<p>They should be able to plan a darned nice wedding for $50K. But it would make more sense to take the money and run - $50K is still real money to most folks, and a wedding, no matter how “fairy tale” it is, is still just one day in a lifetime.</p>
<p>This probably belongs on the bragging thread, but I’m so proud of my d1 for keeping her head screwed on straight for her October wedding. We’ve given her what we think is a considerable amount (not even half of $50K, though), and she has done an amazing job of budgeting/planning. Her fiance’s mom has put in the money for them to have the photographer and DJ they wanted, which was very generous and takes a good bite out of the reception expenses. D1 and her fiance will make up any shortfall for the event, but it won’t have to be much. And planning a wedding solo, which is pretty much how she’s done it, is a big job.</p>
<p>SYTTD and all the other wedding shows kill me by how they exploit the whole princess “it’s YOUR day” angle. And although I love Randy and Keisha, I still cringe when I see the ridiculous prices on the gowns. I just can’t understand the young women who willingly make themselves look like greedy brats just so they can be on television! I mean, have they ever watched these shows?</p>
<p>Yes, mafool, and I promise that’s not how we really conduct ourselves down here in the great city of Atlanta–every single salon employee sounds more snotty and mean-spirited than the next! I do love the original show, though. The niece of a good friend is going to be on the Atlanta show sometime in July, so I’ll be watching for that. It will be a good measure of how “out of context” they do the editing.</p>
<p>dg5052, I have family in your area! I understand.</p>
<p>I tried and erased several descriptions of the social forces at work in the SYTTD Atlanta. Perhaps, being closer to the phenomena, you can help?</p>
<p>I just watched Say Yes To the Dress Bridesmaid. OMG! Just when I thought weddings could not have anymore drama, and now this!! One bride had 15 bridesmaids, but “only” 9 came for the appointment. Another girl said that she would not be in the wedding if she did not like the dress. Just wow.</p>
<p>I watched two shows last night, one Atlanta and one Bridesmaid. That girl was very obnoxious (the one who would be in the wedding party only if she liked the dress) and some of the “Southern moms” were over-the-top blunt and insulting. But I actually liked the dresses that the brides ended up with and thought they looked lovely, even better than the brides on the original show (at Kleinfeld’s). The bride who wanted to wear cowboy boots with her dress looked unexpectedly classy in her selection. She was the one with the really obnoxious mom too. And the bride who had brought her grandmother to the appointment (along with lots of other family members) wound up in a beautiful dress. Now that I think about it, I would say it’s the absence of the Pnina Tornai “fairy stripper” gowns that is the source of the improvement!</p>
<p>LurkNessMonster, as much as I hate to admit it, you are right…the Atlanta girls looked better in their dresses than most of the Kleinfeld brides. I still can’t stand the Bruce Jenner looking guy…and if he said “jack her up” in my D’s presence I might hit him. But the girls end up looking really good.</p>
<p>I was impressed by the Atlanta show, but until reading Lurkness… and Missypie’s posts, I hadn’t thought that I MUCH preferred the final dresses. </p>
<p>There was a beautiful blonde gal, who was struggling to choose her choice but not wanting to hurt her MO’s feelings. MO realized the dilemna and supported dtr. Then, there was the breast CA survivor, whose friend offered to pay the $400 to cover the cost of the dress that was $1900 (tho I wished the owners could have helped with at least $200). Of course, there was one brat (“I’ll win an Oscar by the time I’m 30”).</p>
<p>I fell asleep before the bridesmaid show, so no comment.</p>
<p>OMG that randy-wannabe said “jacked up” again - didn’t they read this thread? Don’t they get why the NY show is better? And to add to that bridesmaids? Pouty little sisters? Evil friends who won’t be in the wedding party if they don’t like the dress? I should parade the dresses I was forced to wear (and didn’t know I <em>could</em> have a hissy fit) for weddings in the 70s and 80s. Geeez. I think the thing I dislike the most about the Atlanta crew is how scripted it all seems. Keisha, Randy, Joan and certainly that woman in alterations don’t seem scripted.</p>
<p>Also, I wanted to add that I was very moved by the young woman who had lost her mom as a child, and her father was helping her pick out her dress. (He had raised the young woman and her sister.) She really looked beautiful in a simple dress with cap sleeves. I was misting up watching the ceremony! </p>
<p>And I agree I hate the “jacking up” phrase! It sounds very un-bridal.</p>
<p>This is not related to the Atlanta show, but wanted to post that I absolutely HATE that they have a separate “Say Yes to the Dress – Big Bliss” show. I think it is incredibly offensive that they don’t have brides of all shapes and sizes on the regular show.</p>
<p>A couple of those bridesmaids were profoundly obnoxious (although I am guessing they were coached/instructed to act over the top), but the nerve of someone picking out a $500 dress for bridesmaids to purchase on their own astounds me. That bridesmaid show was AWFUL, and I will not watch it again.</p>
<p>Both the Atlanta show and the Bridesmaids show made me cringe… I did think the Atlanta brides looked good in the end, but WOW, some of those family members! That mom of the Cowboy Boots girl… yikes. </p>
<p>Big Bliss has always been a little hard to watch… Did they really need a separate show? It does bother me how some of the girls claim to just be “curvy,” when in reality they are just super overweight or obese. There is a big difference between curvy and unhealthy/overweight, imo…</p>
<p>I admit I do watch this show when I’m home on a Fri. night. However, the Atlanta show, imho, is just awful.</p>
<p>The bride trys on one dress and the salesgirl is already wondering why she and the family don’t like it! HUH?</p>
<p>The owner, Lori(?) is so pushy. I like the way they portray the NY staff better, more humanistic and more calm after the bride tries on her first dress!</p>
<p>I can’t imagine bringing a whole entourage to pick out a dress! How about just your mom? Or one sister or one girlfriend too?</p>
<p>In this day & age it makes so much more sense to find a bridesmaid dress that can be worn again. Usually the shorter styles.</p>
<p>I was appalled by the brides and their entourages alike last night. I can’t fathom a daughter being that self-absorbed that she (1) robs her mothers of what should be a once in a lifetime mother-daughter experience (says the mother of two sons) and (2) is callously oblivious to her mother’s budget and ability to pay. It was horrifying and I only pray that my DSs choose better than young women like those.</p>
<p>When I shopped for my wedding dress in 1979, I actually wanted the first dress I tried on. I was more of a tomboy growing up, but could dress girly at times. Shopping was close to having the flu to me, and something I only did when absolutely necessary! My mother could not understand why I didn’t try on more dresses, but I think I stamped my feet and refused to try on anymore. While my dress was pretty, and a label my status driven mother could live with, I know it wasn’t the dress she would have picked for me. At least she would have liked to see me in a few more before making the decision!</p>
<p>The thought of going with a large group of people to pick out your wedding gown is not something I like nor does my daughter. We feel like everyone should be surprised when the bride walks down the aisle. I think my daughter would most likely take one friend with her since she is the only girl, but I don’t see her going with an entourage.</p>
<p>Atlanta poster here-I am totally horrified by the types of brides and their entourages that "Atlanta " show features. I know only a handful of young women and their mothers who would act/dress/speak like what was on display last evening. It is my experience that college-educated young women in the South DO NOT routinely get married at 20-21, nor do they all have “big hair”. The bridal store featured in the show is not THE place to shop in Atlanta, IMO. Anne Barge, I believe, began her bridal design business at Saks here in Atlanta. I am so tired of the stereotypical image of southern women.</p>
<p>I hope they will move the “Bridesmaids” show back to Kleinfeld’s- I simply love the SYTTD" version filmed at Kleinfelds.</p>