Cute New TV Wedding Show

June 1st, 2010

If you are reading this, you probably enjoy a wedding show on tv as much as I do. Whether you are a bride-to-be or have been married for years, there is something about watching other women plan their weddings that is always a lot of fun. For all of you who think that the best part of wedding planning is bridal gown shopping, there is a cute new television show called “Girl Meets Gown” which is worth checking out.

One thing that sets “Girl Meets Gown” apart from other shows about bridal gown shopping like “Say Yes to the Dress”  is the location. Unlike “Say Yes to the Dress”, which takes place in New York, “Girl Meets Gown” is filmed at a salon in Dallas. As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, and this is definitely true about wedding gowns, veils, and bridal jewelry sets. What qualifies as a simple little dress for a forest wedding in Dallas would be considered a lavish formal gown in New England. It certainly makes for entertaining viewing.

Women who are unfamiliar with the inner workings of a bridal salon will enjoy the behind-the-scenes commentary offered by the owners of the shop and their staff. You can see their secret panic when a bride comes in to shop who has no time to spare, and their palpable relief when they are able to secure a rush delivery on the bride’s favorite gown. Then there is the shock of a consultant who thinks her bride is coming in for a final fitting, only to learn that the young woman has changed her mind and wants to order a new dress.

The human side of the brides on “Girl Meets Gown” is the most interesting part of the program. Many brides-to-be can sympathize with the feelings of the woman who just couldn’t feel pretty in a wedding gown until she reached her goal weight.  Or the woman who got swept up in the moment and ordered a wedding dress that her friends really liked, only to later realize that she did not like it as much as they did. Weddings are endlessly fascinating, and if you are looking for a fun way to spend an hour, you might just want to tune into “Girl Meets Gown”.

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Charitable Weddings

June 20th, 2009

I recently watched a new show called “Wedding Day” that had an interesting new premise. A team of talented wedding planners get together to throw an amazing dream wedding for a deserving couple who could not otherwise have one. This got me to thinking, it doesn’t require the magic of television to make someone’s dream come true. The friends and family of a worthy couple could get together and throw their own charitable wedding as a surprise gift to their loved ones.

First of all, everyone on the wedding planning team would pitch in their services. If the groom’s mom is a fantastic cook, maybe she could handle the catering, with some extra help from a few sets of willing hands. Maybe the bride’s aunt is a talented baker. Great! She can contribute the wedding cake. Almost anyone who is handy with a computer can design and print lovely low cost wedding invitations to spread the good news.

Of course, not everything can be handmade by a family member. For the items that will need to be purchased, one idea could be to gift it to the bride or groom in lieu of a wedding or shower present. For instance, the maid of honor could take the bride shopping to look at sets of bridal jewelry. When the pieces are made from gems like freshwater pearls or Swarovski crystals, the bridal jewelry sets can be found for no more than the cost of any other wedding gift, and jewelry makes a wonderful keepsake for the bride even after the wedding. Perhaps the bride’s parents or grandmother might decide to gift her a bridal gown, if there is not a talented seamstress available in the family.

As you are planning a charitable wedding, you are likely to find that most people who work in the wedding industry are romantics at heart. If you share the special story of the bride and groom who you have decided to help, you just might find that some vendors can be a little more flexible on their rates or might throw in some extras for no additional cost. Promising them a big thanks in the wedding programs might be a good incentive; every company loves good publicity. And surely there could be no more heartfelt wedding than one that has been lovingly assembled by the bride and groom’s dearest friends and family.

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Would You Let Your Groom Plan the Wedding?

May 29th, 2009

I just saw the most fascinating wedding show on BBC America about grooms planning the wedding while the bride has to sit back and be surprised on the big day. It was a very interesting idea, and it was hard to say who had it worse: the groom who had to make all of the preparations or the bride who had to give up all control over her own wedding. It got me to thinking, would you let your groom plan the wedding?

If you think about it, in almost every case, it is the bride who is in charge of planning the wedding. She makes all of the big decisions about style, vendors, and all of the rest. Sure, some grooms may have opinions and may even have a nearly equal say in matters, but the reality is that the wedding is usually the bride’s show. After all, most women have a picture of a perfect wedding in their mind (even if they won’t confess to it), but very few men have even given the subject a moment’s thought before they become engaged.

So what would it be like for a man to throw a surprise wedding for his bride? On the BBC program “Don’t Tell the Bride”, the groom is given $20,00 and one month to plan what he hopes is his bride’s idea of a dream wedding. During that time, not only must he keep all of the plans a secret, but the couple cannot see each other. This is probably to prevent the bride from leaving copies of Martha Stewart Weddings all over their house with favorite dresses, centerpieces, and bouquets marked. No, in this case, the groom is entirely on his own, without any helpful hints from the bride.

By far the most stressful part of the entire thing was when the groom had to choose the bridal gown, crystal jewelry, and even the bride’s hairstyle and tiara. It was difficult enough for the groom, but it was pure agony for the bride. She knew that even if she hated the dress, she would have to wear it down the aisle (or decide to call off the wedding!).

This got me to thinking, how many brides would allow someone else to choose their entire bridal ensemble, including the gown, crystal bridal jewelry, headpieces, veil, and even shoes? Would it be worth it for a free wedding? The day before the featured wedding on “Don’t Tell the Bride”, the bride-to-be decided that giving up control of her gown was so stressful that if she had to do it all over again, she would not have done the show, even though it meant a free wedding. I have to say that I feel the same way!

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Should You Be on a TV Wedding Show?

September 22nd, 2008

I often watch the wedding shows on television (who doesn’t, right?) and wonder where they find the couples depicted. It seems like many people are just so interested in being on television that they do not care if they are portrayed in a favorable light or not. Just being on tv is good enough.

So how do you know if you are a good candidate for being on a wedding show? First of all, it helps to have a good story. You are more likely to be selected if: one of you has just beaten a terrible disease or lost a parent, after ten years of friendship a romance blossomed, or you have a child or two together. Other things that you often see are very expensive weddings and brides with very large personalities (frankly, the groom is usually a minimal consideration in these shows).

You also have to be willing to let all of America into your private affairs. Ask yourself if you are comfortable having everyone know how much you paid for your wedding gown and sets of bridal jewelry, bridal jewelry sets for your bridesmaids, the caterer, and the florist. In this day and age, many people are indeed very open about their spending, so maybe you will be fine revealing everything.

Another thing that should be taken into consideration is whether you like being the center of attention or not. After all, you are going to have television cameras following your every move. If you are the type of person who is prone to stage fright or cherishes her privacy, being on a wedding show will not be for you!

With the popularity of wedding shows on television these days, there are many outlets for a bride who wants to share the details of her wedding with the whole nation. If you think that being involved in one of those programs would make your wedding planning experience even more fun and memorable, then go for it. Just be certain not to share anything that you do not want your grandmother to know about!

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