Kleinfelds!

kayla2536

So I've been addicted to Say Yes to the Dress for...idk. A while now. Especially because it's on Netflix! Well now I've got an appointment there!

I know they're expensive, starting at like $1,800-2,000 but I'm so ridiculously picky and umm...unique I think the trip will totally be worth it. Plus I love SYTTD.

Anyone ever go there? What to bring/wear/do to prepare?

Winnertag1

I've never been there, but I never realized it was on netflix! I am excited!

StephBeanWed61502

I know brides who've gone to Kleinfelds, and I've heard the experience you get when you're not on the show is absolutely nothing like what they show on SYTTD, and it's actually very impersonal and factory-ish.  (I've also heard repeated complaints that their consultants are absolutely disrespectful of budgets, frequently showing brides gowns that are several hundred dollars more than the bride's limit and letting her try the dress on before warning her that it's overbudget).  

Honestly, if you're looking for that "star of the show" kind of experience, you'd be better off going to a really small local boutique, where you're more likely to be one of 2 or 3 appointments happening at a given time instead of 1 of 50.

meccaqt99

I just posted before I read this. I went today and had a wonderful experience. My consultant was very much aware of my budget and when I picked one out of budget she told me before pulling. I fell in love with a Pnina and said yes to it today not expecting at all to find a dress the first time there. I met Pnina herself and the owner. Pnina even did my measurements. I have pictures with her in my dress she designed, it was all I expected and more.

mss274

I went to Kleinfeld's and loved the experience. The consultant would tell me the price of the dress beforehand if it was below or above the budget. My personal experience was the best in this salon than others I visited. Everyone was coming over and giving you this attention and making suggestions to find what flattered me most. I was stuck between two dresses and they let me think about it for a couple hours and come back to decide.

I brought magazine pictures and pulled up my pinterest board on my phone as well so they could pull specific dresses I loved.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_kleinfelds-5?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:de08cf86-89c1-4965-b12e-d18dfb8c6ac8Post:57e3cb53-a597-4c14-8552-dc1549de3abf">Re: Kleinfelds!</a>:
[QUOTE]I went to Kleinfeld's and loved the experience. The consultant would tell me the price of the dress beforehand if it was below or above the budget. My personal experience was the best in this salon than others I visited. Everyone was coming over and giving you this attention and making suggestions to find what flattered me most. I was stuck between two dresses and they let me think about it for a couple hours and come back to decide. I brought magazine pictures and pulled up my pinterest board on my phone as well so they could pull specific dresses I loved.
Posted by mss274[/QUOTE]

This.   It's untrue that you need to be on a SYTTD episode or face factory like service - the consultants aren't told whether you'd like to appear until after you've had your first appointment.

I'm a Kleinfeld's bride and had a 90 minute appointment for which I'd specifically requested Keasha.  She asked me what I wanted to look like, when I was getting married and the number I'd like to stay under.   Then she took me into the stockroom (where I literally bumped into Randy)  which has easily hundreds of different styles so I could show her what I liked.   Kleinfeld's wasn't my first bridal appointment so I say this with (a little) bit of experience: the level of service and personal attention I received was unparalleled.  They're not mega successful because of their inventory, everybody has dresses and everybody has em cheaper, their success model is about customer service. 

If I could suggest something OP, it's challenging (not impossible but hard) to find designer and/or couture under $2K, sign up on their website to be alerted to their annual or semi-annual sample sale.  Also, don't despair if you find the perfect dress and it's outstide your budget, you could come across it on a preowned/resale gown site by a bride trying to recoup her cost - that's my personal story, found it at Kleinfeld's bought it less than 50% cost from a bride reselling.

Take what you would to any other salon:  your wedding shoes and slip if you intend to wear one and/or your veil or headpiece if you have that (helpful but not necessary to bring).  Your consultant will do the rest.   p.s. it also helps if you book the first appointment of the day (@ noon), you're fresh, your consultant is fresh, no wait time.

Sorry this was so long, Good luck and enjoy the experience! 

dewingedpixie

My mom wanted me to go to Kleinfelds I knew it was out of my budget. I set a 750-1000 preference with a 1300 max before alterations. I started saving dresses at multiple places in this range but fell in love with a gown that was on sale for 2800, originally 3600! My heart sunk, until they told me they had a sample sale and they had a very small sample that did not get tried on by many woman. They also were raffling a $500 off at the bridal expo I was at, which I won! In the end after tax I paid $950 for my wedding dress which was in my happy price point. My mother got to go with me to a boutique that was local and very polite and saw me try on dresses ranging from 2000-4500.
 
Note that the dress I bought if it had been a designer from kleinfelds rather than a local designer probably would have been originally 5000+ as well. Many local boutiques carry dresses from smaller dress designers which means they are the same quality but less expensive than a big well know designer. You also may even have your alterations done by the designer, which is what I've been told will happen with my dress next year.

In my situation my mom and I  both won which made me very happy. I refused to let my parents who are not in the best situation right now buy my dress, or in my mom's case she wanted to buy me a very expensive dress. In the end because I went local to a sample sale she got her kleinfelds dream in a way. So try local you may get a better price point, and better service.

Giaspo

I went to Kleinfelds with my mom and had Camille who was lovely.  We had the last appointment on a busy Saturday and were not rushed.  Trouble was, Kleinfelds was my last salon stop after visiting a ton and I wanted to see something "different".  I brought a bunch of photos and tried to explain the look I was going for.  Everything Camille brought was similar in style... with 1,700 gowns in stock and my budget being fairly flexible ($10,000), I would've hoped to be wowed by something.  But I'm also very picky - my friends who were most successful at Kleinfelds were more open minded. 

Definitely go and enjoy.  As PPs have said, be prepared to use your 90 minutes as efficiently as possible.  Shop elsewhere beforehand, bring photos and an idea of what shape you like - anything to help the consultant narrow down the choices.  If you can go on a weekday that helps, and limit the amount of guests you bring.  And make your appointment now - I had to wait 4 months for mine.  Good luck!

EDIT - oh and I didn't spend anywhere CLOSE to $10K.  Other, smaller salons have good deals too. 

ElisabethJoanne

When I heard Elizabeth Smart went to Kleinfelds and STILL had to have like a jacket put over her dress so it was Temple-ready, I knew Kleinfelds was over-hyped, IMO.

samanthaeisner

I went to Kleinfeld's and was disappointed.  I didn't find a dress there and was very pressured to find something.  I brought about 20 pictures of dresses that I liked features of and told my consultant that I liked pieces of them, not sold on any of them.  She judged every one and told me they had not one dress in my selection.  I also felt judged on my budget and wedding location.  There was a trunk show and she only showed me dresses from that designer.  The deisgner was there and he fluffed each dress and made me feel beautiful and like a princess.  I kept trying to explain that I didn't feel like any of the dresses were my dress and everyone's response who worked there was "This has everything you say you wanted, how could it not be your dress?"  I only used 55 minutes of my 90 minute appointment and when I asked to see something more than the 4 dresses I tried on since I didn't feel like any of them were my dress, I was told no.  I was told the first dress they put me in was my dress and I just needed to realize it.  I was told to go have lunch and they were sure I'd be back to get measured and order my dress.  I felt very pressured and did not fall in love. 

I went home and made another appointment, in case this dress was my dress, but wanted to shop more.  I looked on their website at dresses and at least 5 of the pictures that I brought, which I was told they did not sell, were on their website.  I went to a local place and fell in love with a dress, my dress.  It felt perfect and had everything I wanted it to have, with no pressure to buy at all.

My advice, go to Kleinfeld's for the experience.  It will be fun and you will feel beautiful in everything they put you in.

kayla2536

I pretty much am just going for the experience, because I know it will be hard to find a "budget" dress there. As some of you ladies mentioned, if I do find one I really love I'll see if other stores have it for cheaper or if someone is selling a used one, which would be preferred since I'm *trying* to do eco-friendly.