Dress shopping at Kleinfeld was a bucket list item for me since the very first day I watched Say Yes To The Dress. When Ben and I got engaged, grabbing a slot on their calendar was actually one of the first things I did! I was SO excited when my appointment finally rolled around and couldn’t wait to see the shop in person.
I ended up going to the shop twice; once for a 90 minute appointment in June and then again about two months later for a second appointment with a different consultant. While I didn’t end up purchasing my dress there, there are still 7 important things I learned and wanted to pass along!
7 Things To Know
- Get A Spot On The Floor: Not every appointment takes place on the floor (the area you see on the show) but being out there makes such a difference. During my first appointent, I was in one of the back dressing rooms. I would get dressed in one room and then walk into another one to show my mom and MOH. It was ok, just kind of underwhelming. During my second appointment, I was out on the floor and it was SO much fun! There were girls coming out in their gowns, people saying “yes” left and right, entourages clapping and cheering – there was just so much positive energy out there and it made the appointent feel more like the experience I was there for. If you want to be on the floor, I would call and ask which consultants are assigned out there and see if you can be paired with one of them!
- Randy Isn’t Always There: When you watch the show, you assume Randy is always on the floor. He’s actually only in the store on select occasions, so if you want to see him then your bet best would be to go when he’s having a trunk show! You can find trunk show dates on the Kleinfeld website. Plus, if you purchase one of his gowns during the show, you typically get a 10% discount!
- Beware of Budget: If you have a strict cap on your budget, be sure to tell your consultant a number around 1K lower. Kleinfeld has a set rate for alternations which comes in at $895 before tax. I didn’t know that at first and so I gave my end budget and dresses were being pulled at that exact amount. Once I saw the total after tax and alternations, I realized my mistake!
- Do Your Research: Kleinfeld lists all of their inventory on their website and when you create an account, you can “heart” the ones you like. Before your appointment, make sure to go through and find some looks and styles you love…your consultant will most definitely ask. There are SO many dresses in that store, so having some guidance from their own stock is super helpful!
- If You Don’t Succeed, Try Again: If you have your appointent and aren’t meshing well with your consultant, don’t be afraid to call it and try again! I actually requested a different consultant the second time around and felt SO much more comfortable with her! The first one was really sweet, but the second one just really understand my style and was such a hype women in the dressing room. I realized in that moment that the consultant you have plays such a big part in how the appointment goes! Not everyone is going to be a perfect fit and that’s ok!
- Don’t Let The Pressure Get To You: Kleinfeld sees so many brides each day and so it makes sense that they have a very efficient process for what happens after you say yes. Once you say the magic words, your consultant will run through a contract with you (non-binding until you pay for the dress) and then measure you so they know which size to order. They then shuffle you over to finance where you typically need to put down 1/2 the total for a deposit. It’s all very fast and if you’re anything like me, you may need a minute to think on your decision before formally committing. From my experience, they’ll try and get that payment ASAP, but don’t let the pressure cause you to make a decision before you’re ready. They’ll hold onto your measurements for a week, so you do have some time!
- In A Time Crunch? Call For An Appointment: Appointment times go fast online, but if you call the store, they can typically work with you – especially if it’s during the week. Also, if you’re in NYC and you stop by 15-30 minutes after the designated appointent times, they’ll usually have someone that can help you (especially if you’re just there to try on 1-2 specific dresses). Just avoid prime time (usually 10am, 11am, 1pm, 4:30pm) if you’re doing a walk-in. You’ll be in a sea of brides all waiting for their consultants, so avoid the wait and come once they’re all settled in!
Overall, I really enjoyed my appointments at Kleinfeld and *almost* said a true “yes” to the dress above! I actually changed my mind last minute and went with one of the first dresses I tried on at a little boutique in CT, But even if you don’t find “the dress” there, I would still recommend going if it’s on your bucket list!
Have you shopped at Kleinfeld before? If you have any additional tips, drop them below!
