Does the Wedding Industrial Complex hold the key for the USA’s gay marriage issues?
Marika has an really great point — if the wedding industry can convince someone to spend thousands of dollars for a one-time-use dress, why can’t they also use their influential powers when it comes to legalizing same-sex marriage?
Marriage as an act of freedom vs. conformity
Anyone who has taken a Gender Studies class knows all the standard stuff about marriage being an exchange of chattel, property, protecting the paternity of babies, etc. We can see how these historical dynamics still affect us.
Being the Lesbian in Brideland, Farmtown, Indiana.
Tribesmaid Caitlin wrote this post on how it feels to be girl engaged to another girl surrounded by girls engaged to boys.
Narcissism, self-promotion, and your wedding
Thanks to Offbeat Bride Cay for sending me this recent BBC article, which asks the question “Has an atmosphere of narcissism and self-promotion worked its way into the idea of the modern wedding celebration?”
Musings of an almost not-bride
I won’t be an Offbeat Bride soon. In fact, I won’t be any kind of bride, because in a month I’ll be married. And for some reason, that’s making me sad. I don’t want to get into the whole “you should be planning for the marriage not the wedding!” or the politics of wedding vs. marital energy/time/money expenditure. I get that, I assure you. I want to acknowledge what an important and huge part of my life and identity being a bride and having a wedding has been for me, and I’m sure for you too. I want to share this journey, and who I am and have become.
Planning my second wedding: funny how what was important the last time isn’t this time
I’m engaged and planning for my second wedding. I’ve grown up a bit and now know more about who I am. Plus, I have the right guy as the groom. This time around, I’m not at all concerned with how things are “supposed” to be done. There is no “book” and I’m not going to please everyone else. We are spending time, energy, and money on the things that are most important to my H2B and me, things that are uniquely us, and things we will remember.