<p>I test drive many cars before choosing the right one. I comparison shop for things that cost me money…why wouldn’t I test drive several? I may not buy the first time I shop, but for those kind of bucks on your special day, if you want to try on 25 dresses, than try on 25 dresses!</p>
<p>The consultants are quick to make a sale, which I understand, but do rush these girls into making a decision.</p>
<p>Mythmom: What happend to my friends (and their daughters) was the following: They did go to New York to purchase a wedding dress. (I know, it’s not that we don’t have lots of places to purchase dresses here…but it was a mother/daughter bonding experience). </p>
<p>The biggest problems they they encountered where that when they went for alterations their concerns about fit were not addressed (too long, a loose seam etc.). In one case the dress ordered had been changed by company to a different lace and a neckline. They were not happy because the neckline was very unflattering to the bride (top heavy) and too bad that they didn’t like it. And if they wanted something specific they should have done couture. And they were all rushed through the appointment with the attitude that our time is valuable, make up your mind NOW! Please note that one friend is not a shopper. But she wanted her daughter to be happy. And she (the bride) didn’t come in with a full line of I wannas. </p>
<p>One friend and her daughter were left in a dressing room, alone, for well over an hour after they voiced concerns about the dress. The staff wanted to wait them out.</p>
<p>These dresses were well over $5,000…about 9 years ago. (One friend said that couture started at $10,000 then…probably double that now?)</p>
<p>Mythmom,</p>
<p>You are correct Kleinfeld’s also has a limit, but it is a time limit, just like Atlanta. </p>
<p>If a bride comes in with no clear idea, it is not an easy job. Just as if she comes in with a clear idea and when she puts it on it looks horrific, it’s not an easy job either.</p>
<p>Monte was reviewed in the WaPo regarding this show. The fact is Monte is not a bridal consultant like Randy from Kleinfelds. He actually was the wedding planner for Lori’s DD, and that is how he got on the show. He is originally from WV, which is why he has a southern accent, but lives in DC and not Atlanta when the show is not filming. </p>
<p>When I got married back in 88, my MIL wanted to get her gown from Kleinfelds, we drove in from NJ, and I will say it was not worth it. The show puts on a great image, but it is an in and out deal. My MIL spent 800 on her dress 20 yrs ago, and I think that was a lot of money in those days, and even today as an MOB/G dress goes. They actually had nothing more in dresses than the store we had back in our hometown, thus she walked out without a dress.</p>
<p>The only thing that rubs me about Kleinfelds is how they are always pushing Panina Tournai wedding gowns. Enough already! </p>
<p>It also might be because I think they are the most hideous wedding gowns in the world, but they cost 10K.</p>
<p>Some Pninas are nice, but those are not usually the expensive ones. The ones that are netting and you can see a bride’s skin seem unbelievably vulgar to me, and I have never been accused of prudishness.</p>
<p>One Pnina had ties with almost pom-poms and feathers. The bride loved it, but her mom was cringing. Thanks goodness my D has simple, elegant taste.</p>
<p>When the show was first on they gave the designer and price of the dress. I don’t know why they stopped doing that.</p>
<p>ellebud: Thanks. That does sound awful.</p>
<p>So did anyone else catch the Kleinfeld new episode “Big Bliss” with plus size women?</p>
<p>I did. They had two of them. </p>
<p>I found it sad that everyone thought she needed the strapless dress and the sexy silhouette.</p>
<p>I was married twice, and I wasn’t heavy either time. Now I am, and I can’t imagine volunteering to wear some of those dresses in public, though even then I was conscious of not wanting certain less body parts (like flabby arms – tried all sorts of things for tricepts – was a size 3, but tricepts still a problem).</p>
<p>Almost all of them left feeling happy, though.</p>
<p>I’m just happy that I walked down the aisle before strapless gowns became de rigueur. Even though I was a size 4 back in the day, I didn’t have half the self-confidence that these plus-sized women seem to.</p>
<p>I think it’s really odd that they felt a need to have a seperate show with plus-sized women. They have had plus-sized women on the regular show no problem. Are we also in for Kleinfeld’s: Petite women or Kleinfeld’s: African American women, etc…</p>
<p>I found that kind of odd. </p>
<p>I was just glad to get back to Keisha and the NYC crowd!</p>
<p>It’s like the next spin-off will be Vera and the crazy alterations dept. or Randy during his off-hours…or how did Joan get the quiver in her voice? I like getting back to NYC too, I’ll take a good hour of Randy and Keisha anyday.</p>
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<p>Too funny.</p>
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I’d enjoy Randy having his own show, and I can’t be the only one. Should we petition the network?
Me too - but one of my complaints about the show is that we don’t even get a good half-hour of anything. I feel as if the editors re-use the same 3 hours of footage all season long.</p>
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<p>I know!!! I didn’t think a single dress that any of them tried on was flattering. How about a fitted sheer or lace sleeve down to the elbow? There are a LOT of women who choose to disguise less than perfect upper arms. </p>
<p>The wedding dress makers need to talk to the *What Not to Wear *folks about how to make wedding dresses that flatter a larger curvy shape. I always think Stacey and Clinton do a great job with the plus sized ladies…they sure aren’t advising them to wear form fitting strapless dresses!</p>
<p>Stacy would not be happy with the girls overflowing the dress as we see so often. Too often even average sized women look like sausages overflowing their casing with the girls and the bra side and back extra skin overflowing :(</p>
<p>Did any of you see the Austin Scarlett episode? This one girl with an unlimited budget came from NC to try on his dresses. They didn’t look good on her.</p>
<p>She chose a different designer and the dress was lovely, but all I can think about was how her boobage was going to spill out of that dress on the wedding day. Major wardrobe malfunction. I think she needed more top to go with the bottom. It was a gorgeous dress but I I think that she had a little TOO MUCH in the way of assets! Yikes! </p>
<p>I am sure the dancing would be quite the sight and she would bring in a lot on the money dance… ;)</p>
<p>One hopes that the overflows are because they are squeezing into samples - you could see how many of them were heavily clipped up the back with large expanses of skin there too. If the fitters do their job, the brides should be a little more circumspect at the actual ceremony.</p>
<p>I agree that Stacie and Clinton like “the girls” to be supported and restrained!!!</p>
<p>And I thought it was TACKY of TLC to amplify the sound of the one dress RIPPING so that it was very loud. I thought the comment from the bridal consultant during the interview after about the dress “ripping to shreds” as more consistent with SYTTD Atlanta not NYC. I was disappointed in that. If they are catering to a plus size crown, they need larger samples, and should not try to stuff a larger woman into a too small dress. It can be hard enough for these women.</p>
<p>Coming in late to this thread. Have only caught a few episodes at odd times of the day (reruns maybe?) Since I’ve not seen the NY show I cant compare to the Atlanta show. But I drive by “Bridals by Lori” frequently, so I would have a soft spot for this show, regardless of how its edited.</p>
<p>And no, I haven’t heard the term “plantation” used in a gazillion years, and definitely not in Atlanta. In SC around Charleston or Beaufort maybe, …<strong>maybe</strong>, but definitely not in Atlanta. I think there was a bride getting married in Charleston. Perhaps that was the one with the “plantation” reference. Then again, it could be a euphemism for a double wide in a trailer park. ;)</p>
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<p>They showed the place at the end of the show. It was def a “plantation” (large sprawling old southern home on lots of property) and not a double-wide ;).</p>
<p>When we went to New Orleans, we toured a couple of restored plantations outside of town. The one that was very traditional looking (big oak trees, white pillars) was available to be booked for weddings.</p>
<p>I thought it was refreshing that all of the brides on Big Bliss last week had wonderful support from their families and friends. So much conflict on the Atlanta version, IMO, compared to the Kleinfelds series. However, maybe that has more to do with there being so many more shows and a greater variety of bride stories to feature beside just family conflict for the Kleinfeld shows.</p>