After trying on wedding dresses at Carolina Herrera, where the gown I fell in love with and set my heart on practically swallowed me whole (too much fabric, too little person), I was disheartened. I hit up a few more bridal boutiques and chose a wedding date somewhere in between, but would I walk down the aisle naked? I mean, it sure looked like it. My kind-hearted, caring, always-optimistic future mother-in-law had a request: could we go to Kleinfeld? Yes, that Kleinfeld – the one where they film TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress. We live in the New York area, so I didn’t see why not. As in, yes we could, but would I ever actually book an appointment?
Having watched a few episodes of SYTTD in my lifetime, I was curious about what the whole experience would be like. Would it be fancy-shmancy inside the bridal boutique? Would it be superloud, with brides-to-be, stylists, and maids of honor fussing all over the place? How many girls would say yes to the dress while I was in the store, and furthermore, would they get glasses of Champagne delivered if they said yes at 9 a.m? Because that’s what time my appointment was at – 9 a.m. So yes, BTW, I did make that appointment.
When I walked into Kleinfeld with my mother-in-law, her sister (aka my future aunt), and my future brother-in-law’s girlfriend, I was overwhelmed. Dang, it was really fancy in there. Fifteen minutes after we entered, the lobby was packed with excited brides and their families waiting to be assigned to a stylist (we’ll get to how that works later). It quickly became obvious which customers were fans of SYTTD, because they pointed out and took photos with the stylists whose segments are televised most often.
I found myself a) tired and b) 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 from Pronovias, Hayley Paige, and Pnina Tornai, trying to figure out how this whole system worked, and whether or not I’d get to browse through the racks myself. The fashion editor in me began writing a post in her head: “I Got Trampled by Brides-to-Be at Kleinfeld Trying to Find a Wedding Dress.” Seriously, how were all these people going to shop in here at the same time?
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The boutique wasn’t small by any means, but it appeared to be extremely organized, and there were mirrors facing “stations,” if you will, spread out from wall to wall, each one separated by a couch for the bride’s guests. The gowns hung on metal supports that lined the walls, each one spaced efficiently for stylists who knew the stock well and could easily recognize a dress by its details. I felt unprepared to step into the well-oiled machine that was before me – this coming from a girl who starts half-marathon trail runs outside in the cold at 6:30 a.m. Yes, believe it or not, trying on wedding dresses is more daunting than that.
Eventually, I was greeted by bridal consultant Antonella, who has made many appearances on Say Yes to the Dress. That felt pretty neat! 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 that’s an easy answer to everything, right? She left and minutes later returned with an intern (yes, you can be a Kleinfeld intern!), plus three gowns.
The next 90 minutes flew by at a speedy pace, so I don’t think I was far off at all by comparing this experience to a marathon. While I didn’t find a dress, I learned a lot about what it’s like to shop at Kleinfeld and gathered a bunch of interesting facts to share with you. By the end of it all, I had made new friends and developed a newfound appreciation for consultants like Antonella, who do a lot to make women from all over the world feel beautiful when they fly into New York just to visit Kleinfeld. Now I understand why so many people end up choosing The One at Kleinfeld. I myself did not say yes to the dress, but at least I said yes to the store, and I’m really glad I did.
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POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Wasilak
Where Is Kleinfeld Located?
Kleinfeld is located in Chelsea, Manhattan. It’s got a pristine white storefront that many people take photos in front of, mostly because Kleinfeld is an iconic name and it’s also the store where TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress is filmed.
Can You Just Walk Into Kleinfeld?
No, not without an appointment. You can make an appointment online, though weekend slots fill up months in advance. Kleinfeld does have bridal designer trunk shows quite often, for which you can show up to shop. People wait in extremely long lines that wrap around the block for the chance to shop past-season dresses at a discounted rate.
How Much Is a Kleinfeld Appointment?
It doesn’t cost money to make an appointment at Kleinfeld, but if you say yes to the dress, then that’s a different story . . .
POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Wasilak
How Long Is a Kleinfeld Appointment?
You’re expected to show up 15 minutes before your appointment time to check in. Each bride is allotted 90 minutes and can try up to four dresses – yep, that’s it! – that speak to her sense of style, as described to her bridal consultant upon arrival. Once you make an appointment, you’ll receive a confirmation email where you’re reminded to save photos you love ahead of time, that way you can show your consultant where your head’s at.
How Does a Kleinfeld Bridal Appointment Work?
Funny you should ask; my guests bent the rules a bit. While I was in the dressing room with Antonella, my future brother-in-law’s girlfriend Meagan scurried off to find me some dresses she knew I’d love (she totally gets me!). When I greeted my crew in the first dress that Antonella brought into my fitting room, Meagan was instructed not to hand-select dresses from the racks. Instead, if you see something you like, you must tell your bridal consultant and ask to try it on. The bride doesn’t exactly get to shop during her 90 minutes – her lineup is presented to her in the fitting room.
POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Wasilak
Kleinfeld Bridal Consultants: How Do They Match You?
I was lucky enough to work with Antonella, who is so kind and very funny (it’s no wonder she’s featured on Say Yes to the Dress so often). You are allowed to request a bridal consultant upon arrival if you’re familiar with the Kleinfeld crew, but if you do not request, you’ll be paired up randomly.
How Do You Get a Job at Kleinfeld?
Antonella shared her personal story with me, which was pretty cool. She scored an interview for a consultant position and has been working at Kleinfeld for 13 years. But she has a history in styling and is clearly talented at her job. It definitely helps to get your start in the fashion industry, whether it’s in styling or merchandising. Each consultant takes an intern under her wing for the day, who learns how to help style, fit the dresses to the bride’s body by cinching with clips, and search for dresses quickly when a consultant requests one. These people know the Kleinfeld brands like the back of their hands – and they’re well-versed in the store’s stock!
POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Wasilak
Is Kleinfeld Bridal Expensive?
In short, yes. The dresses I tried on ranged from $3K to $8K, and I barely got into the thick of the gowns – some are incredibly intricate with hand embroidery and carefully placed beads and sequins. It also depends on the designer you’re shopping, and if you attend a trunk show at Kleinfeld, there is a bit of a discount if you purchase day-of. That being said, two brides said yes to the dress while I was shopping in the store, one of whom I met earlier on in the day – she and her family are from Michigan and traveled to New York just for a weekend at Kleinfeld. This experience certainly makes brides feel special and as though they are shopping the best of the best when it comes to princess-style ballgowns.
How Do You Get on Say Yes to the Dress?
I asked Antonella specifically about SYTTD because I knew she had filmed for the show multiple times. She explained that you must apply for the show via TLC, and Kleinfeld works with the network to choose brides with a unique storyline. These brides do try on more than four dresses, or what is typical of a standard appointment. They usually stay at Kleinfeld for a two-hour window (instead of 90 minutes), and Antonella is advised that she’ll be filmed working with a client once she gets into work.
