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The Wedding Factory

AIR DATE: April 5, 2012
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They fell in love, the partner popped the question, and the woman said, "Yes."  Now it's time for the really hard part: the wedding.  UNLV professor Erika Engstrom says with reality shows like "Say Yes to the Dress" and "Bridezillas" focusing on the sparkle of the dress and color-coordinating bridesmaids, future brides lose sight of the real reason they're getting married: love. 
 
Do today's media portrayals of the "ideal wedding" affect how modern brides make their choices?  Should we spend $25,000 on a dress?  Or should there be no limits for a bride's perfect day?  And do reality shows reveal what happens in real weddings?  Bridal experts weigh in.  Share your wedding story: are you willing to pay any price for the perfect wedding?  Do you pay attention to bridal shows or magazines when it comes time to planning your big day?  Did you cash out your retirement fund, plan on a shoestring budget, or just elope?  Let us know!
 
GUESTS
Erika Engstrom, Prof of Communications, UNLV and author
Emily Miller, wedding officiant for "shotgun weddings," The Gun Store

LINKS


The Wedding Factory
I generally enjoy NPR but a week or so ago I ...
-Carol Gotheim
I'm getting married here in June, and I think ...
-Molly
Each wedding is as unique as the couple ...
-Jessica
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COMMENTS:
I generally enjoy NPR but a week or so ago I turned on the car radio a minute or two before the discussion on "shot gun weddings." I dismayed that the etomology of the term "short gun wedding" was ignored and felt gist of this segment for more like an infomercial than a discussion.
Carol GotheimApr 13, 2012 15:43:54 PM


I'm getting married here in June, and I think your show is focusing on "bridezillas" too much. I think many Vegas vendors are wonderful, and I think many are frankly lazy and unresponsive. Because of the readymade wedding industry in town many vendors simply don't feel like they need to put any effort forth in pleasing their customers. Of course many brides want a lot and want a special day. When else are you spending so much or your parents? Is it too much to ask questions when you've never done this before. Sometimes reality tv (as someone who has been on it) asks its actors to play up their situation...it's not reality. It's tv.
MollyApr 5, 2012 10:34:39 AM


Each wedding is as unique as the couple involved. Do we all want a reality TV wedding? Heck no! My husband I got got married later (41 and 38 respectively) so the pomp and circumstance wasn't as important as sharing that moment with our friends and families while having a blast. We've all been to a million weddings - they're all pretty much the same. So we did what we could to be "traditional" and "unusual" at the same time. Our guests say it was the MOST beautiful and MOST fun wedding they've ever been to - and not one reality TV wedding can share that accolade.
JessicaApr 5, 2012 09:33:47 AM


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04/05/12 RUNDOWN
The Changing Las Vegas Visitor
The Wedding Factory
Kelle Groom: A Memoir on Alcoholism and Losing Her Son


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