Why Are Weddings Getting Weirder?
Posted by: Wendy Atterberry
Filed in:
relationships
11:30AM, Thursday May 7th 2009
Over the weekend, British budget airline easyJet announced that it hopes to soon hold in-flight wedding ceremonies. It’s not official yet, but the airline is looking into whether it can get its pilots authorized to officiate weddings in the air, a feat that may be easier said than done, as Heather Dsenisi, deputy registrar at the Southampton Registry Office, explains: “Officially, British marriages have to be conducted in a licensed building, which has to be a permanent structure that doesn’t move, and the ceremony has to be officiated by a minister of religion or by a registrar employed by a local council.” If easyJet does manage to get the go-ahead and couples start marrying mid-flight, their nuptials will join a growing trend of increasingly weird weddings. In the last year, we’ve seen a candy shop wedding, a Taco Bell wedding, Barbie weddings, and even a Hello Kitty wedding. Are these quirky ceremonies just good fun, or do they mock the sanctity of marriage? Have weddings been reduced to nothing more than an avenue to express creativity?
It’s not only personality quirks and individual creativity that couples seem to want to express in their weddings these days. Jessica Valenti of Feministing.com is getting married soon and plans to have what she calls a “big, fat feminist wedding,” making a political statement out of a very personal occasion. If you’re wondering what a big, fat feminist wedding looks like, it seems to include the bride wearing a “not-quite white dress,” both parents walking both the bride and the groom down the aisle, and announcements that ask “anyone considering [getting the couple] a gift to instead donate to an organization fighting for same-sex marriage rights.” Of course, a feminist wedding can be whatever a feminist bride and groom says it is, whether that includes a not-quite white dress or no dress at all, but does labeling a wedding justify a couple’s choice to enter what some consider an archaic institution? And does it really matter what others think?
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retro chic
wrote on May 8 2009 @ 12:59 am: [report]
“Weirder?” Maybe. “And does it really matter what others think?” No. Saves money, no DUIs/FUIs, etc. And then there’s that Mile-High Honeymoon Suite… mmmm, probably not.
juliePS
wrote on May 8 2009 @ 05:22 am: [report]
ugh, and this is coming from a raging liberal angry queer feminist broad, I hate it when people talk about their ‘feminist wedding’ or how quirky or eccentric or Special Snowflake it’s going to be, like it’s a contest to see who can buck the most traditions. It’s the same for people who brag incessantly about every last traditional detail—the whole thing screams to me that you’re getting married for other people and that you’re more interested in the attention than your marriage. just DO it and quit talkin’ about it!
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on May 8 2009 @ 08:16 am: [report]
Repost from Star Trek Tread:
I am a Star Wars Geek, so here is a Star Wars themed Wedding:
http://www.rocknrollbride.com/?p=7514
Check out that Stormtrooper gown! http://www.rocknrollbride.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/dy4.jpg
BlueVibe
wrote on July 15 2009 @ 07:49 am: [report]
I think it’s a mix of things. Some of it’s ego, I’m sure, although not _everyone_ crows about how unique their wedding will be. Not everybody does it to show off. My brother and SIL considered doing a Hallowe’en costume wedding because they are informal people and they love Hallowe’en (they decided against it so they wouldn’t scare the bride’s dotty grandparents, though).
I think a big part of it is that people are becoming more comfortable with quirky, personalized, celebrations, and more of us, I suspect, are paying for our own weddings, so we feel less obligated to do what Mom/Dad/Grandma/rich Aunt Esther wants.
(I’m single, but) Personally, the idea of trying to plan a Big White Wedding makes me want to cry. I’m not a party person. I’m not good at planning parties and I don’t want that much attention. I’m exactly the kind of girl who would want something weird, informal, and small-scale.