Rules Brides Who Go On 'Say Yes To The Dress' Have To Follow
Sorry, you don't get to pick your consultant.
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Chances are, you've watched at least one episode of Say Yes to the Dress. The TLC show become a sensation after debuting in 2007 and has helped hundreds of brides find their dream wedding dress — most of the time with a side of drama. But you might be surprised to find out brides on SYTTD have to follow a lot of rules. Find out what a future Mrs. has to agree to behind-the-scenes to land a spot on the coveted bridal show.
First, they have to apply online.
Brides who dream of appearing on the TLC show must submit an online application with personal questions about their wedding, dress style, and soon-to-be hubby. But process is incredibly selective, as the show gets over a thousand applications per season.
They have to be there for the right reasons.
The show is only interested in brides who truly intend to get married — they don't want people just seeking their 15 minutes of fame on a reality show. That's why producers heavily vet each potential applicant.
They must disclose if they've applied for any other reality shows.
At least, within the last 12 months. "We have to make sure this is really a bride who is really getting married with a real story and not just somebody who wants to be on TV," Randy Fenoli told Good Housekeeping.
All brides are welcome.
In 2017, Gabrielle Gibson became the first transgender bride to be featured on the original version of Say Yes to the Dress. Of the experience, she told People, "I just wanted to have an experience, and to show that we as trans people can love, and be loved, in a normal setting, and do things that are not out of the norm."
They have to shoot at Kleinfeld Bridal.
All brides who agree to be on the show have to travel to New York City to film in the famous Kleinfeld Bridal. Fine, twist our arms.
There are opportunities to be on the show in others states.
The original show is filmed in Manhattan, but TLC has launched a number of spin-offs, including Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta and Say Yes to the Dress America (which films across the country).
They have to film on a weekday.
Kleinfeld Bridal has a very busy reservation book. To accommodate the store, and allow more consultants to help the SYTTD bride, the show tapes during the week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
They don't have to be unknown, everyday people.
From The Cheetah Girls' Sabrina Bryan to Broadway star Sutton Foster, the show has helped quite a few famous brides find their perfect dress.
They must give an interview before the fitting.
Before a bride can even look at the racks of dresses at Kleinfeld, producers interview her about the dynamics in her family, what kind of dress she wants, her fiancé, and basically anything that could present drama during the fitting.
They have to give an interview after finding the dress, too.
Found the dress? You're not done yet. Once you've said yes, you still have to stick around and chat with producers in a final interview.
They have to film for up to 10 hours.
A traditional wedding dress appointment takes an hour or two, but brides on the show should prepare to film for an eight- to 10-hour day. This gives production enough time to capture interviews, the fitting, and more.
They can't bring food or beverages into the store.
As guests walk into Kleinfeld, they're reminded with a sign that no food or beverages are allowed in the store. With $10,000 dresses laying around, it kind of makes sense, right?
Their guests have to be approved by producers.
When the bride applies for the show, she has to include who she'd bring with her to the fitting — and go into detail about their personalities and relationship to her. From there, the producers choose who makes the cut.
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.
They have to pay for their 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.
They have to be transparent about their budget.
The show divides price ranges into five tiers. In order to film an appointment efficiently, the bride must work within her tier, so that she doesn't waste production's time and end up finding a dress outside of her price range that she can't afford.
They should have an idea of what kind of dress they want.
The producers aren't looking for someone who's wishy-washy, which is why the application plainly asks brides to describe the kind of dress they have in mind. This helps the consultants pull options before they arrive. It's also recommended that brides visit other bridal boutiques beforehand, so that they can make a final decision at their Kleinfeld appointment.
It doesn't hurt to go non-traditional.
Production is always excited when someone wants a unique bridal gown. From sheer cutouts to black gowns, it's a guaranteed way to mix things up on the show.
They can say yes to accessories, too.
There are a lot of components that go into a bridal look and lucky for SYTTD brides, Kleinfeld has it all. From tiaras and embellished sashes to fur shrugs and crystal hair pieces, the consultants can help shape your entire bridal look.
Not filming the show? You may still be asked to sign a release.
Because Kleinfeld Bridal is a public business, there are often customers in the background who didn't know filming would be happening during their appointment. All customers who enter the store on filming days need to sign a crowd-notice release.
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