I tried on 3 wedding gowns at Kleinfeld, the bridal shop from 'Say Yes to the Dress,' and was surprised by how much I loved the cheapest one

Samantha GrindellOct 8, 2024, 03:44 IST

Business Insider reporter Samantha Grindell tried on wedding dresses at Kleinfeld.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

I had a mock bridal appointment at Kleinfeld from "Say Yes to the Dress."
I tried on three gowns ranging in price from just over $2,000 to $7,000.

As a wedding reporter at Business Insider, I'm constantly speaking to industry experts about wedding trends.

Among those experts is Marissa Rubinetti, the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Kleinfeld in New York.

Kleinfeld is famous for having the largest collection of wedding gowns in the world and for being the salon featured in "Say Yes to the Dress."

The boutique's dresses are also pricey. According to the store's website, its gowns start at around $2,000 and can cost tens of thousands of dollars, with its most expensive gown, designed by Pnina Tornai, retailing for $80,000.

When Rubinetti invited me to see the store and try on dresses, I immediately said yes. Surprisingly, I fell in love with the most affordable dress I saw that day.

I visited Kleinfeld, the iconic bridal salon where "Say Yes to the Dress" is filmed.

I visited Kleinfeld in New York City.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

I was led to the hallway full of dressing rooms, which looked familiar to me as a "Say Yes to the Dress" viewer.

The fitting rooms at Kleinfeld.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

My appointment started with a conversation with my consultant before she pulled any gowns for me.

My Kleinfeld consultant, Briar Moroschak.Samantha Grindell/Business Insider

I didn't expect to like the first dress I tried on: a sleek fit-and-flare gown.

I tried on an Anne Barge gown.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

I was shocked by how much I liked the dress.

The gown was lined with buttons on the back.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

I also got to pair a ring with each gown I tried on.

We paired the dress with a pear-shaped ring.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

Modeling dresses in the showroom was just as fun as it looks on TV.

Modeling the gowns was fun.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

Next, I tried on an A-line dress from Martina Liana.

I tried on a Martina Liana gown.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

The dress was beautiful, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would.

The gown was trimmed with lace.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

I was also surprised by how heavy the gown felt.

The lacy dress was heavy.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

Giddiness swept through me when I put on a tiara with the Martina Liana gown.

I wore a tiara with the look.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

We paired the gown with a more modern ring.

I got to try on another ring with the look.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

The final dress I tried on was a strapless ball gown from Pnina Tornai.

The final dress was designed by Pnina Tornai.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

Since the dress made such a statement, we paired it with both a tiara and a veil.

I wore both a veil and a crown with the look.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

The dress was surprisingly supportive.

The corset bodice made the strapless dress stay up.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

After trying on all three gowns, I was definitely most drawn to the Anne Barge dress.

I was surprised by the dress I loved.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

My experience made me see why Kleinfeld is so beloved in the wedding industry.

Kleinfeld really is special.Crystal Cox/Business Insider

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