NEW SEASON OF "SAY YES TO THE DRESS: ATLANTA" PREMIERES JANUARY 2nd

Monte and Lori help more brides search for their dream gowns in eighth season

NEW YORK - TLC kicks off the New Year with an all-new season of SAY YES TO THE DRESS: ATLANTA on Friday, January 2nd at 9pm. Now in its eighth season, the series follows brides as they search for their dream dress at premier bridal salon Bridals by Lori in Atlanta. The emotional half-hour premiere follows a bride who, after a debilitating accident, was told she would never walk again. Bride Katie Breland gets the surprise of a lifetime when a special guest, her trainer Mike Barwis, visits Bridals by Lori to help her choose the dress of her dreams. Katie had vowed to walk down the aisle, and only one month later, viewers get a special look into her wedding day where she was able to make that dream come true with her father and trainer Mike. In the second half-hour episode, one bride wants to channel Beyoncé, but her family worries that having a sexy and trendy dress will be a mistake.

Throughout the new season, brides from all over the country visit the salon with their entourages and emotional backstories. From picking quick turnaround dresses to appeasing the fiancés and families, Monte, Lori and the whole staff have their hands full finding gowns for each bride.

In one appointment, women's basketball superstars Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson come into the salon for a dress that takes Glory out of her gym gear and into a glam wedding gown. Singer/songwriter Jessie James Decker also surprises a bride that fell in love with one of her songs while healing from a tragic accident. In another visit, Naomi Judd comes to the salon to help her assistant pick out the perfect wedding gown.

Also this season, NFL star Maurice Jones-Drew heads to Bridals by Lori to help pick out a wedding dress for his sister, but an unlimited budget is not what Maurice had in mind when offering to pay for her dress. Niki Taylor also stops in the store to lend fashion and moral support to a deserving bride. Bride Morgan is marrying country music star Jerrod Niemann and has a vision of a dress that will wow the millions of fans who will see it, while bride Lindsay wants to please her father and her fiancé, YouTube star Phil deFranco.

From superstar athletes and real life heroes to singing superstars and beautiful models, season eight features a robust lineup of guest appearances all hoping for a "Say Yes" moment for themselves or their loved ones.

SAY YES TO THE DRESS: ATLANTA is produced by North South Productions for TLC.

About TLC

Offering remarkably relatable real-life stories without judgment, the network celebrates the reality that "everyone needs a little TLC." TLC's hit series share everyday heart, humor, hope, and human connection with programming genres that include fascinating families, heartwarming transformations, and life's milestone moments such as wedding-themed programs anchored by Say Yes To The Dress. In the first half of 2014, TLC had 25 series averaging 1 million P2+ viewers or more, including six series that averaged 2 million P2+ viewers or more: The Little Couple, 19 Kids and Counting, Return to Amish, Sister Wives, Long Island Medium, and 90 Day Fiancé.

TLC is a global brand available in more than 95 million homes in the US and 352 million households in 185 markets internationally. A destination online, TLC.com offers in-depth fan sites, exclusive video content, and original editorial. Fans can also interact with TLC through social media on Facebook, Instagram, and @TLC on Twitter as well as On Demand services and mobile platforms. TLC is part of Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA,DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories.