Say yes to the dress

[AlleyKat]

This is similar to the top she had ordered. If I recall correctly, she wanted the bra see through too.

I saw this episode and wondered what the heck her father did to earn his money.

I hope the groom is loaded as that "princess" is going to be high maintenance!

 

[suejai]

This is similar to the top she had ordered. If I recall correctly, she wanted the bra see through too.

I saw that episode. I like watching the show, but agree with others that it is consumerism at it's worst. But then I never did see the point in spending so much on a wedding, unless you have the lifestyle to warrant that kind of display. The dresses are beautiful though.

The ones I don't understand are the women that come from London and Hong Kong to buy a dress in NY. You can't tell me they couldn't find a dress in those cities!?

 

[Keli]

My dd found a dress she loved that was many thousand too high for her wedding budget. She emailed a picture of it to a vendor in china she found on eBay. He/she said they could make it for a few hundred including shipping.
When she got the dress it was a little big and I altered it (she had lost some weight and we knew I had the ability to alter it) but the jacket was HUGE, way too big. No way could a person that could fit into that dress also wear the jacket.
I could not believe it when I went into a local fabric store and found the exact same fabric, in the exact same shade of ivory. I was able to make a completely new jacket using the original as a pattern. If I hadn't been a seamstress in another life dd would have had a serious problem going the route she did.
I'm just throwing this story out there for anyone considering doing the same thing.

 

[AlleyKat]

The ones I don't understand are the women that come from London and Hong Kong to buy a dress in NY. You can't tell me they couldn't find a dress in those cities!?

It's most likely a matter of selection...and status!

 

[Philagoofy]

Some of the consultants, especially the one who was let go, I think Claudia was her name, wouldn't ask the price the brides wanted to pay. Then the bride would try on a dress, fall in love with it only to find out it was over their budget. Then the managers would chastise the consultants, telling them it was important to find out the price point. So they do & then they go & pull dresses that are 2 or 3 or more thousands more. I just like seeing the dresses, I don't need the made up little dramas.

And Randy, he's so happy with himself when he finds the dress the bride wants. He says it's all good because he's just there to help & the consultant gets the commission but then 2 minutes later he's gloating about how good he is. But I do kind of like him for some reason.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

ilove this show..............loved the marathon yesterday to. i also remember that one show with the SEE through dress and the daughter didnt like it. give me a break........what a brat. yeah and yesterday the 24,500.00 had a RIP in the lace and they were trying to bargain it down....to funny........but i love these kind of shows. i think the guy is funny to.

 

[HelenePA]

I saw this episode and wondered what the heck her father did to earn his money.

I hope the groom is loaded as that "princess" is going to be high maintenance!

Please tell me that isn't a 25K dress.. it looks like half of it is missing or its something you'd wear on your wedding NIGHT!

 

[Imzadi]

I've seen several of the girls not end up getting dresses there. There is just something "off" or they wish they had brought their mom or their DSis, so they can't buy just yet. Then, they end up buying (probably a much cheaper) dress elsewhere. I'll bet many girls go in just to pick the consultant's brains as to what styles looks best on them and then they find a cheaper knockoff elsewhere.

I saw this episode and wondered what the heck her father did to earn his money.

I hope the groom is loaded as that "princess" is going to be high maintenance!

She's they type that wouldn't even look at a guy unless he has enough money to keep her in the lifestyle she's accustomed to. Women like that don't marry "poor" (what they consider poor, ) or for love first. Love for them comes with a rich price tag.

 

[Camicar]

Having been a bridal consultant, I can tell you that those prices are NOT the norm.

When I was working bridal in the nineties, it was in one of the premier shops in the state. We prided ourselves on our selection -- 400 gowns with formal gowns ranging in prince from $450 to $4000. We only sold one $4000 gown a year. Our most popular gown for a while was a fairly traditional gown that cost about $800. We sold a lot of gowns in the $1000--$1300 range. As gowns became simpler, however, the average price went up (you have to have better fabric and fit for a simpler gown because there isn't goop to cover up fabric and design flaws).

Our policy was to find out about the bride and her wedding, and to always ask the price range. We felt strongly that it was dishonorable to have the bride fall in love with a gown she could not afford. We also HATED it when the bride would refuse to tell you a price because that meant they were just looky-loos wasting our time or had other issues. I still remember a bride I had whose mother told me that her budget was $995 AFTER her dd picked out a gown that was $1000 and she would not budge. Her dd was sobbing and offering to pay the extra $5 but the mother refused. What a nasty piece of work that woman was. Grrr.

If a salon does not ask your price range up front, that means they are going to waste your time by showing you their most expensive gowns first and in a place like Kleinfelds, that means most likely the gowns are out of your budget.

The rise of the internet and the Chinese sellers on ebay made the business much less fun because people came into use your stock and expertise, then wanted the info to buy it elsewhere.

 

[java]

I paid $400 just for a bridesmaid dress from Kleinfelds. It was a Waters and waters dress. Looked like a bridal gown. And yes I never ever wore it again. But I did recently get an idea to turn it into pillow*they would some darn expensive pillows- but at least it'll be something instead of just sitting in my closet.

I have to say though that when my sister was engaged(since called off) I was still liking the waters bridesmaid dresses.

 

[merryweather20]

I saw the show and thought it was shameful. The associates were so callous about earning their commissions, it was vulgar. With the way things are going for people and the high un-employment rate I think it is decidedly distasteful to put people on the spot and equate the sanctity of marriage with a price tag. I can't even imagine how awful it must be for a parent who just lost their job to watch this show with their engaged daughters... ugggh, it makes me cringe just thinking about it. Yes, a wedding dress should be beautiful but those girls are beautiful and they don't need a high price tag to prove it. Those parents would be better off giving their girls a down payment for a house than a wedding dress and a party.... better yet, how about some good advice on getting along?

Were you watching the right show? Vulgar? They never even mention commission. Most of the sales ladies are sweet as heck, and I love the alterations manager downstairs.

 

[clgwli]

I remember one last year where there was this absolutely spoiled brat of a bride.

She had custom ordered a Pnina dress in the high 20's. When it came in, she hated it- the top was not see through enough.

So, Daddy let her get another one off the rack that was also in the high 20's. She found one she liked, but then had them remove all the lace outercover of the dress (the bulk of the price of the dress) because she whined that she didn't like lace.

So, she got the tulle underskirt for $28,000 (give or take a thousand).

She was spoiled, rude and totally obnoxious to the sales staff and her family.

OTH - I hope Carmel gets the boot due to her not making her quota due to her disdain for any bride with a budget of $2,500 and under. She treats them like crap and acts like she is being put out that they are not buying the expensive dresses.

I totally agree with you on the last one in particular. I have never seen another consultant act that way about the lower end of the buget. She is just full of herself like Claudia was. And we saw how long she lasted there

I do agree also about that one bride. I think she wound up using the lace as a shawl. She was absolutely spoiled rotten.

I guess I don't see the staff there being rude and pushy. At least not compared to other places I have gone. I'd take Kleinfeld's over David's Bridal any day. I have had to go there many times for bridal parties and never once did I get any respect from them and selling my information to third parties is wrong. I refuse to use them again after they did that.

I do know that they do have some gowns exclusive to the store, but that isn't uncommon to have in stores. Even David's has designers make gowns specifically for their stores. But they do carry gowns many other stores have as well. They just have a much larger selection in general than the average store.

Randy cracks me up too. I think he has a sense of pride in himself and his job, but I love how he really does try to click with the brides. He truly is amazing with his finds and I almost wish I could get married just to try to use him.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Snotty, rude, and they rush the brides waaayy too much

The associates were so callous about earning their commissions, it was vulgar. With the way things are going for people and the high un-employment rate I think it is decidedly distasteful to put people on the spot

We're seeing 22 minutes out of (usually) a single day, divided among three or four brides/salespeople. Most of those brides are there for hours. Aside from that, we only see a few of the brides each day - the ones who agree to appear on the show. And in addition, once or twice a year (maybe more), Kleinfeld's has a clearance event - where they may get a hundred or more brides in one day, none of whom have appointments.

Respectfully, if you - ANY "you" - worked on commission, you'd be assertive about making the sale, too.

OTH - I hope Carmel gets the boot due to her not making her quota

She did. At the end of that episode, the announcer said the other saleswoman was able to keep her job due to a large/last-minute sale ($14,000 or so, I think), but Carmel wasn't as lucky.

 

[clgwli]

We're seeing 22 minutes out of (usually) a single day, divided among three or four brides/salespeople. Most of those brides are there for hours. Aside from that, we only see a few of the brides each day - the ones who agree to appear on the show. And in addition, once or twice a year (maybe more), Kleinfeld's has a clearance event - where they may get a hundred or more brides in one day, none of whom have appointments.

Respectfully, if you - ANY "you" - worked on commission, you'd be assertive about making the sale, too.

She did. At the end of that episode, the announcer said the other saleswoman was able to keep her job due to a large/last-minute sale ($14,000 or so, I think), but Carmel wasn't as lucky.

I missed that, thank you. I DVR the show and it was cut off right before then. I didn't really care for Carmel at all and will not miss her.

 

[AlleyKat]

I missed that, thank you. I DVR the show and it was cut off right before then. I didn't really care for Carmel at all and will not miss her.

Carmel is still on TLC's site, in the list of Kleinfeld consultants.

I was left wondering if she was let go as I didn't hear anything definite at the end of the last show.

Kleinfeld's web page is loaded with all sorts of "goodies"! Information about trunk shows, sales, designers, one could spend a lot of time looking around!
They are featuring the newest gown by designer Pnina Tornia(no price shown). It somewhat resembles the $24,000 gown that was on several nights ago.

 

[java]

I think Randy is so funny. And I sure hope Carmel got the boot.

The one I can't believe and think really just wanted to be on the show- was the girl that was from London? And wanted the White Chocolate $10000 dress. And she looked amazing in it. They offered to cut the price on the dress-by like $2000! But she had to take that ONE. It was a one of a kind kind of dress.

She tried it on- gushed how much she loved it. They said they would hold it for one day. She never came back.

I had a friend that was getting married in a small church. She bought her dress off the rack at Gunne Sax(remember them? for $150. It was simple. She added a satin ribbon and she looked beautiful!
They now own a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights. Point being they knew when to spend money and when not to.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

She did. At the end of that episode, the announcer said the other saleswoman was able to keep her job due to a large/last-minute sale ($14,000 or so, I think), but Carmel wasn't as lucky.

Actually, Carmel's fate was not decided.

Sarah made her monthly quota with that $14,000 sale. But the show ended with Mara hugging Carmel who had her head in her hands, and the voiceover saying in essence, that Mara now needed to decide Carmel's fate and whether she was going to be the one that needed to be let go due to economic conditions. That was the whole "theme" of that show, it opened with an explanation that due to economic conditions, Kleinfelds was going to have to lay off some sales people. Who was it going to be? Both Sarah and Carmel needed one more sale to make their quota. Sarah made her sale, Carmel did not. The show left you hanging (oooh, big suspense) on who was going to be let go.

I do hope it is her. All the other consultants seem like they truly want to help the brides, no matter what. But Carmel, in one of her interviews even said she has no time for the brides that want less expensive gowns.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Carmel is still on TLC's site, in the list of Kleinfeld consultants.

I was left wondering if she was let go as I didn't hear anything definite at the end of the last show.

Kleinfeld's web page is loaded with all sorts of "goodies"! Information about trunk shows, sales, designers, one could spend a lot of time looking around!
They are featuring the newest gown by designer Pnina Tornia(no price shown). It somewhat resembles the $24,000 gown that was on several nights ago.

But interestingly, neither Carmel nor Diane (the blond with the short bangs) are on the Kleinfeld's site under the Kleinfeld's team (under the Say Yes To The Dress tab.)

 

[monkey68]

Well, this might count as a spoiler, so if you don't want to know, stop reading.























On another board I read, someone was saying that Carmel is no longer at Kleinfelds, she saw her at another bridal shop, a more reasonably priced one. She said she was getting tired of these brides with a lower end budget, and very few dresses to show them. Supposedly, she left of her own accord. Whether it was true or not, I don't know. It could be that TLC is editing in such a way to make you think she's being let go, or maybe she did decide to leave on her own. But she's definitely not there anymore.

 

[AlleyKat]

On another board I read, someone was saying that Carmel is no longer at Kleinfelds, she saw her at another bridal shop, a more reasonably priced one. She said she was getting tired of these brides with a lower end budget, and very few dresses to show them. Supposedly, she left of her own accord. Whether it was true or not, I don't know. It could be that TLC is editing in such a way to make you think she's being let go, or maybe she did decide to leave on her own. But she's definitely not there anymore.

Carmel's perceived dislike for budget minded brides could actually have been frustration, wanting to help customers stay within their "price point"(I love that "cloudy" term) but having a very limited inventory in which to do it with!