<p>Just talking about my own family here, because everyone’s expectations are different - I intend to love whatever dress my d comes out of the dressing room in, if she loves it. So much of it comes down to personal taste. I didn’t care for the tan satin lace dress either (at all!), but didn’t the bride say she loved it as she was walking in? The daughter’s going to wear the dress, not the mom - and I think the important factor is how the bride feels in the dress, even more than how she looks in it. I’m not a fan of all the bedazzled mermaid numbers they show us, but if my d tells me ahead of time that’s what she’s looking for, or if she comes out of the dressing room wearing one with a big smile and tears of happiness, then by golly I’m gonna tell her she looks fabulous. </p>
<p>Easy for me to say - I didn’t get to go shopping with d1, since she bought her dress at a recent Running of the Brides several hundred miles away. She loves it, and I don’t have to pretend to, because I really do, too! I don’t think it’s helpful to have a huge entourage in a salon like Kleinfeld’s, but if any of you have a d who’s considering Running of the Brides, she should bring a team. </p>
<p>If a woman has been dressing herself for a couple of decades, her taste should be respected. (That was for you, Monte.)</p>
<p>Seems like when they edit the Atlanta version, no one comes off as kind…they don’t say, “I think a different silouette would show off your cute figure better.” They say, “Boy, that makes your butt look huge.” I have two daughters, so I do wonder what I would do if one of them loves a dress that isn’t flattering. I hope it would work if I said something like, “It doesn’t show off your tiny waist enough” …</p>
<p>Have any of you actually known anyone who was on a reality tv show? </p>
<p>I have an old friend who was on one of the first seasons of “The Bachelor”. (I am not normally that cool, BTW.)</p>
<p>The way they set up the contestants in terms of getting them hungry and tired and taping much longer than is shown, along with creative editing may show a snarky contestant or a sweet one on that show. They know how to create drama. In fact, my friend was considered “too sweet” and she made it for a few weeks before getting the cut. </p>
<p>I suspect the same with shows like Say Yes to the Dress. What is on the cutting room floor may be the nice comments that weren’t that interesting for the viewing public. </p>
<p>We expect some snarkiness with the wedding dress selections, don’t we?</p>
<p>Tonight, Monte was SOOOOOO RUDE. I like him, but tonight not so much. The digs he was taking on the bride who was looking for something different was too much for me. He was in competition with her to be the DIVA. It was childish. I hope the owner said something to him. While these shows can cut and paste and edit to make a show look worse, he was rude whether the scene was taken in or out of context. He was just snarky with everything he said.</p>
<p>I lost respect for him over this episode. To say to a customer “this dress makes you look sophisticated, which is clearly why you don’t like it” is just uncalled for. And the expressions he made. </p>
<p>While the bride may have had some tendencies to play dress up, he was rude.</p>
<p>I think the whole episode was completely faked. The bride was an aspiring actress, clearly putting on a show for the cameras, and Monte was duly playing his role. Ugh, I keep trying, but I still don’t like the Atlanta version. The brides are boring, the consultants have no personality, and the owner seems lie a total beyotch. You couldn’t pay me enough to shop at Bridals by Lori.</p>
<p>I don’t like ANYTHING about SYTTD Atlanta. From the store layout to the salespeople and clients - it doesn’t compare to the Kleinfeld version. The salespeople don’t seem to care about the clients, the brides are all insecure and their families are just plain nasty. I hope someone from TLC is reading this thread!</p>
<p>The Atlanta version has no soul. I end up not caring about any of these people. And Monte is just incredibly rude and unprofessional. Part of the process IS “playing dress up” before plopping down thousands for a dress you’ll wear once. Too bad for the consultants if they want to rush the process. And one of the brides tonight was going to be married on her finace’s family’s PLANTATION? Didn’t that terminology go out with the Civil War?</p>
<p>I can’t stand the “jacked up” thing he says. Ewww. Anyway, next week it’s back to NYC and plus-size…should be better than ATL. When I heard that girl was marrying on her fiances plantation…well dh got an earful “a plantation? where’s MY plantation, damn!”</p>
<p>I agree. Hate the Atlanta version. I still watched last night, but it was truly awful.
If the Atlanta show is the only one to choose from in the future, I will no longer tune in. I’ve been a ridiculously devout fan (ask my husband!). But there is nothing redeeming about the way the Atlanta consultants treat their customers. I’m guessing too that the editing is what’s causing this group to look particularly heartless.</p>
<p>I agree with the poster who says this version “has no soul”. Bring back Kleinfeld’s!!</p>
<p>I watched to the end of their little series, but last night’s main thought - thank goodness it’s over! Lori just doesn’t have that much to say and Monty was a prime example of poor customer service. I thought the drama girl was really a good sport to not tell him to take a hike. His comments were all about how his taste was better than hers. Who tells a customer that in the real world and then expects to make a sale? Even Lori said he needed to take a chill pill. I suspect that segment was pretty heavily staged to provoke the audience as they haven’t had much to draw audience interest, IMO.</p>
<p>Well, hope the plus-size angle back at Kleinfelds next wk is good. Hope same consultants are there, miss Keisha and Randy… wonder if Bridals by Lori will get more or less business because of the crappy way they were portrayed…I sure hope Lori gets a message.</p>
<p>How about when Monte put that girl in a HIDEOUS ruffle over the boobs with the ruffled skirt. Made her look like a freak. I may not love the girl’s taste, but a ***** fight isn’t ok. </p>
<p>I love Kleinfeld’s. I wish they had a branch here in LA.</p>
<p>I love Kleinfeld’s too, but I’ll never get to go with my daughter, even though we live in NY. She is very devoted to Vera Wang, which Kleinfeld’s doesn’t carry. Boo hoo.</p>
<p>From friends who have done this: Vera Wang’s rep isn’t good. Her people, as reported to me by friends who’ve been there, don’t care about you unless you’re famous AND orderering couture. Not anecdotal evidence two friends, one acquaintance who were challenged by the Vera Wang company. Two of them are not divas in any way.
The acquaintance I don’t know that well, because she is just that, an acquaintance.
Just saying…I’m sure there are people who have had better experiences.</p>
<p>Add me to list I dont like SYTTD Atlanta. I find everyone (Lori, Monte, the consultants, the brides, and the brides entourage) irritating. :eek:</p>
<p>ellebud Interesting info about Vera Wang. I didnt realize her gowns werent available in bridal shops.</p>
<p>I heard that Vera Wang is doing a line for David’s Bridal. Maybe while D was watching Oprah??? </p>
<p>I don’t like the whole “jack them up” thing about SYTTD–Atlanta. It just seems so tacky…why can’t they accessorize or add a veil? They don’t seem to have much patience with the brides.</p>
<p>I can’t believe they expect these girls to spend thousands of dollars and then are irritated when they want to try on more than a handful of dresses. If I’m spending that kind of money for my daughter’s dress, I think it’s perfectly fine to make sure there’s nothing she likes more than the first few dresses. </p>
<p>As far as their comment that these girls “want to play dress up,” they are probably right. And the girls SHOULD be able to play dress up. This is something most girls (and their mothers) have dreamed about for years!!! (I’m not talking about someone who comes in with no intention of buying a dress and is just there for fun. That would be irritating, and I would cut that off after a while.) </p>
<p>The people at this shop are in the wrong business. Can’t wait for Kleinfeld’s to return.</p>
<p>I saw Vera Wang on Oprah’s premier show two weeks ago. Oprah featured a bride who dreamed of wearing a Vera dress and then had about a dozen more stand up who were in the same boat after they ran the feature on the first bride. They “granted” the dream of a Vera dress for them all, but they were from Vera’s new line with David’s Bridal that all retail for around $800. Then Vera gave them a week’s worth of Vera clothes from her Kohl’s line to wear on their honeymoon. All nice gifts, but I did wonder if the brides were thinking that’s not the Vera dress I dreamed of all along.</p>
<p>Her Kohl’s line is soooooo dreary! I was hoping for something a little nicer, but god, how many grey things can you make? Does anyone buy that stuff? Seems alot ends up on the clearance section. If that line is any indication of a “lower line” will look like, I’d say the bridal will be not the stuff of dreams. I caught that bit of Oprah and thought the same thing.</p>
I don’t think it’s helpful to have a huge entourage in a salon like Kleinfeld’s, but if any of you have a d who’s considering Running of the Brides, she should bring a team. </p>