Monte Durham of 'Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta' Says Brides Are Scouted Online
Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta is back for its 11th season, and fans couldn't be more thrilled.
To celebrate the new season, Fashion Director of Bridals by Lori Monte Durham chatted with Good Housekeeping about what fans can expect to see. While talking with Monte, we also learned some interesting tidbits about what goes on behind the scenes when filming the iconic bridal show.
Here are a few fascinating facts about SYTTDA that even the most die-hard fans probably don't know (plus, a few season 11 spoilers):
Appearing on Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta isn't easy, but you could be scouted.
With 100 applications submitted on a weekly basis, Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta has plenty of brides to choose from. Monte shares that he and Lori Allen, the owner of Brides by Lori, aren’t involved in the process, which includes an online application and background check — similar to the original Say Yes to the Dress show in New York City.
“We have to make sure they are getting married and also [determine] what their storyline is,” Monte tells us. “And [consider] travel distance, because we attract brides from the Carolinas, Florida, and past the Mississippi [River], like California. We get a broad spectrum of brides that have certain needs.”
But SYTTDA also looks for potential talent online: “We have a scout that is constantly looking on the internet, seeing who is getting engaged and listening to stories."
Bridals by Lori is a one-stop shop with over 1,500 wedding dresses.
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Bridals by Lori spans 25,000 square feet over three floors, each with a dedicated purpose. The first floor welcomes customers to the store with an upscale tuxedo selection. The second floor houses an expansive array of dresses for bridesmaids, along with accessories, shoes, and an alterations department. And lastly, the third floor is where all the magic happens for brides-to-be.
“It’s just easy shopping,” Monte says. “There are over 1,500 wedding gowns on the floor and they’re boutique style. We have open-stock shopping, so you tell us what you’re looking for, we ask you to go shopping in each boutique, you pull the dresses, and then we narrow it down from there for you.”
A post shared by Bridals by Lori (@bridalsbylori) on Oct 22, 2019 at 11:47am PDT
Whether you’ve been selected to appear on Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta or you stop by on your own, Monte says you can expect a five-star treatment.
“The beautiful thing about shopping at [Bridals by Lori] is one phone call will take care of everything if you buy your gown, accessories, and veil there."
Monte and Lori are very close in real life.
Like, super close. Speaking about Lori, Monte says, "She's very open about anything. She don’t care. She’s great. We’ve known each other for 19 years and we’re best friends and her granddaughters are my goddaughters. We’re family.”
A post shared by Monte Durham (@therealmontedurham) on Oct 17, 2019 at 7:14am PDT
The new season of Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta will be a bit different.
The 11th season of SYTTDA will feature celebrity guests who have inspired change on the show.
“We’re going to have a handful of celebrities stopping by this season, so you’ll want to stay tuned for that,” Monte shares. “You’re going to see a little bit of a different format than normal where they’re on the sofas being interviewed.”
What's more, day-to-day appointments will have their introductions revamped. The fashion director says that he and Lori know nothing about the bride or the bride’s family before meeting them on the top floor of the salon.
“We’re meeting them for the first time you meet them as well,” he explains. “But we’re doing a little bit of a different format this season. We’re going to be greeting our brides and her entourage as they come onto the floor, so we’re going to meet them face-to-face.”
Monte is focusing on bridesmaids in a big way.
As fans know, the new season premiere starred Jessa Duggar from Counting On and her sister-in-law Jessica Seewald. That said, the episode also followed a different bride and her bridesmaids. Although Monte made it clear that he’d rather be in any other part of the store than on the second floor, he was given the task of bringing order to the bridesmaid section, which is often described as chaotic.
“You know what it’s like to be in the bridesmaid department? Do you have any idea? You talk about complex,” Monte spills. “It’s like opening up a box of Skittles when you’re looking at different colors, fabrications, fits, and styles, and trying to center somebody when the bride doesn’t give you much direction. So, direction is little, and options are many.”
Of course, the West Virginia native is always up for a challenge and doesn’t get overwhelmed by the wedding party. To get the ball rolling, Monte always starts by focusing on one specific dress characteristic.
“I like uniformity. I share that boldly with the brides and the bridesmaids, and I’m very good at centering. We’re not going to have a free-for-all today. We’re going to focus and we’re going to pick a color first, because once we pick the color, then we can move forward.”
And with that, brides and bridesmaids are ready to find their dresses!
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