straight. I don't care really, but as he has decided to act like a caricature of a male bridal consultant, I have decided to picture him off the clock, all butched up, drinking Buds and smashing the empties on his forehead, and possibly even wearing camo while he hunts. Thinking all this helps me survive the Monte segments. (Because regardless of anything he is fake, fake, fake.)

 

Bride who went $2,500 over her grandfather's extremely generous $5,000 budget: Bitch, please. I thought that all her family/friends were pretty appalled at her behavior. Especially as the pink-ish ballgown was gorgeous on her. And I love how she acted like she had NO IDEA how much the coveted dress really was. If she had looked it up beforehand, then she certainly knew the price. Ugh. I don't get wanting to look like a spoiled entitled brat on TV.

 

And the bride who did the strength stuff and was, I believe, truly afraid to get a dress that the fiance would deem not "form-fitting" enough. Oh girl, run. RUN like the wind. These shows are so ridiculously staged, but once in a while, something real leaks out, and I think she seemed actually scared. Yuck. She was a beautiful girl (minus the tattoos -- sue me, I'm over the age of 45, and I will never find that many tattoos attractive, and the damn kids should get off my lawn while I'm at it) and looked lovely in any dress. Any man who cares that much what a woman wears -- RUNNNNNN!

 

The car accident girl was sweet -- horrible, horrible situation, and I'm glad she seemed happy at the end. See, I don't have a cold black stone for a heart.

 

 

[doodlebug]

I, too, was appalled at the ungrateful granddaughter who whined and pouted her grandfather into purchasing a dress that was more than 50% over budget.  I'd be willing to bet that nobody told Granddaddy that he was going to be shelling out thousands more for alternations, a veil, etc. putting the true cost at around double the budget.  And, of course, greedy granddaughter knew good and well that her 'dream' dress was overbudget before she set foot in the salon.  No way anyone selects a dress from a magazine without checking out the price.

 

My only hope is that the show is even more contrived than it looks and that Granddaddy knew the cost and was willing to pay but agreed to pretend for the cameras.  He didn't seem the type, though, and, considering she obviously wanted to be on the show, the granddaughter would've been a fool to agree to behave like a spoiled brat.  She's a college graduate, so is her fiancé. Surely they can afford to pony up any excess cost (or pay for the whole damned thing in the first place).  Her grandfather seemed to be a kind, hardworking guy, who'd already made huge sacrifices to raise her from infancy and give her opportunities she couldn't have otherwise had.  He's done enough.

 

It was also typical that she was so fixated on the fantasy dress that she failed to see that it made her look like a lumpy sack of potatoes.  A sparkly one, but lumpy all the same.  The gown did nothing to flatter her less than stick thin figure while the ballgown with the blush skirt was far more flattering to her.  She's going to look at her wedding pictures and cringe in a couple years, she could've looked so much better.

 

The salespeople on this show are no different than salespeople anywhere, no matter what Lori says.  Watch when the bride puts on a dress.  A steady stream of flattery issues from there salesperson from the moment she puts it on until she looks in the mirror.  Not a negative word, ever.  Once the bride gets a look, unless she hates it, the puffery continues.  If she doesn't like it, they hustle her off to the dressing room and out of the offending gown and into another without a word.  Never a negative comment, ever.  They might agree it wasn't for her, but no specifics about what flatters her or doesn't; what if they criticize something she liked?  And, of course, they always start with gowns at or slightly above budget.  They work on commission, the pricier the dress the more they make.  It's Sales 101; I am sure it is part of their training and there is plenty of evidence, both on the show and in real life, that it works.

Edited February 8, 2015 by doodlebug

[Ketzel]

I was actually kind of upset after watching the bride raised by her grandfather emotionally blackmail him into going far over his budget so she could have the Lazzaro gown. He came across as a hardworking, sensible man who loved his grand-daughter deeply. He's probably saved a long time for her wedding expenses and specifically said that he wanted the best for her, but thought spending many thousands of dollars on a dress that she would wear for a few hours was simply a waste of money. (I'm guessing he thought even the $5000 budget he offered her was ridiculously generous, but he was willing to go that far because he wanted to make her happy.) It was painful to watch her yearn and whine and bat her eyes over the more expensive dress, even as he kept gently reminding her she had a budget and needed to stick to it. I hope that all the extra money for the gown came out of the budget for the food or the flowers or whatever else she wanted. Because nothing about that family's circumstances suggested there was secretly an unlimited budget stashed away somewhere.

Edited February 8, 2015 by Ketzel

[Kohola3]

It was painful to watch her yearn and whine and bat her eyes over the more expensive dress, even as he kept gently reminding her she had a budget and needed to stick to it.

 

I certainly hope her groom gets a chance to watch this because he'll see a preview of what the rest of his life will be.  If you can't honor a budget for a stupid dress, image the debt those two will carry when she can't live without the McMansion and top-of-the-line furnishings.  Not to mention the Beemer.

[roseslg]

That's one of the things I like about Randy from original flavour (as opposed to Monte).  Randy will voice why a certain shape is not flattering for a particular bride and while he would not plain say they look awful, he would gently try to move the bride in a different direction.   Monte is just too over the top with all of his silly puns and what passes in his head for humour.  

[Shugardrawers]

While I don't have an issue with transgender people I did find Brittany to be the most masculine of brides I've ever seen.  She sounded so masculine that I wasn't sure she was a woman until 1/2 the way thru the show.  But I loved how supportive she was.

[Julia]

While I don't have an issue with transgender people I did find Brittany to be the most masculine of brides I've ever seen.  She sounded so masculine that I wasn't sure she was a woman until 1/2 the way thru the show.  But I loved how supportive she was.

I'm pretty sure Ms. Griner is a cis woman.

[Shugardrawers]

What's a CIS?

Again,, no problem with transgender brides or grooms.  I just was kind of suprised that such a masculine woman identified as a female.  Was she in the process of transgendering?  I totally support her but was confused.

[Julia]

Cis woman means she was born a biological woman. She is, as far as I know, happy with that (probably just as well, since her future wife is a lesbian) and plans to stay a woman.

Edited February 12, 2015 by Julia

[ZaldamoWilder]

I noticed on that show Something Borrowed, Something new, the bride always has a budget of between $1000-$2000 and the dresses are beautiful! Kleinfelds and Lori's shop acts like that is a low budget. You rarely hear anyone say $1500 but it seemed like some gorgeous Something New's for $1200-$1500 on that show.

 

I agree with you, a bride should be able to find a perfectly lovely dress she's happy with in that budget.  First of all, that's a lot of money and second of all, at the end of the day, it's just a dress.  I don't know about Lori's but $1500 is a low budget, at Kleinfeld.   You wouldn't walk into a Mercedes Benz dealership and say I've got 20 grand, show me around.  It's not because that's not a realistic amount of money with which to be able buy a beautiful car you love, it's not a realistic amount of money with which to buy a luxury car.   Think of the lines carried by something borrowed as the honda accord dealership of this scenario.  The dresses are gorgeous and of no lesser quality, but they're marketed specifically to target a lower price point.  Hell, David's carries Vera Wang's Pink collection for about $1200.  So it can absolutely be done but I guess the thing that still bugs me is the expectation of champagne dreams on a beer budget.  When there's nothing wrong with beer. Lol. 

 

The trotting out of the same dresses over and over again.  I've come to the conclusion there's some agreement/contracting with designers to peddle particular models  during the episode/season.  The same happens on SYTTD original.

 

When a salon is the exclusive carrier of a designer's gowns, yeah, pushing their stuff is the trade off for that exclusivity.

 

I really wish when asked about the budget, someone would say $2000 "all in" meaning that's it for alterations, veil, accouterments.  If I was shopping at either of these stores (Kleinfelds, Loris) I would either say this OR adjust my declared budget much lower so they wouldn't do their usual thing of starting with dresses right at the budget limits.  I actually find this pretty unprofessional when they know there are significant additional costs.

 

IMHO this isn't the salesperson's responsibility.  It's up to the bride to start lower or stick to her all in number.  I'm not even talking about wedding dresses, I mean when you're negotiating anything with someone who works on commission, it makes zero sense to start at the top of your range.  It's like buying a house by opening with your highest offer.  

 

The reason people go to these stores, apart for selection choice, is for the professional advice (yes?) so why don't the professionals steer people immediately to the most flattering versions of the style the bride asks for (or better still, just the right style).  I really struggle with watching them let people try on wrong choice after wrong choice (yes I know there's editing for drama)

 

 

Again, strictly my opinion but, it's often because the most flattering version is out of her price range, which means she'll either fall madly in love with it and blow her or somebody else's budget or she'll fall madly in love with it and be sad and pissed that she can't afford it and all other dresses will pale in comparison.  Or because there's a difference between what she thinks is flattering and what actually is.  And now the consultant has to turn all dimestore psyche major to get her to let go of the fistfull of pictures she came into the store clutching to choose the dress (or at least the style of dress) that suits her body instead of the one she's been dreaming about since she was 5.  

 

That's one of the things I like about Randy from original flavour (as opposed to Monte).  Randy will voice why a certain shape is not flattering for a particular bride and while he would not plain say they look awful, he would gently try to move the bride in a different direction.   Monte is just too over the top with all of his silly puns and what passes in his head for humour.  

 

This.  This is another reason why K's is so expensive. Taking their advice is another story but the idea of someone having enough expertise to figure out what looks best on you, placing you in it and being right about it?  Reducing your whole wedding dress shopping experience to one day is a cost that women in this part of the country remain willing to pay for.   Please excuse my bias, Randy and Keasha were my appointment consultants and between them, they had me pegged in about 20 minutes. Point being expert help is invaluable if the thing that's important to you is not wasting time on looking for what doesn't work because you don't know what that is.

[DHDancer]

The reason people go to these stores, apart for selection choice, is for the professional advice (yes?) so why don't the professionals steer people immediately to the most flattering versions of the style the bride asks for (or better still, just the right style)

 

Again, strictly my opinion but, it's often because the most flattering version is out of her price range, which means she'll either fall madly in love with it and blow her or somebody else's budget or she'll fall madly in love with it and be sad and pissed that she can't afford it and all other dresses will pale in comparison.  Or because there's a difference between what she thinks is flattering and what actually is.  

 

 

The assumption in my original post is that "most flattering"  is WITHIN THE DECLARED BUDGET

[ZaldamoWilder]

Oh ok, understood.  I'm not arguing, just thought spitballing opinions were welcome.  The all caps isn't necessary though, it kinda makes it look like you're shouting. 

[DHDancer]

Oh ok, understood.  I'm not arguing, just thought spitballing opinions were welcome.  The all caps isn't necessary though, it kinda makes it look like you're shouting. 

 

Sorry about the CAPs -- should have used <em> </em> ....

[laredhead]

The episode tonight with Nikki Taylor as a guest had a bride and a bridesmaid whose voices hurt my ears.  Where are women learning to talk like that?  I could barely understand the bridesmaid and the bride's combo screechy vocal fry voice at warp speed was really annoying.   At least Lori shut up the shrieking bridesmaid with the comment that when she got married Lori would make sure there wasn't any lace on her dress.  And then there was the young woman who was marrying the Atlanta Braves baseball player and chose 2 dresses.  She was worried about extra ostrich feathers on the reception dress, but I couldn't tell the difference in the before and after pictures.  That wedding costs some serious money from the looks of the reception and her dresses.  Either her parents have money, or the baseball player paid for it.

[doodlebug]

 

Either her parents have money, or the baseball player paid for it.

Her fiancé signed a contract worth $135 million a couple weeks ago: I don't think the budget was tight.  Hopefully, they've got good financial advisors.

 

That being said, whatever those dresses cost, I thought both were fugly and her custom alterations for the ceremony dress made things even worse.  Lots more money than taste, IMO.

 

It wasn't just the Nikki Taylor bride's voice that bugged.  Her posture was atrocious and her schlumpy, clumsy gait as she walked in the dresses was so distracting.  She walked like she was wearing Army boots filled with concrete.  Maybe Nikki can teach her how to walk with grace and stand up straight.  Poor girl's been through a lot, but she needs some work before she lumbers down the aisle.

Edited February 14, 2015 by doodlebug

[laredhead]

Have since done some on-line research about the baseball player's now wife, Chelsea (?).  One site said she's a model and a real estate agent.  They got married in November 2014.  Both of the dresses were similar in style.  If I were going to buy 2 dresses, I think I would want totally different dresses, but that's just me.

[DHDancer]

It wasn't just the Nikki Taylor bride's voice that bugged.  Her posture was atrocious and her schlumpy, clumsy gait as she walked in the dresses was so distracting.  She walked like she was wearing Army boots filled with concrete.  

I got the impression that she really didn't want to be there, and was completely uninterested in buying a wedding dress.  This was reinforced for me when Lori gave her the dress at the end: I suspect that was payment for agreeing to be on the show and suffer through it.

[pasdetrois]

I recorded a bunch of old episodes to watch while recovering from surgery. I noticed some trends.

 

Kleinfeld's seems to have more brides with bigger budgets compared to Lori's customers.

 

As charming as he can be, Randy throws a lot of subtle shade when a bride doesn't like a dress, or wants more bang for her buck. He kind of sniffs about a bride wanting lots of embellishment for $2000 or whatever. He tells us over and over we cannot get extra fabric, crystals, etc. without spending a lot of money. If a bride or her mother does not like a dress, he'll shriek and jump around: "You're kidding!" Or "What? I'm so surprised!" It's a not-so-subtle judgment on them expressing their opinions and not wanting to break the bank.

 

Hated wretched granddaughter busting her granddaddy's budget.

 

And what's the deal with Nikki Taylor popping up? She had her accident in 2001. Maybe she's looking for work.

 

Gardencrown, loved your hilarious post and hate to disappoint you. Monte is gay. He still lives in Alexandria, VA, and married his partner in 2013. Lori attended the wedding.

Edited February 14, 2015 by pasdetrois

[Kohola3]

This was reinforced for me when Lori gave her the dress at the end: I suspect that was payment for agreeing to be on the show and suffer through it.

 

That plus the fact that she looked not at all surprised or even all that thrilled when Lori gave her the dress made me think that she got forced into it by friends and the model person.

[RealityCowgirl]

If I had a $2,000 dress budget, I'm learning that I'd do my research and definitely avoid places like Bridals by Lori and Kleinfeld's if my desired look isn't pretty simple. As someone elsewhere in this show forum noted, "Something Borrowed" proved that gorgeous dresses in that budget do exist elsewhere (including southern California, where I believe SBSN is filmed).

 

$1,500-2500 shouldn't be considered peanuts for lace, tulle, and "bling." We've seen that it isn't. If you choose where you shop more strategically, you may even be able to come away looking like a full-blown Disney "princess." I couldn't help thinking "Your 'piddly' $2000 probably would buy you something grand at David's..." with this last one.

 

Of course, (most of) those other places don't come with TV cameras.

Edited February 15, 2015 by RealityCowgirl

[Kohola3]

Of course, (most of) those other places don't come with TV cameras.

 

And thus negates the ability to drag your wannabe movie star friends and family to act like idiots in front of the world in exchange for 15 minutes of fame.  I would wager that shopping with true loved ones (not a squad set up to insert fake drama and chew the scenery) in private is a  much more satisfying and memorable experience.

[geauxtee]

 

Kleinfeld's seems to have more brides with bigger budgets compared to Lori's customers.

 

Yes. I think this a cost-of-living difference between NYC and Atlanta. Also, Atlanta has younger brides from 18-25 ish, so they are more relying on their parents. A lot of the NYC brides seem to have been in the working world longer and have a bigger budget. Though NYC has it's fair share of "Daddy's girls" too. 

 

[peggy06]

Ugh, they did it again! Rerun this morning where the bride had picked a fit and flare with a lovely ruched bodice that looked fantastic on her. The dress was simple and classic (well, except for the flared bottom, but that's me - I don't get the look where there's a distinct line where one part of the dress ends, and a different dress abruptly begins). Point is, the bodice fit beautifully and it was a graceful silhouette through the waist and hips. 

 

Mom doesn't like it. Bride loves it. What do they do? They put one of those awful sparkly belts on it, and voila! Mom loves it! Now the dress is cutting her in thirds, making her look squatter and thicker in the middle, when she's actually very slim. WHY do they do this? I have never seen a dress that was improved by one of those tacky sparkly belts. Why does there have to be cheap sparkle, anyway?

 

As an aside, where in the world did Lori come up with that awful "jack her up" phrase for putting on a veil and accessories? It just grates on the ear, and is the complete opposite of the image I would think any salon wants to project. Ugh, again.

[laredhead]

"jack her up" sounds like a NASCAR phrase or something like that.  Not that there's anything wrong with NASCAR terminology, if that is what it is, but I think another more appropriate phrase is called for in bridal wear.

[Bella]

Since they're clearly not showing us everything, I always wonder if there's a discussion, the dress is settled upon, those who disagree with it are told to STFU by the bridal consultants (favorite part of my fantasy!), TPTB tells the entourage and bride how to act next time the cameras go live, and they play their parts during the filmed "jack up."

 

I hate that term as well, btw.

 

I want an entire show of bridal consultants bullying entourages.

[Kohola3]

Why does there have to be cheap sparkle, anyway?

 

And cheap meaning tacky.  It's definitely NOT cheap in terms of price!

 

And "jacked up" in my part of the world is something no young woman would voluntarily choose!

[Ketzel]

Heh, there was a long discussion on the late lamented Television Without Pity forum about the term "jacked up." I believe Monte was the first one to say "Let's jack up the bride!" and then there was a bunch of posts where people said what "jacked up" meant to them. "Stolen," "drunk," "pumped on steroids," and "seriously screwed up, like crazy bad teeth" were some of the definitions I remember. Oddly, not a single poster thought it meant "drop a veil on her head and stick some sparkly earrings in her ears."

[Julia]

I was in that conversation, I think :)

There's also "beat the crap out of"

[Shugardrawers]

Naomi Judd is looking lovely still!  I really loved the dress the bride choose on that segment.  I did NOT care for the superfan nurse's dress in the least.  She had an ENTIRE store to choose from and that's what she picked?  Granted, my taste runs the exact opposite.  Heavy bling and BIG ASS skirts with SUPER long trains.  I'd have really hit Lori where it counts:  in her pocketbook!  I do understand some women just aren't into that and the dress was quite pretty on her but I didn't like it as well as some of the others.

[Missy Vixen]

I really, really dislike Naomi Judd. I also really, really dislike SYTTD's focus on celebrities -- after all, there just aren't enough other brides now to carry a show, are there? One would think the bride wasn't even there with Ms. Judd in every shot. They barely focused on the bride's mother, either. It sucked. And I was really sorry the timid bride chose the dress that got the Judd stamp of approval. It's her day; couldn't she be trusted to pick out a dress on her own with her family?

 

I liked the dress the super-fan came up with but I didn't care for yet another version of the "I must have my way" Momzilla. I also wondered why the bride didn't tell Lori to bring 3-4 gowns she thought would flatter the bride and choose from among those; then again, we wouldn't have a show without the endless dithering and "I don't know what I wannnnnttttttt", would we?

[doodlebug]

 

 

I really, really dislike Naomi Judd. I also really, really dislike SYTTD's focus on celebrities -- after all, there just aren't enough other brides now to carry a show, are there?

 

Me too.  I was even more unhappy when Lori and the gang essentially bullied the bride into going Naomi's way.  Every other episode, we get the staff trying to boost the bride's confidence in her own choices, to follow her own taste when it comes to choosing a dress.  After all, everyone has their own vision and style.  Apparently, all of that goes out the window if the bride's boss is a country music star. 

 

I don't disagree that she looked best in the style Naomi chose, but the bride herself never appeared to warm to it, even after her entire entourage oohed and ahhed.  If she's not the 'blingy, clingy' type when it comes to dresses, then she just isn't.  I was righteously pissed on her behalf when they kept harping on the first dress, just because it was what Naomi wanted.

 

Also, as a side note, Naomi has had a pretty stellar career, surely her assistant is valuable enough to her that she could've paid for the gown.  Based on the budget ($3000?), it looked like the bride was doing it for herself.  Of course, it might have been the fact that Naomi was willing to come along to shop that got her on the show in the first place; maybe that was gift enough.