It’s a woman’s world in the bridal salon… except when it’s not. That astute observation is the first thing we hear in this episode, courtesy of the omnipresent narrator that haunts my dreams. The men? They’re here to tell the truth. Bridal is all about… manning up. Oh boy!
We’ve got a lot to cover today – and a lot of opinionated men – so let’s dive right in.
Our first bride of the day is Barbara, who is renewing her vows after 16 years of marriage. Paired with consultant Keasha, Barbara has brought her husband Paul and her two sons. Her original wedding dress from 1992 was extraordinarily traditional, and she’s looking for something sexy and contemporary.
It’s been said many times, but good LORD. The bridal industry has not been kind to us.
Paul wants us to know that he’s not like other husbands. He won’t be relegated to the “husband chair.” He wants to be involved, and he has opinions. Okay, Paul! I sure hope those opinions involve supporting your wife!
Barbara loves the first dress that Keasha puts her in. She likes that it’s contemporary and sophisticated, and she doesn’t look like she’s trying to be a twenty-year-old bride. However, her sons don’t like the dress. Ronnie and Mara pop by to emphasize how important it is to involve the children when shopping for a vow renewal. They didn’t get to go to the first wedding!
In my opinion, they should let Barbara pick her own dress, but I don’t work at Kleinfeld’s. Luckily, no one likes dress 2. Mara takes the boys shopping in the salon and they pull the third dress, which Barbara thinks is okay – but way too traditional for what she envisioned. Unfortunately, everyone else at the appointment thinks it’s The One.
They go hide out in the fitting room so Barbara can try to pick between the dress she likes and the dress everyone else likes. Paul tells her that she should pick the dress she likes, even if everyone else disagrees. Based on Paul’s shirt here, I don’t think Barbara should be taking his fashion advice anyways.
They go out and tell the boys that Barbara has picked her choice, and they tell her how ugly she looks in that dress. Can I just say? Preteen boys? ALSO not someone you should listen to for fashion advice. Even Keasha tells Barbara to be strong!
Unfortunately Barbara caves, and picks the dress that her sons picked out for her.
It’s a pretty dress, but I’m still sad for her.
Here’s the Informative Graphic:
This dress is very restrained for Pnina.
Kerri is up next, and she’s paired with my favorite consultant Debbie. Kerri has a fairly specific vision of what she wants: she wants straps, and a v-neck in the front and back. She also wants a dress that she can wear for her ceremony in Turks and Caicos, and also wear to her reception in NYC. She’s looking for something close to the body and lightweight.
Kerri and her mom both fall in love with the first dress! She still wants to try a few more on – Debbie’s second pick isn’t as good, as Kerri doesn’t like the tulle detail in the middle. The third dress would require straps, and Kerri’s mom says that if a dress needs that much alteration, it shouldn’t be your dress.
Personally, I disagree with this. If you just need to add sleeves or straps, that’s very little work to make a dress perfect. I think Kerri’s mom just strongly preferred the first dress, and was looking for a reason to shoot this one down.
She says yes! I’m glad. She really does look gorgeous in it.
Here’s the Informative Graphic:
Already, this episode has two brides that say yes to a dress – and we still have one more!
Sandra is paired with the effervescent consultant Camille, and she’s looking for two dresses. Sandra wants a large ballgown for her ceremony, and a “party dress” for her reception. She’s brought her brother Axel and her fiancé Ricky, although Ricky is not coming to the appointment.
This is what Ricky is doing the entire time.
Axel and Sandra are extremely close. He has muscular dystrophy and she starts to cry a few times in her confessional while talking about how much it means to her that he was able to come to this appointment.
Camille knows exactly what Sandra is looking for, and Sandra immediately falls in love with the first dress she tries on, and the second “party dress.” Axel really wants to see her in a mermaid gown and she agrees to try it on, but everyone else agrees that the first two dresses are for her.
Sandra puts her ballgown back on and they all start crying again.
Ballgowns are Not My Thing, but this is pretty. The dropped waist is very 2008.
Here is the Informative Graphic:
If Sandra buys the second dress, they don’t show it. Good for her. This was a very beautiful and moving appointment.
Final Score:
- Bride’s budget is $10,000+ – +10 points
- Bride wants to look sexy – +3 points
- Bride has a “bridal moment” – +5 points for Barbara, +5 points for Kerri, +10 points for Sandra (she had two dresses!)
- Manager Intervention – +5 points
- Entourage that bulldozes the bride – +3 points
- Tragic backstory – +10 points
Total: 51/100
Bye beautiful! Don’t forget to stand up for yourself today!
