The History of Kleinfeld Bridal
Kleinfeld Bridal has been dedicated to providing brides with unparalleled dress selection and exceptional service for nearly a century. Since 1941, Kleinfeld has helped hundreds of thousands of brides find the perfect wedding dress. From the day she says “yes” to the dress to the moment she says “I do,” Kleinfeld is with each bride every step of the way.
The legacy of Kleinfeld wouldn’t be what it is today without the incredible team behind it all! Meet the Kleinfeld owners, Mara and Ronnie, here and our dedicated bridal stylists here.
Every milestone throughout Kleinfeld’s history is important to us which is why we honor every special moment (both big and small!) throughout our journey below. However, please note that some information may no longer be relevant or certain collections may no longer be available.
Have questions? Please inquire with our team by emailing us at info@kleinfeldbridal.com.
Our Story
1941
Established by the Kleinfeld family, Hedda Kleinfeld and Jack Schacter, in Brooklyn as a single storefront with three dressing rooms, featuring fur and special occasion dresses.
1968
Hedda Kleinfeld began introducing wedding gowns from European designers.
1979
Kleinfeld expands the store and removes fur and evening dresses to sell only wedding dresses, offering 400 styles and 12 dressing rooms
1990
The Kleinfeld Family sells the store to Michel Zelnik and a group of venture capitalists.
1996
Kleinfeld is acquired by Gordon Brothers Capital.
1999
Mara Urshel, Ronnie Rothstein and Wayne Rogers purchase Kleinfeld Bridal and renovates the space to include 18 dressing rooms and 13 fitting rooms.
2000
2000
Mara Urshel expands the retail selection to include European dresses and designer exclusives, featuring over 800 dresses.
2004
Construction begins on the 35,000 square feet Manhattan location.
2004
Kleinfeld introduces exclusive designer, Pnina Tornai.
2005
Kleinfeld relocates to the newly-renovated location in Manhattan with 28 dressing rooms, 17 fitting rooms, 1500 designer sample dresses, and a staff of 250 employees, servicing over 17,000 brides annually.
2006
Kleinfeld begins filming the bridal reality series, Say Yes to the Dress.
2008
Mara Urshel launches the private label dress collection. Dress lines include Alita Graham, Sophia Moncelli and Danielle Caprese.
2009
Kleinfeld introduces exclusive designer Dennis Basso.
2015
Kleinfeld mourns the loss of Kleinfeld co-owner and President Wayne Rogers.
2016
Kleinfeld launches exclusive collection with designer, Christian Siriano.
2018
Kleinfeld hosts an event with The Make-a-Wish Foundation and raises over $100k in donations.
2019
Kleinfeld introduces Pronovias x Kleinfeld, an exclusive collection only available at Kleinfeld. Kleinfeld launches Kleinfeld Fine Jewelry.
2020
Kleinfeld introduces Pantora Bridal. Kleinfeld partners with Disney Fairytale Weddings x Allure on exclusive line of wedding dresses.
2024
Kleinfeld launched Kleinfeld Again, a luxury resale marketplace that connects brides to pre-owned designer gowns through both digital and in-store experiences.