Ep 2. The Cardinal Rules

In season 5 episode 2 of Say Yes to the Dress titled "The Cardinal Rules," brides-to-be flock to Kleinfeld Bridal in search of their dream dresses while navigating the rigid rules of their religious traditions.

The first bride, Andrea, is a Catholic looking for a modest dress that adheres to church guidelines. Her mom, who is a nun, joins her for the appointment and stresses the importance of modesty. Randy Fenoli, Kleinfeld's fashion director, and bridal consultant Keasha Rigsby struggle to find a dress that is both modest yet still glamorous enough to make Andrea feel like a bride.

The second bride, Charity, is also a Catholic, but her tradition is more relaxed allowing for a more traditional bridal gown. Charity faces a different problem- she wants a form-fitting dress to show off her curves, but her mother wants her to cover up. Along with her entourage, they must find a dress that can make both the bride and mother happy.

The third bride, Rania, tries to fuse her conservative Muslim beliefs with her modern sensibilities. Being a Muslim, she can't show her arms or wear a form-fitting dress, but she doesn't want something that looks like her mother's wedding dress. Kleinfeld consultant, Claudia, helps her find the perfect dress that is both modern and meets her modesty requirements.

In the fourth bride's case, Rachel's Jewish traditions require that she wears a dress with sleeves to her wedding. Bridal consultant Nicole Sacco has a tough time finding a dress with sleeves that doesn't look matronly. With some teamwork from her mother and sister, Nicole finally finds the perfect dress for Rachel's wedding day.

The episode also follows two brides from the previous episode trying to find their perfect dresses. Heather, who is older and getting married for the second time, is looking for a dress that is more age-appropriate, while Maria wants to find a dress that will wow her groom.

Ultimately, each bride navigates their religious traditions while finding a dress that makes them feel like a bride. "The Cardinal Rules" showcases the challenges and triumphs that arise when trying to find a dress that satisfies both cultural and personal preferences.