Lori Allen

Not to be confused with Lori Alan.
Lori Allen
Born Georgia
Residence Atlanta Georgia
Nationality American
Alma mater Columbia College in South Carolina
Occupation Bridal boutique owner and television host
Television Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta and Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids
Spouse(s) Eddie Allen (m. 1979)
Children daughter Mollie, son Cory

Lori Burns Allen is an American television personality and upscale bridal boutique owner, (famously known as the venue for top bridal reality shows--Say Yes to the Dress:Atlanta and its spin-off Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids on TLC Network.)

Bridals by Lori

Allen founded Bridals by Lori in Atlanta,Georgia on December 27, 1980.[1] The shop was opened only two weeks after Allen graduated from college. Initially serving as a shopping center storefront, Bridals by Lori has since expanded into a three-story 25,000 square foot complex— becoming one of the largest full-service bridal boutiques in the US.[2] Allen was interviewed by various news outlets, as early as the 1980s, regarding the process of selecting a wedding dress.[3][4][5] She frequently serves as an expert judge for fashion design competitions and has notable features in wedding magazines across the globe.[6]

Television

Platinum Weddings

In 2009 Allen's daughter, Mollie Allen, was featured on the season finale of WE's hit television show Platinum Weddings (season 4). The show documented Mollie and Lori during the planning of Mollie's Southern-charm themed wedding. The show also featured Monte Durham as the wedding director--[7] Durham would later co-host Allen's own television show. It was here that the idea sparked to film a pilot episode focusing on brides and their journey to finding the perfect wedding dress. In 2010, on the boutique's 30th anniversary, Bridals by Lori was selected to be the setting of the television show, Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta.

Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta

This series is one-half of the Say Yes to the Dress franchise—not to be confused with the initial series of Say Yes to the Dress filmed at the bridal boutique, Kleinfelds, in New York City. Instead, the Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta series showcases the daily operations of Bridals by Lori and their expansive clientele, which is visited by roughly 10,000 brides annually. Part bridal story, part fashion makeover and part family therapy session, each episode looks at the personalities and craftsmanship that come into play as the shop's staff, owner Lori Allen, and fashion director Monte Durham, goes to extreme lengths to realize each bride's dreams.[8] The upscale bridal salon is a marker for the most recent bridal trends, prominent designers, and celebrity sightings.

In 2012, "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta" was nominated for "Best City or Regional Program" in the third annual TASTE AWARDS.[9] In 2013, "Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids" was honored as a finalist for "Best Fashion or Design Program: Television" in the fourth annual TASTE AWARDS.[10] In 2014, "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta" was nominated as the "Best Reality Series: Fashion, Design or Home Decor" and the "Best City or Regional Program" in the fifth annual TASTE AWARDS.[11] In 2015, "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta" was named the "Best Fashion or Design Program: Television" in the sixth annual TASTE AWARDS.[12] The show also was nominated for "Best Reality Series: Fashion, Design or Home Decor" and "Best Single Topic Series." [13]

Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta recently aired its ninth season. The season finale for season 9 featured Allen's son, Cory Allen, and his bride Rebecca Gunn. This season finale was considered a very highly rated episode in the Say Yes to the Dress franchise. The episode followed Cory, Rebecca, Lori and Monte as they prepare for the couple's nuptials. Lori deems this episode as her favorite and most sentimental, adding a comical twist that it was "the first time I had to take a back-seat as a bridal expert in order to fulfill my role as Mother of the Groom." The season finale aired to rave reviews on February 26, 2016.

Say Yes to the Cure: Lori's Fight

Lori Allen was also the feature of Say Yes to the Cure: Lori's Fight, a television special that aired on October 26, 2012 on TLC, covering Allen's battle with cancer.[14] She discovered she had cancer on April 13, 2012 over the phone while driving her husband to the hospital, who was suffering from cancer as well. Allen had almost skipped her annual mammogram that year due to her busy schedule. After her diagnosis she invited TLC television cameras to follow her throughout her treatment process and to record her interactions with friends and family.[15] The cameras began following her only 3 days after she discovered her diagnosis, and also featured another cancer survivor named DeLese Range and her story of treatment.[16] In treatment Allen had a lumpectomy and double mastectomy, followed by reconstructive surgery.[17] On June 5, 2013, "Say Yes to the Cure: Lori's Fight" received the real screen Award for Best Health & Well Being Programming.[18] Her docu-series of the treatment and recovery from cancer prompted Lori Allen to advocate for the awareness and importance of mammography and early detection screenings. Today, she operates as a keynote speaker for Breast Cancer Awareness and treatment. Lori credits her family, friends, and fans for aiding her during the recovery process and often notes that she, "wants to be an inspiration to breast cancer survivors and an advocate for importance of health and wellness."

Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids

After much success with the Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta series, development started for a spin-off show that would document bridesmaids in their quest to finding the perfect bridesmaids dress. The idea for the spin-off occurred while on-set of Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta. During filming, the producers overheard a commotion between women in another part of the store over which bridesmaid dresses to select. This gave the producers the inspiration for a separate show based in the same boutique, focusing on bridesmaid dresses and the conflicts between the bride, her bridesmaids, and her family over which style to purchase.[2]

Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids premiered July 8, 2011 and aired until its fourth season in 2013.

Appearances

Lori Allen continues to make guest appearances on some of the most notable fashion and daytime talk shows. She has served as an expert judge on numerous fashion design competitions as well as guest starring on Good Morning America, Today show, Fab Life, Hallmark's Home and Family, Rachael Ray, Inside Edition and Entertainment Tonight. She served as "Honorary Survivor" at the 2016 Relay for Life Fundraiser in Gwinnett County--the largest Relay for Life event in the country with over 10,000 attendees. Allen is one of the most popular contributing guests offering her expertise on the latest bridal fashion trends and red carpet styles. She is also seen front row during New York's Bridal Fashion Week.

Philanthropy

Allen is an active participant in the fight against breast cancer and early detection screenings. She attends rallies across the country and often lends her voice as a speaker for numerous engagements in the advocacy of breast cancer awareness. In 2014, the Making Strides foundation invited Allen to ride in the "I Drive For" pace car for the Oral B USA 500 race sponsored by NASCAR.

In addition, she has teamed with the non-profit, Sunshine on a Ranney Day (SOARD), based in Atlanta, Georgia. SOARD works to renovate homes for children with special needs and restore hope for families. SOARD is a licensed general contractor that specializes in wheelchair accessible bathrooms, dream bedrooms, in-home therapy rooms and wheelchair ramps/lifts. Lori Allen, along with the "Say Yes" crew, aids this organization in constructing comfortable living spaces for children who are battling terminal illnesses.

Personal life

Allen is a graduate of Columbia College in South Carolina, where she received a degree in Business. The college also bestowed upon her an honorary degree during the commencements of May 2013, where she was the keynote speaker for the undergraduate commencement.[2] She is very happily married to college sweetheart, Eddie Allen. They married in July 1979.

Allen has two children—daughter, Mollie Allen Surratt and son, Cory Allen.

References

  1. ↑ Danna Thompson (August 3, 2010). "The Boutique Beat: Say Yes to the Dress, Y'all". Atlanta In Town. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Lori Burns Allen to Keynote Columbia College Commencement". Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  3. ↑ Mike Itchue (February 5, 2009). "How to Find a Fabulous Wedding Dress". Michigan Live. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ "I do's and I don'ts of second marriages". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. June 18, 1985. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Push for equality invades bridal showers". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 27, 1986. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  6. ↑ Ann Wycoff (Summer 2009). "Sophisticated Fiesta". Exquisite Weddings. p. 137. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  7. ↑ Audrey Stanton (May 23, 2009). "Durham brings bridal style to TV". The Register-Herald. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta". TLC. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  9. ↑ http://tastetv.com/awards/2012winners.html
  10. ↑ http://tastetv.com/awards/2013winners.html
  11. ↑ http://tastetv.com/awards/2014winners.html
  12. ↑ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/winners-celebrity-presenters-announced-6th-150200673.html
  13. ↑ http://tastetv.com/awards/nominees.html
  14. ↑ "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta Star Lori Allen Reveals Breast Cancer Battle". People Magazine. September 25, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  15. ↑ Jennifer Brett (April 6, 2013). "Final Four Fashionistas: Coaches' wives, local TV personalities at charity luncheon". Access Atlanta. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  16. ↑ Susan Donaldson James (October 26, 2012). "Cancer Strikes 4 Times Before Bride Gets Wedding Dress". ABC News. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  17. ↑ Rodney Ho (October 26, 2012). "TLC airs special 'Say Yes to the Cure: Lori's Fight' Oct. 26". Access Atlanta. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  18. ↑ http://awards.realscreen.com/Home/Winners

External links

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