SYTTD: S1, E6, Pt. 2 – Here Comes the Groom

Season one of Say Yes To The Dress doesn’t go out with a bang, but with a whimper. In an episode full of men that forced themselves into Kleinfeld’s bridal, typically the domain of middle-aged New York women ready to boss you around in yards and yards of tulle, I am underwhelmed.

Listen. I understand that this was the first season of SYTTD. I understand that reality television as a genre was still in its infancy. I understand that the editors were still trying to develop their style and format. I don’t understand why the graphics are completely inconsistent in every episode. A bride actually does say yes to a dress in this episode, but we don’t get to see the designer? We don’t get an Informative Graphic for any of the brides about their budget? If you’re not going to provide that, then don’t – but don’t change your mind every other episode.

Our first bride is Dana, who has brought her parents and her grandmother to her appointment. Dana is exactly as bubbly as this photo makes her look, and she wants to look like a princess at her wedding. Luckily for Dana, her parents haven’t given her a budget. Her consultant Audrey immediately sets to work trying to find a ballgown that makes a statement, but doesn’t overwhelm Dana’s small frame.

Honestly? Audrey knocks it out of the park. This is one of the rare dresses from this season of SYTTD that I actually think holds up pretty well – if you told me this dress was a 2017 Hayley Paige gown, I would absolutely believe you. Instead, it’s Monique Lhullier, and Dana falls in love. Her parents love it. Her grandmother thinks she looks beautiful. Still, Dana is pragmatic, and she wants to take a few days to think about it so she doesn’t get swept up in the moment. I strongly suspect that Dana will be back for this dress.

Next, we have Diana, who has brought her mom, two bridesmaids, and her fiancé Steve. Despite this terrible screenshot, Diana is extremely beautiful and looks great in everything. She has an unlimited budget and also wants to look like a princess, in a beaded ballgown that sparkles.

Steve is a very funny addition to this appointment, in my opinion. He is extremely doofy and knows literally nothing about dresses – at one point, he says that Audrey and Diana are talking about things like sweetheart necklines and it sounds like they’re talking in “code.” Okay, Steve! He thinks that Diana looks beautiful in everything and is adorably excited to marry her.

Keasha pulls some beautiful ballgowns and Diana falls in love with the very first dress that she tries on. Everyone gets weepy the second that she steps out onto the podium, including Steve, and Diana can’t stop smiling. It’s legitimately very sweet. I also think this dress holds up fairly well, even if it looks dated.

Diana tries on a few more dresses, but ultimately decides she wants to say yes to this one. She still wants to surprise Steve, so they send Joan out to tell him that Diana isn’t sure if she wants to buy the dress. Since their wedding is only five months away, Joan explains, they aren’t sure if they can get the dress in time.

This is all a lie, and Steve 100% believes it. Also, I love Diana. She would absolutely intimidate me in person, but she seems like a human ray of sunshine. Most of the time on this show when a fiancé shows up, it really seems like you can count the days until divorce papers are filed. Yet, Keasha says – and I agree – that Steve and Diana are absolutely going the distance.

This is a couple that I don’t think is going the distance. Sara is paired with Claudia, and she’s looking for something “with a little extra kick.” Deepak has decided to tag along for this appointment so that he has an idea of what Sara is picking out, because he doesn’t want to make a horrified face at the altar of their wedding. Okay buddy!

Sara tries on a few dresses and ultimately decides that she doesn’t want to make a decision today. This is the second episode in a row where Claudia is shown trying and failing to make a sale. Again, I’m having a lot of trouble understanding what SYTTD is trying to say about Claudia with these scenes. Are they trying to prove that she’s right, and her brides just don’t want to buy dresses? Is that why she’s so bad at her job?

That’s not what Joan and Elise think, when they sit down for a Claudia meeting at the end of the day. They’ve gotten extremely frustrated with Claudia over the last year. She continues to make excuses, she’s wearing on their patience, and Joan and Elise agree that she is probably not going to improve. Things are not looking good for Claudia’s return in season two!

The episode sends with Claudia talking about what a great consultant she is going to be, saying, “in five years, I see myself as the biggest stylist in the world.”

Final Score:

• Bride wants to be a princess – +3 points for Dana and +3 points for Diana
• Bride’s budget is $10K+ – +10 points for Diana
• Bride has a “bridal moment” – +5 points for Diana

Total: 21/100

Bye beautiful. See you next season!