Top 10 Craziest Say Yes to the Dress Moments

Former pageant contestant Kelly arrives at Bridals by Lori to find her dream wedding dress. But the pageant coach she brings along, Michael, has a different vision of what the bride should wear on her big day. He does not hold back his opinions, which favor a beauty competition style over a bridal look. His comments seem to crush Kelly’s spirit, leaving her disheartened. In an attempt to help her regain control of her appointment, a fed-up Lori asks Michael to rein in his criticisms. Still, the bride is eventually reduced to tears—an upsetting sight on what should be a day all about her and her wishes.

Not one for the purity of conventional wedding gowns, Alexis seeks a dress that will make a more risqué statement. Considering the form-fitting bodysuit she dons for her consultation, it’s no surprise that she has a bold criterion for her wedding look. The provocative bride wants shock value above all else, requesting a “naked dress” that will wow her guests. She makes it clear that she’s experienced, and is determined to let it be known in her attire. Alexis’ consultant Antonella is stunned by her unique request and unapologetic personality, and we’re sure viewers at home could relate. To each their own, but this is certainly one of the show’s more jaw-dropping requests.

In the spin-off showcasing bridesmaid dress shopping, we’re introduced to Emily, a bride who repeatedly directs mean-spirited comments towards her party. A disagreement on dress color, pre-existing tensions, and inharmonious dynamics result in the session taking a nasty turn. It should be a fun day with her closest friends, but instead Emily fires jabs at her bridesmaids as they try on garments. She tells one friend she looks like a big nacho, another a cabbage, and rudely criticizes the bridesmaid attire her matron of honor chose for her own wedding. It’s evident from the start that Emily is unhappy with her group and their supposed lack of support, but her insults are wildly inappropriate and uncalled for.

Despite displays of love and joy, “Say Yes to the Dress'' is not without its unsettling moments. Body shaming is somewhat of a regular occurrence, as entourages have frequently offended brides while they try on dresses. One of the most disturbing examples is Heather’s mother, who thinks her daughter hasn’t lost enough weight to wear the form-fitting gown she desires. Like Heather’s mom, Anna’s sister rudely comments on her figure. And Jordan’s aunt compares her thighs to those of a rugby player, while Roni’s mom says she didn’t look good in the types of dresses she likes. Needless to say, these family members’ shaming goes way too far.

Though brides are bound to receive straightforward feedback from loved ones during consultations, Stacy’s mother takes her honesty to a brutal level. Before the bride even begins trying on gowns, her mom thinks it appropriate to rudely comment on her body and style. She even goes so far as to express her disbelief at the fact that her daughter has a fiancé considering her fashion choices. And once the bride actually shows her mother dress options, the hurtful comments keep coming. The duo can’t agree on which style is best. In the end though, Stacy winds up getting her mother’s approval. Sure, the session ends with happy tears, but were the insensitive insults really necessary?!

It's never a good sign when a bride has visited over 80 shops. This is the case for Samantha, whose mother’s behavior helps us understand why she had been to so many stores. Extremely difficult to please, the mom expresses disdain when Samantha tries on a gown that seems perfect. But what’s especially cruel is that she has no real issues with the dress itself, but rather how it looks on her daughter. She laughs and has virtually nothing nice to say, forcing the routinely professional Randy to step away from the madness. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only time mothers have mocked their kids. As we’ve come to learn, they can be the harshest critics, and Samantha’s remains one of the franchise’s most brutal examples.

One would think the bride would be the undisputed center of attention when shopping for her big day. But Chassidy’s mom, who happens to be engaged, isn’t keen to let her daughter have her own special moment. Not only does she think about stealing a dress the bride tries, but she goes on to selfishly wear one herself. She does this in secret, stunning everyone when she walks out in a bridal get-up. Chassidy understandably can’t hold back tears, making the moment equally uncomfortable and sad. We’re just about as shocked and annoyed by the display as the robbed daughter is.

Plenty of brides with interesting visions walk through Kleinfeld’s doors, but few are as unexpected as Mariah. More than willing to share the spotlight, she’s on the lookout for two dream dresses—one for herself and one for her dog, Coco. As the most important member of the bridal party, Coco needs a matching garment that would ensure she looks just as good as the bride. After trying on a few bold options, Mariah finds the perfect gown that would also serve as inspiration for a custom-made puppy dress. This unconventional twinning idea and the consultation as a whole certainly had us entertained. Kudos to Mariah for making sure her pup shows up in style!

While many brides want a classic white dress, others deviate from tradition and opt for bolder colors. To daringly mirror her “black little heart” and avoid being “basic,” Cami is on a mission to find a black dress. Though she cares about her mother’s differing opinion, she’s set on her vision. As Cami dons an all-black ensemble, onlookers can’t help reacting to the shocking attire. The aftermath of the dress reveal includes comparisons to a dead bride, disapproval, and an utterly frazzled Randy. We don’t blame him for feeling stressed, as a vocal mother on top of a unique request is a lot to handle.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The “Spoiled Persian Princess,” “Say Yes to the Dress” (2007-)
Persia Needs Randy to Find Her Dream Pnina Tornai Dress

A Sporty Request, “Say Yes to the Dress” (2007-)
Melanie Needs a Dress Suitable to Wear While Playing Hockey

The Fiancé Gets the Boot, “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta” (2010-20)
Lori Tells Meg’s Beau to Bounce After One Too Many Vocal Opinions

A Fiery Client, “Say Yes to the Dress” (2007-)
Christine Is Looking for a Gown That Matches Her Wedding Headpiece & Won’t Catch Fire

Vera Is Hit, “Say Yes to the Dress: 10 Years of Yes!” (2017)
An Angry Mom Gets Physical During a Tense Fitting

Entourages have proven to be tough crowds, but Alisha’s party takes the cake when it comes to unwarranted bashing. Upon arriving to shop, the bride appears to want to please her friends and family while also ensuring she feels beautiful in her gown. But they make things outrageously difficult. Alisha initially sports a beaming smile in a dress she likes, but the joy quickly escapes her face when her mother chimes in. The entourage cruelly jokes about her appearance, compares her to a linebacker, and offensively laughs. Naturally, Lori and Monte are appalled, and the bride breaks down. The moment is borderline vicious, and we couldn’t have been more shocked by the cruelty of those who should’ve been Alisha’s biggest supporters.