the marriage industrial complex

[merchimerch]

Since I have a couple of weddings to go to this summer (though I doubt any of them will be as absurd as the bridezilla affairs mentioned in this article), I thought I would post this article/interview which I thoroughly enjoyed...it makes me want to buy the book she wrote.
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/05/21/mead_weddings/index.html

And here's a nice excerpt...I love the whole Hobsbawmian "invention of tradition" fact involved:

"...in 1939, one survey showed that 16 percent of brides were married in clothes they already owned, a third married without an engagement ring, and roughly a third didn't go on a honeymoon. Yet, those are all things that we think of as absolutely essential, right? And this was in 1939 -- not that long ago. Now the Association of Bridal Consultants says that 43 professionals are needed for the servicing of the average American wedding, and I think that's not including the bridal consultants themselves. So the idea that the weddings that we have today are traditional is a falsehood. You only have to ask any bride's grandmother, at a wedding, whether this is in keeping with tradition.

The invention of the engagement ring is a well-known and much-researched story -- I didn't go into great depth because people have written whole books about it. The idea of a diamond wedding ring being a token of enduring love was something that was entirely invented in the 1940s by this woman, Frances Gerety -- a very clever copywriter. She came up with "A Diamond Is Forever," which was called the best advertising slogan of the 20th century."

Comments

[mehitabelmmoss.livejournal.com]

I have a wedding this weekend. They are having it at a rustic summer camp. Walt is bringing his nature center menagerie and there will be a native flute player. There will be no mention of God. THe couple has been together for 13 years (I went to his sons wedding last fall). I have considered the groom 'family' for 25 years. The bride - our friendship has blossomed recently - I am a date for her to the symphony because Walt falls asleep. It is a win-win-win thing.
Best of all - they have asked, in lieu of gifts, for donations to a marriage-equality organization.
Traditions change.

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Yipe, that's terrifying. I'm very glad that Sarah and I both avoided most of the industry part of things for our wedding and are only involved in the rest a photographers - I think I'd feel slimy trying to sell most of the stuff/services mentioned.