The WIC madness
I just LOVE the post I found from 2000 Dollar Wedding!! I think I’ll read and re-read it many times!!!
The Wedding Industrial Complex supplies a pretty long list of “essential” items to make your wedding a “Once in a Lifetime” event. Aside from the big ones–like the dress, flowers, invitations, reception–there are also all these little incidentals:
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- Wedding favors
- Gift bags for the out-of-town guests
- Facials for months leading up to the event
- Tanning
- Manicures and pedicures
- Professional hair
- Professional makeup
- Wedding anklet
- Guestbook
- Photo booth, candy buffet bar, etc.
- Aisle runners
- Wedding garter
- Veil
- Unity candle
- Dance lessons
- Gifts for the attendants
- Gifts for the parents
- Menu cards
- Bachelor/bachelorette parties
- Rehearsal dinner
- Post-wedding brunch
- Toasting flutes
- Monogrammed napkins
- Chair covers
It’s not that I’m against all of the items on the list. However, I am against anyone feeling obligated or pressured to include all of these things to brighten their Special Day.
And then there’s the getaway car. Check out this propaganda from the Wedding Industrial Complex:
Exotic / Beach Theme: Breath-taking venues, warm hues, great weather, and flavorful food make exotic weddings a top choice for many summer weddings. Combining both exotic flowers and weaved palm leaves creates a very tropical contrast. The vibrant colors are accentuated by the green background. Adorn the back of your convertible with weaved palm leaves and beautiful flowers. Vehicle Pairing: BMW M6 convertible.
Traditional Theme: For many generations, stringed cans and the words “Just Married” were what you’d expect to see on a getaway car. Fast forward to today, give your car the old-fashion treatment with the modern twist. Custom make your appliqué in accordance to the same typography and colors that you used for your invitations. Apply the appliqué to the side or back-window of your car. Vehicle Pairing: Jaguar XKR.
Eco-Chic Theme: Mini Coopers are great cars for couples who are both concerned with being environmentally responsible (37 mpg) and making a chic impression on their wedding day. Dress up your Mini Cooper with mini bouquets and embellished ribbons on your special day. Opt for flowers that were grown by local farmers as well as organic cotton for the ribbons. Visit your local arts and crafts store and sew on small rocks to give a stunning contrast to the delicate fabric. Vehicle Pairing: Mini Cooper.
Hollywood / Modern Theme: Nothing says Hollywood louder than lights. When making your getaway, have runway lights shining on your car. A semi-transparent fog will allow your lights to create a streaming effect. Are crystals a main part of your wedding? Carefully apply crystals to the front grill of your car for a more fabulous effect. Vehicle Pairing: Bentley GTC.
Seriously?
Despite the fact that I am generally a rational, practical, level-headed person, I sometimes lost it during the wedding planning process. Yes, I burst into tears at the airport when we were struggling to find a wedding venue that fit within our budget, and Matt didn’t feel the same urgency that I did. Yes, I was deeply saddened by the fact that we couldn’t afford photo stamps for our invitations.
Sometimes, the teeniest, tiniest thing felt really, really big. Gargantuan, even.
One strategy that helped me re-ground myself amidst my matrimonial meltdowns was invoking my wedding mantras. A wedding mantra is a short phrase that you can repeat over and over to remind yourself that you really are a rational and sane person, despite the fact that wedding planning sometimes drives you a little mad. Here are a few of my favorites:
- No matter what happens, we’ll still be married in the end.
- Those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind don’t matter.
- A wedding is about community, connection, commitment, and fun–not ________ [insert any number of trivial and inconsequential items that the Wedding Industrial Complex claims are aboslutely essential].
- Our relationship/marriage is more important than our wedding.
I also like this one from Ariel over at Offbeat Bride: “Your wedding is not a contest.”
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