Entertainment
Five former brides revisit their reality TV moment to correct the record.
Who wants to be a basic b*tch in white?
I want a black wedding dress, so it can match my black little heart.
Camilas experience is typical of the shows formula.
But what happens when the cameras disappear?
Is the experience all its cracked up to be?
I loved all the crystals, the long train, and the color because it wasnt this traditional white.
It was still tasteful, in my opinion.
That dress reminded me very much of French gowns from the 1800s.
I just felt that it was a work of art.
Couture retains its value, for the most part.
I could sell that on Sothebys in two seconds.
Also, the veil was seven grand, and the shoes were $3,000.
I really got manipulated and tricked [forThe Big Day].
They pitched it to me [as] empowering women.
I went with it because it was like Why not?
But they literally fabricated drama.
They made my mom look like this mother-in-law-zilla, and shes not that at all.
I hated how they made [now ex-husband] Andrew look like this victim.
I had to do everything.
There was a whole blog devoted to hating me where people would just bash me in my dress.
At the time, I didnt have the thick skin that I have now, so Id be crying.
Id be like, They don’t even know me.
[The dress is] at my moms house in the garage, boxed up.
Im going to end up putting it in a glass box at a museum.
Its amazing that [the episode is] still on all the time.
My daughter was lying on my bed watching it, and she just loved it.
Shes like, Oh, my gosh, Mom, youre so adorable.
She was cracking up doing all these impressions of me, and she just is obsessed with the dress.
So, no, I wouldnt have done anything differently.
The only thing I would have done differently is not marry the person I married.
One of the producers from the show convinced me to do it.
But they were so sweet, and it was really flattering.
I drew out the dress I thought I would be comfortable with.
I showed up with the sneakers.
I wanted pockets and all these things that are really practical.
It was unusual at the time, but thats exactly what I wanted.
Brides like me have always existed.
We just dont normally go to Kleinfelds.
[My mother-in-law] isnotconservative.
like put that in your article.
She saw the episode, and she was like, Why did they say that about me?
That is not who I am.
But she was super supportive.
They really played it up.
I think my dress was $4,000.
It was a lot.
It was also at the low end for Kleinfeld.
They didnt treat me less than.
They didnt upsell me.
I expected people to be snootier about what I wanted.
The consultants did not treat me like I was making an outrageous request.
They were like, Yeah, OK, well take this seriously.
(Kleinfeld Fashion Director Randy Fenoli sniffed, Its not a fashion show.)
The final bill tallied $15,400, with alterations.
I feel like I ended up getting a pretty decent amount of dresses for that much.
The only dress that I wish I spent more time on was the one for the New Jersey wedding.
I wanted it to be a little bit more wow.
But the other two, particularly the vineyard one, were perfect.
I got interviewed byGood Morning Americaas well.
[Having multiple wedding celebrations] was pretty unusual, and it was pretty over-the-top.
I have a few friends that called it The summer of Monishas parties, and thats what it was.
For our vineyard one, they strung probably a hundred chandeliers in the sky.
People were like, Youre too much.
The other two are at my moms house.
She recently asked if she could give them away, and I said, No.
She wanted a black dress to match [her] black heart.
Randy and consultant Michele told Camila only two black gowns were available in the store.
But they didnt mention that some designers offer custom-dyed dresses.
I was so caught up in the moment of making my mom happy.
I [chose a white dress] for Brents family, as well.
Because his family is [from the] Midwest, super traditional.
I feel like I already shocked them with all my tattoos.
Having a black dress, everybodys going to be like, Are we coming to a funeral?
If Id known that, I probably would have picked a black dress [for the reception].
[Oniria said, The day that I die, you will remember this day.
]Oh, my God, talk about pulling out the non-existing heart I have.
My mom still gets a kick out of random people going up to her, Camila!No!
Im actually going to do a photoshoot with my 3-year-old.
She’s going to wear it.
Just to have a memory and then, hopefully, one day I’ll pass it on to her.
Then, well dye it black or whatever weve got to do.
Her mom first declared a max of $7,000 but quickly followed up with go up, whatever.
Her custom blush pink Pnina Tornai corset gown rang in at $11,200.
We were encouraged [to do the show] by our wedding planner.
I told [consultant] Antonella the style I wanted: loud, bright, sparkles.
We were really firm that it cant be a white dress.
I dont think they fully understood the cultural aspect of why we dont wear white.
We wear red, actually, during our religious ceremony.
I dont think they knew much about that, to be honest.
My dad was like, This is so stupid.
And, dont get me wrong, I really do still like nice designer stuff.
But for my sisters wedding, Im telling her, Have a reasonable budget.
Ten years later, would I do it all over again?
Im more into privacy.
I have two girls that are a year old.
Im like, Sure, save it for them for when they get married.
[But] what if they dont want to wear it?
But I mean, I had an overall really good experience.
Were going back to Kleinfeld next year for my sister.
The interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.
