Have Wedding Reality Shows Gone Too Far?
Well, at least one person says yes! Contributing to the demise of marriage in general and sending inappropriate messages about what’s most important, Samantha Brett says that these shows are making a mockery of marriage! Accenting the superficial parts of marriage, she feels that the focus has shifted from the commitment being made and the love being shared to the frenzy, the fluff and the fair-weather friends.
Part of an Evil Plan?
Brett is not alone in her view. According to human behavior expert Patrick Wanis, PhD, “The danger of all these reality shows is that they reinforce the message that if you aren’t perfect and the wedding isn’t perfect, you aren’t good enough,” Wanis explained. “These shows damage average American men and women by brainwashing them into believing that fulfillment can only be attained via the perfect wedding.”
So, what they’re saying is that viewers may not be aware that they are picking up on the subliminal messages coming through their TV, which I guess could be a part of the network’s “evil plan” to destroy the moral fabric of America. Hmmm. I’m not sure I’d go that far because I think that most watch these shows purely for entertainment. But, whether intentional or not, do you think these wedding shows really have an affect on how society views marriage? Funny, outrageous, and even sad in some cases that someone would go to those lengths to get the perfect wedding day, there is one thing I can say about the brides. In a time when more than 55% of folks don’t believe in marriage or that you need to be married before having children, at least these women still believe in marriage and are willing to make that lifetime commitment…and that puts them on the plus side of my ledger anytime ( no matter how crazy they may act on TV:-)
Blame the bride not the broadcaster!
It seems to me that getting all worked up for one’s wedding day is nothing new. Brides have always tried to lose weight, got makeovers, stressed over every detail right down to matching the toasting flutes to the cake topper and did everything within their power to live out their dream wedding. The pressure, the frustration, and the fears have always been there. The broadcasters are now just bringing the bride’s personal struggles front and center in our living rooms week after week. Instead of pondering whether these shows are making a mockery of marriage, the question should be, what does it take for a bride to get to that point of exposure and embarrassment to agree to participate in one of these reality shows in the first place? The real “reality” is that if someone wanted to have plastic surgery, like the ladies in Bridal Plasty, chances are they’ve been wanting to do it for some time. The program only shows what’s already there.
So, I say, that if some correction is needed, it needs to be with the brides and not the broadcasters. Maybe we need to be talking to the bride about her insecurities instead of exploiting them–helping her to find peace with herself and the one she intends to marry. After all, HE proposed to her just the way she was, so I think that means he’s pretty cool with how she looks. She just needs to be cool with it, too.
Why do we go to such extremes?
Although some of the shows may be considered helpful (”Shedding for the Wedding” and “Say Yes To The Dress” come to mind) in preparing for the big day, other shows seem to have pushed to boundaries a bit (i.e. Bridal Plasty) in my opinion. Whether or not they truly affect the bride is still out for debate, but one thing’s for sure…they do make for “good television” from the broadcaster’s point of view since the ratings on these shows are through the roof. Who knows, maybe there are some brides who look at these shows and think, “Wow! Watching “Bridezilla” makes me more aware of my behavior so I don’t ever want to act like that!” Maybe television and these reality shows can have a negative-positive affect, showing brides the extreme so that they can pull back from the edge. One can only hope!