'Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta' January 22 episodes feature Bert Show's Kristin Klingshirn, Anna Bozman (2024)

"That was one of the most difficult appointments to get through because it was so sad," Allen said in a phone interview Thursday. "We took the store to her house." She said Anna couldn't have been nicer.

"She was totally shocked," Allen said. "We let her choose whatever she wanted." Allen gave Bozman the dress she chose gratis. "She had been through so much. And she looked incredible. A seamstress altered it overnight."

Allen said she and Monte had a hard time keeping it together. And by the time the taping was over, "we were exhausted. On our way home, I don't think we said a word. And you know how we talk!"

Bozman had ordered a dress online while Lake was still alive but it was nothing special. "It was a cute dress but it wasn't a true bridal gown," she said in an interview. "I had never tried on a true wedding dress."

With Allen's guidance, she did find one, she said, that fit her almost perfectly. The seamstress didn't have to do much work to alter it.

"It was so hard to be happy about my wedding because Lake wasn't there," Bozman said. "I felt like 'Say Yes to the Dress' coming was like Lake telling me it was okay to be happy. I wanted this to be a special day. I wanted this for Lake. Having the dress made it much more special and meaningful. I was actually happy for my wedding."

In February, Lake was supposed to go to Disney World with 11 other terminally or chronically ill kids for the annual Bert's Big Adventure trip, led by radio host Bert Weiss for the Bert Show. But the morning of departure, he became too ill to attend. In early April, Weiss teamed up with the Atlanta Hawks for an alternative plan: have the team "draft" Lake for a day and give him the time of his life. He got to sit courtside and meet the players.

The story got major press all over the country, including Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Three weeks later, he passed away from acute myeloid leukemia, a rare cancer of the blood.

"Lake touched the hearts of a lot of people," Bozman said. "He fought really hard. He had a rare and aggressive cancer. He fought for three years. He lasted a lot longer than any doctor thought he could."

After the wedding in October, Anna's friend Brandy Angel took photos of the wedding party and added in images of Lake. "It turned out even better than I had imagined," Bozman said.

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Speaking of the Bert Show, "Say Yes to the Dress" at 9:30 p.m. will also feature another notable: Bert Show member Kristin Klingshirn. She is not a bride but a bridesmaid for her niece Katy Flanagan.

The twist: Klingshirn has been dating her boyfriend Bart for nine years but is neither engaged nor married.

"We kidded her the whole time," Allen said. "We want her to be engaged." Ultimately, she added, Klingshirn "was gracious and funny. She didn't seem to care at all. In the end, she had her niece's back."

This taping actually happened last June. At the time on the Bert Show (hear the audio clips below), Klinghsirn talked about it extensively. She said she and her niece agreed that Klingshirn would play up the fact she wasn't married for the cameras and ensure the show would air.

But the show description is making Klingshirn "nervous," she said this morning. "I was cool with being the spinster aunt who isn't married but they are going a different route," she said. Then she read what TLC provided TVGuide.com: "A bridge's stylish aunt may not share the same vision as her niece."

Although Klingshirn didn't put on a wedding dress but she said she did put on a veil as as joke. She knows they are going to use it. (UPDATE: They didn't! They didn't reference Kristin's personal life at all!)

Allen said she had no idea there was any deliberate shenanigans going on. She said when people are trying to drum up drama for the sake of the cameras, her crew can usually smell it and those folks don't make it on air.

UPDATE: Kristin is described as a "fashionista." Katy's mom is worried she might direct her daughter too risque. Indeed, the first dress Kristin chose was too revealing for her niece's taste.

Kristin was looking for something "sophisticated sexy." Her second pick was "a floral jacquard fit and flare with a corset bodice." Her mom said it's unique but isn't the style she thinks her daughter envisions. And Katy doesn't look too happy. "I don't like the corset," she said.

Lori and Monte find a sexy lace fit and flare gown with a high neck line that is more Katy's taste. "It's absolutely beautiful," Katy said. When she shows it off to her family and friends, she tears up.

Kristin helps "jack up" Katy with accessories. And Katy is thrilled. They celebrate.

TV PREVIEW

"Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta," 9 p.m. Fridays, TLC