Having watched a few episodes of "Say Yes to the Dress" throughout my lifetime, I was curious about the experience of shopping for a wedding dress at Kleinfeld's famous flagship location in New York City. Would it be as fancy inside the bridal boutique as the store appears to be on TV? Would it be super loud and chaotic, with brides-to-be, stylists, and maids of honor fussing all over the place? How many girls would actually say yes to the dress while I was in the store, and furthermore, would they get glasses of champagne delivered, even if they said yes at, say, 9 a.m.? (Which, by the way, just so happened to be the time of my appointment and was the first slot of the day.)
Fifteen minutes after I arrived, the lobby was packed with excited brides and families who were waiting to be assigned to a stylist. It quickly became obvious which customers were fans of "Say Yes to the Dress," because they pointed out and took photos with the stylists whose segments are televised most often. I was already a bit tired and thirsty as I picked up a Kleinfeld branded water bottle from a table near the threshold of the bridal room floor. I peeked over the mannequins wearing the latest gowns from bridal favorites Pronovias, Hayley Paige, and Pnina Tornai, trying to determine how this whole system worked, and whether or not I'd get to browse through the racks myself.
The boutique was average-sized and extremely organized, with mirrors at each "station" all across the floor. Each station was separated by a couch for the bride's crew. The gowns were hung on metal rack systems that lined the walls, spaced efficiently enough for stylists who knew the stock well and could easily recognize a dress by its details.
I was ultimately greeted by bridal consultant Antonella, who has made many appearances on "Say Yes to the Dress." Antonella calmed my nerves as she brought me directly back to my fitting room and handed me a silk robe, introducing herself as my personal stylist and quizzing me about my bridal likes and dislikes. Naturally, I just showed her my Pinterest board, because I wanted to let the pictures do the talking. She left, and minutes later returned with an intern (yes, you can be a Kleinfeld intern), plus three gowns to start trying on.
The next 90 minutes changing in and out of gowns flew by. While I didn't end up finding a dress, I learned a lot about what it's like to shop at Kleinfeld. By the end of the experience, I had a newfound appreciation for consultants like Antonella, who make women from all over the world feel beautiful when they visit Kleinfeld. I now understand why so many people end up choosing The One at this popular boutique. Ahead, read everything you've ever wanted to know about the in-store bridal shopping experience at Kleinfeld in NYC.
FAQs
From 2007-2012 Randy worked as Fashion Director at New York's Kleinfeld Bridal Salon where he would consult with nearly 15,000 brides a year. Today as the star of TLC's Say Yes to the Dress, Big Bliss, Randy Knows Best, and Randy to the Rescue, Randy is seen by millions of viewers each week.
How scripted is Say Yes To The Dress? ›
The show is not scripted
The crew captured my genuine reactions. And if I said something funny, cute, or cool, I quickly learned to expect to see that footage over and over again.
Do the brides on Say Yes To The Dress get compensated? ›
They aren't paid for their appearance.
Even though brides and their families are appearing on the reality show, they receive no form of compensation on the TLC show.
What happened to the owners of Kleinfeld? ›
The Schachters sold the business in 1990, and it was sold again in the mid-90s to a group that included Mara Urshel, a retail executive; Ronald Rothstein, a venture capitalist; and the actor Wayne Rogers. The new owners moved the store to 20th Street in Manhattan in 2005.
Did Randy Fenoli's mom pass away? ›
Randy Fenoli - My Mother, Jeanette, passed away Friday... | Facebook.
Who was sacked from Kleinfeld? ›
Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo says she was fired from her first job at Kleinfeld Bridal for trying on the gowns. “When I was the stock girl, I would carry all these big wedding dresses that were really heavy,” she said on Fox Business Network.
Do you have to pay for your dress on Say Yes to the Dress? ›
Sorry, dresses aren't free or even discounted. If you find the one, you better be ready to drop some serious cash, because the average cost of a dress at Kleinfeld is $4,500.
Do you pay for an appointment at Kleinfelds? ›
The $100 booking fee required for Friday, Saturday and Sunday appointments is processed at the time of the appointment booking. If you purchase a dress at Kleinfeld during your appointment, the booking fee will be applied towards the balance of your dress purchase.
Did TLC cancel Say Yes to the Dress? ›
Discovery announced on Dec. 5 that the show will return to TLC for a new season on April 6, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET. Wondering what season 23 will look like? "This season, Randy and his team navigate the toughest entourages, new extreme demands and even pull off a surprise wedding in the salon," Warner Bros.
Why did Hayley Paige leave Say Yes to the Dress? ›
After later contract negotiations broke down, JLM said Gutman locked the company out of the "Miss Hayley Paige" Instagram account, promoted products from other companies without JLM's permission and violated a noncompetition agreement.
You will not be limited to try on a certain number of dresses. Simply put, we are committed to having you try on as many gowns as needed within the duration of the appointment time.
Why did Randy leave Kleinfeld's? ›
Responding to an inquiring fan on Twitter about his choice to call into his appointments, Randy clarified that he had not been coming to Kleinfeld's in person "because of COVID restrictions I couldn't fly to NYC, was renovating my home, and taking care of my Mom." It's unclear when the latest season of Say Yes to the ...
What happened to Randy Fenoli? ›
He is now an independent consultant. He has been a fashion designer since 1992.
Which bridal pioneer of Kleinfeld's died leaving lasting legacy? ›
NEW YORK (AP) — Hedda Kleinfeld Schachter, a bridal industry pioneer and Holocaust survivor who decided over a half century ago that brides deserved better than cookie-cutter dresses, has died in Manhattan. She was 99.
Is Randy from Say Yes to the Dress straight? ›
Randy Fenoli is off the dating market as he is currently engaged to his partner of 1 year, Mete Kobal. The star, known for his show Say Yes To The Dress, popped the big question on December 10, 2022 at the Marmara hotel in Manhattan, the same place they met in January 2022.
What does Randy Fenoli's fiance do for a living? ›
Everything to Know About 'Say Yes to the Dress' Star Randy Fenoli's Fiancé Mete Kobal. Emily Strohm is a Senior Editor at PEOPLE. She has been at PEOPLE for 11 years and has written nearly 40 cover stories for the magazine.
