The One to Wear: Why do we keep coming back to Say Yes to the Dress?

The One to Wear: An Analysis of “Say Yes to the Dress”

It is the day that every woman dreams about for their entire life. A bouquet of flowers in her hands, walking down the aisle to an eternal bliss. Everything has to be right. An amazing venue with good food, your family and friends and to top it all off, that perfect once in a lifetime dress. Or so television would like us to believe.

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Say Yes to the Dress is a reality show that appeared in October of 2007 on TLC that revolves around finding the perfect dress for your perfect day. Future brides deal with budget concerns, personal struggles and overwhelming guests, in their search for their ‘ the one’. Fifteen seasons on with multiple spinoffs and international versions, it is clear that audiences love watching women get ready for their wedding day, but why?

Part of the reason is that there is always someone on the show who is ‘real’. With a rotating cast of future brides and their entourages backed by the steadfast presence of consultants there is always someone that we are sympathetic towards. Some nights it is the consultants as bridezillas make the appointment impossible before leaving in a huff. In other cases we feel for the bride whose family and friends just don’t seem to grasp that this is her day and not theirs.

Additionally the show presents the idea of conspicuous consumerism. Many of the brides featured on the show either want more then one dress, normally one traditional for the ceremony and another that is shorter and “more fun” for the reception, or they try on dresses that go above their stated price points and then they just can’t go back to the lesser dress. Whether with one budget breaking dress, or with more than one, Say Yes to the Dress presents the idea your perfect day can only be made better if you spend enough money.

From ballgowns to minidresses, Say Yes to the Dress has every kind of dress for every type of bride. Some we love, some we hate and some we just want to say Why. Between beautiful dresses, emotional conflicts and promise of a happy ending for the future bride, it is no wonder that audiences are always drawn back into the Salon to watch another dream come true.