Say Yes to the Dress Canada premieres in 2015
Say Yes to the Dress Canada starts filming at Amanda-Lina’s Sposa Boutique in Woodbridge in August

thestar.com
July 16, 2014
By Linda Barnard

TLC is saying “I do” to a Canadian version of Say Yes to the Dress.

But the local version, airing on the W Network starting in winter 2015, won’t be shot at Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay, the northern branch of the Manhattan-based Kleinfeld Bridal, home of the American show for 11 seasons.

Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay opened in the retailer’s Queen St. flagship store in May.

Instead, Say Yes to the Dress Canada will start filming at Amanda-Lina’s Sposa Boutique in Woodbridge in August. Canadian brides will be followed as they choose a wedding dress, likely generating the show’s trademark dramas, meltdowns and emotion in the process.

Vibika Bianchi, vice-president of women’s and family original programming with W Network broadcaster Corus Entertainment, said researchers checked out “every single bridal boutique” in the Toronto area, more than 20 in all, before deciding on Amanda-Lina’s.

“What we really loved about Amanda-Lina’s is it’s a family run place. It’s a Canadian institution,” said Bianchi.

She said “there were a lot of factors” involved in the decision to set the show there and the fact it’s a family run business with “interesting characters” opens the door to “all kinds of (stories) there.”

The family has been in the bridal business for 35 years, first with Lina’s Bridal Boutique on Weston Rd. and now as Amanda-Lina’s, which is run by Sam Pollari, son of Lina’s owners, and his wife, Rachelle Pollari.

Sam Pollari calls landing the show “the crowning achievement of my career.”

Say Yes to the Dress Canada will follow the same template as the American version, with friends, families and fiances weighing in on the big decision.

The TLC show is famous for meltdowns, dramas and thrilling moments as stressed-out brides try to find the dress of their dreams. Bianchi said Canadian viewers should expect no less.

“Something happens to you leading up to your wedding. Drama follows you around,” said Bianchi.

As for the brides-to-be, the primary requirement is they must be willing to share their dress-shopping experience on camera.

“We want a very diverse cast of brides,” said Bianchi. “All body types, ethnicities, economic backgrounds, we want to make sure represents all Canadians.”

To apply to be on Say Yes to the Dress Canada, which is being produced by Toronto’s Temple Street Productions, go to wnetwork.com/be-on-tv.