Four Weddings - General Discussion

[BC Mama]

It was the Disney bride who did the scavenger hunt! 

Agree about the kids took over. I am one of those who likes to have kids at a wedding, but there is a way to do it. There should have been a couple of relatives ready to help out with the kids during the ceremony, so the brides were not interrupted.

[Patrizio]

Well, the people I thought should win, did. The Charleston weddings were interesting, I am getting sick of these Halloween weddings, and I would'nt be that jazzed to have to wear a costume too. I don't know, went to a wedding last year where the bride asked the ladies to wear red, and it was a formal affair so extra effort (borrowing a dress which many did) or expense was required. I just want to be a guest. I did think that the bride copied the other in her use of a mascot, but the bride(who did win) should have played it more, "sincerest form of flattery", instead of opting for the less admirable "copycat" route. I have to say I did like the Halloween bridal gown, it was different and not strapless for a change. The NJ weddings or 3 wedding mills and a fiasco, was much more interesting to me. The winning bride's venue has been on the show before, the entryway is pretty spectacular, but they must have gotten one helluva discount b/c that was more than a 50K wedding. The groom worked security for them or something. I thought her dress was very age/size appropriate for her and I would have loved to go to her wedding and eaten a big old lobster during the cocktail hour. The Disney bride's wedding was very nice too but I did notice that the dress while pretty looked awkward when she walked. The JWOW bride must have pissed off the Lesbian bride b/c she really low balled her. I thought her gown was lovely, and she was pregnant too! All of them were wedding mills with varying levels of opulence, I guess it was an episode that showcased these kind of  venues. Finally, the Lesbian bride with the kids, awful gown, and cold pizza at the reception. The only thing that could have improved this mess was a whole lotta liquor. I guess their theme was "we're lesbians with baggage". There have been other same sex marriages on the show which have been lovely, meaningful ceremonies followed by receptions that were planned and executed with style. This was'nt one of them. The look on the winner's face when the litres of soda were plopped down on the table though was priceless.

[auntjess]

I cringed when I heard there was yet another Halloween themed wedding, and I wouldn't have wanted to wear a costume, but hers wasn't as overdone as most, and I was wanting her to win, because she was the nicest.
Didn't care for the Disney bride.  It's a wedding, not your 5th birthday party.  Besides, she was the snidest.

 

If all you can afford is pizza, OK, but make damn sure that it's good pizza served HOT and just go with a casual theme and have coolers or tubs of iced individual bottles of soda. 
Her partner's dress would have been pretty is the length was shorter or longer, and she had shoes that went with it.  Also, lose the jacket.

[howiveaddict]

I wonder if the lesbian wedding just ran out of money and that's why they served pizza.  She commented before the wedding that there were last minute hiccups.  I don't remember a cake.  Maybe someone had said they would pay and didn't.  It was a sad affair.  She seemed real sweet too.

Did not care for Jersey bride's groom.  He proposed at their daughter's christening by just shoving the ring at her saying here?  Said he was going to be most excited about the open bar at the wedding.  Felt bad for her that she was already pregnant with a third when it looked like she had 2 under 3 or 4 years old.

Like the bride that won the most.

Only thing I remember about Charleston brides is that they all had shrimp and grits.  Yum!

[poeticlicensed]

WRT the mascots, I absolutely think that the second bride got the idea at the first brides wedding. Her reaction when the tiger walked in was so OTT, if she had previously planned to have a mascot at her wedding, she would not have acted so surprised. 

 

I laughed when the blonde who kept noting things that weren't southern or classy had her reception in what looked like a conference room at a Holiday Inn. She had ho hum decorations, no chair covers, and what looked like christmas lights on the ceiling. 

 

I couldn't get over the bride with 35 people in her wedding party. That's insane. 

 

As for the NJ weddings, except for the lesbian pizza wedding, they all seemed interchangeable Too much food, grand spaces to the point of tacky, gold everywhere. When I hear someone say winter wonderland theme, I just groan. 

 

No words for the pizza. Something must have happened. Since they only had 50 people, you would think that they would have just cooked the meal themselves or had family and friends help. I have hosted parties that big in my home and either cooked or had a local restaurant cook and I picked up the food. Even deli trays would have been better than pizza. 

[Sparger Springs]

The lesbian brides had some awfully young kids. One of didn't look like he was over a year old.  I wonder how long ago they left their husbands?

[BC Mama]

The lesbian brides had some awfully young kids. One of didn't look like he was over a year old.  I wonder how long ago they left their husbands?

 

It is not necessarily true that either had husbands. 

[auntjess]

I did think that for both of them they said "from a previous marriage."

[Bellalisa]

Yes they both said from a previous marriage. 

 

Why plastic cups with no ice? Why no diet soda? Why no bottled water? There is a way to save money and a way to be cheap...but man that was just TACKY.

Edited September 15, 2014 by Bellalisa

[Patrizio]

I really have no idea why the lesbian couple bothered to be on the show. I believe that she had a lot of nerve judging the other weddings, especially the 3 she gave Jwow bride. There seemed to be no effort to see to her guests comfort, seemed like a gift grubbing opportunity to me.

[BC Mama]

Yes they both said from a previous marriage. 

 

Why plastic cups with no ice? Why no diet soda? Why no bottled water? There is a way to save money and a way to be cheap...but man that was just TACKY.

 

Yup, she said both sets of kids were from pervious marriages. 

 

I agree the pop was tacky. If they wanted to go cheap and dry for the wedding, they still could have put a little more effort. What about putting a punch bowl in the centre of each table? 

[heebiejeebie]

I'm not sure which left my jaw lower towards the floor.  A wedding reception that had less effort put into it than when our lacrosse team stopped at Pizza Hut on the way home from an away match.  Or someone actually giving less than a five because there wasn't enough of the "theme" despite the food being great and having a wonderful time dancing etc.  A three or a four is when you have to stand.  to eat your dinner.  A three is when the wedding is held outside.  In January.  During an ice storm.  When instead of a garter toss, all the married women have to remove their underwear and have the groomsmen judge which is the nicest pair.

 

Or when you find out the reception consists of the Little Caesar's carryout combo (special price good until 4 pm).  Money matters.  Especially with kids to raise.  But don't insult people by pretending you are having a wedding when all it lacked was brushes, a drop cloth and ten gallons of Benjamin Moore to do the whole house. 

 

I will say this for the Lesbian pizza party.  If you divide the crowd by half (assuming couple-age) and then figure a 75 dollar gift per pair?  These two made out like bandits in the gift to reception cost per person exchange rate.

 

I find it more and more frustrating that it has become almost inherent that not one of the brides can pull her head out of her ass long enough to figure out that each is suppose to judge the others as a GUEST who also has insight into the matter being a bride herself.  It is not and never has been a venue for the brides to judge as if the other brides are putting forth a wedding planner prospectus.  More and more all the judging seems bent on the brides weighing whether what was put forth was something they would want as the Bride at that wedding and reception. 

 

At some point in almost all the recent shows I want the PA just off camera to reach out and just slap the bride who sneers about the dress or the venue or the church not being "her style",  Newflash bitch.  She?  Is not you!

[peggy06]

The pizza party bride was evidently more interested in putting time and money toward cute Broadway programs than anything else.

Edited September 16, 2014 by peggy06

[heebiejeebie]

And it's what she presented reception wise after knowing she would be on television competing for a prize.  Can you imagine what a normal reception would have been like?  You sit down and get a little map of the surrounding blocks with directions to the nearest Subway, Chipotle and Red Robin.  And likely told to bring some back for the bridal family please.

[AltLivia]

Can we please stop with the brides who are like "fist-pumping!! I'm so excited to fist-pump!" while doing some awkward variation of it?I know it may be a Jersey thing, or a general club thing, but my gosh, just say there's going to be a lot of dancing and be done with it. 

 

Jersey fist-pumper's dress looked like a brocade tablecloth. And ugh at the one bridetestant who took it upon herself to swipe her hand over their ice sculpture. Hands off, lady. Was Jersey fist pump girl the one with the abundant but subpar cocktail hour? With the hanging sheets of prosciutto? Pretty unappetizing display, even if it was good.  

 

Disney bride (who wore a checkered dress to one of the weddings that I just loved) - isn't the Mickey Mouse face trademarked? Wouldn't TLC get into some trouble for airing that, or are they Disney affiliated? I really loathed Ice Sculpture Swipe for yelling, "give us the MICKEY!!!" and for snapping at the man who brought the light changing remote over. Yes, she had a point, but good lord, calm it way down.

 

Ice Sculpture swipe lady -Her dress just wasn't flattering. At all. I did like that she stopped the ceremony to, quote, "take it all in."

 

Lesbian wedding - Oh honey. That dress. The visible seams. The cheap fabric. I can't even feel bad for you, because someone ought to have told you. Her bride's dress was lovely, however. And the kids being involved in the ceremony was cringe-worthy. It usually is when the kids are too young to focus on what they're doing/don't want to cooperate. Ring bearers and flower girls, fine. That's maybe a minute worth of pointless meandering and possibly, it's cute. But kids that young don't care about your sentimental little rituals, obviously. And won't even remember.

 

I don't know why they plunked those liters down on the table instead of serving the beverage (however cheap) to the guests in glasses. And that pizza. That's more than a hiccup. If something that low-rent has to go on, I kind of want to see the bride acknowledge that it was necessary and not the greatest, or most courteous to their guests,  instead of just fake smiling through it all. 

 

Also she wore a cheap, skintight blue sweater with a thin black belt stretched (in the wrong place) around it to one of the weddings. I thought, "have you looked at your outfit at all?"

Edited September 17, 2014 by ScullyInApt42

[Patrizio]

Yeah, the Disney bride's checked dress with the sparkly statement necklace, looked cool; hair style was perfect. If you use the Disney brand in a respectful way and don't make any money off it, I imagine Disney chalks it up as being happy to be part of a fan's wedding. Also, in this instance, free advertising. The Jwow bride's dress was nicely constructed, I did'nt realize til the end that she was pregnant. Another thing about the Lesbian wedding, loved it when her son went all limp noodle when she picked him up to participate in the ceremony. I agree about the dress, just the absolute worse. When I was growing up, one of our neighbors daughters was making her own wedding dress. Her Mom asked my Mother to take a look, I guess b/c she did'nt want to tell her precious snowflake that perhaps the first thing you sew should'nt be a wedding dress. Everything she chose-fabric, lace, thread was all wrong. My Mom helped her make a new one, and it was not cheap. She got a note with a picture a few years back, the bride's daughter wore it too; at her wedding. Like the ballgown of last week, it can be done, but you have to have a modicum of taste, some skill at sewing, and the right materials to work with.

Edited September 17, 2014 by Patrizio

[friendperidot]

so many times when the bride is escorted down the aisle by both parents or brother and mother or some combination, it looks like they are hauling her off to jail! Such firm grips on the brides arms! I realize there are nerves involved, I got married once, but maybe that should be rehearsed a little.

[Kat20]

Carolyn having pizza and soda bottles on the table was tackier than Raiza, who also had pizza, but at least she had beer and wine. They must have spent the 10k on the Broadway programs and the venue. She and her partner should have put more money towards a baby-sitter to watch the kids and prepare for them for what to expect at the wedding. Whether you're the bride or bridesmaid, there needs to be another adult present to look after the kids. 

 

I also agree with the poster up thread on the bride who made fun of Karen's funny vows. I think that was Ana, the one who ran out of food. Their episode is "And Three Raccoons" featuring her, Karen, Raiza, and Bridgette.

[AltLivia]

Watching last night's episodes! Running commentary, here we go.

 

Charleston ("And A Pirate Parade"). I live in a southern state myself and I'm kind of bored by southern themes. It seemed food-based, more than anything, on last night's show. In fact, one bridetestant had "typical wedding food" and another turned up her nose. I don't know how much of a "unique meal" you can expect when you've already had that fare at three other weddings. Not that Southern food is limited, but catering food sometimes is, especially when all the brides serve only southern food.

 

"Garden Party" Girl ended up last in the ranks, but I thought her wedding was passable and well-put together. If anything I would have ranked the pageant snot, she of 300 guests, last, but we are not yet there. I had to laugh when garden bride's groom picked her up and she went dead weight and irate on him. Also, their wedding kiss was nauseating. You're adults, this is your wedding.  Lipsmacky, repetitive pecks? Gross. Gimme a full-fledged lip lock over that, any day.

 

"Low Country," This bride was a total peach to her fellow-bridetestants. I liked her willingness to get onto the dance floor, but I don't know why anyone has an outdoor reception at night. Nights are colder almost everywhere.

 

"Pirate Parade" - Maybe I'm too kind, but this wedding didn't bug me too much. The dress made the bride look fantastic and I loved the bridesmaids dresses.  Vows were absolutely cringeworthy, but in a secondhand-embarrassment fashion. Loved the other brides being aghast at the dance floor music. I wouldn't have done it, but as a guest, I wouldn't mind it. Also, seriously, from the bottom of my heart, what is everyone's vendetta against brunch? "She didn't have much of a selection, because it was brunch..." Brunch isn't just breakfast, delicate flowers.

 

Pageant snot - 300 guests and a lame cocktail hour. I don't care if the reception was fantastic, that was sad. And a fruit plate for that many people. As the only food option! Also the church aisle seemed almost too narrow to accommodate her dress (hilarious). She was not cute, in the slightest. And bragging about saving herself for marriage while the groom was almost visibly drooling. Pass. 

 

Plus side? Pirate bride wore an incredible halter dress with a peplum to pageant snot's shindig. It was probably inappropriate but I loved it.

 

Episode Two "...And A Drum Circle"

 

Do actual British folk ever get angry at Americans imitating their accents? The more I heard Drum Circle bride do it the more it grated my nerves.

 

50 Shades of Purple - Let me just tell you how none of that was ombre. Particularly those bridesmaids dresses. "This is in the same color family. It must count." She had an ombre veil. Well, it's a piece of tulle, who sees the detail or cares? Another bride pointed out that she ought to have had a plan B for the atrocious weather. She offered umbrellas, but she really expected them to sit on sopping chair pads? It was poorly managed altogether, and the YOLO witch who told 'em they'd missed the cake cutting was uncalled for.

 

Enchanted Forest - could not stand this woman. Quirks are fine. When your whole existence is quirk, you look like a loon. Self-restraint and focus are a thing. She seems exhausting. And I thought it was incredibly weird that the pastor read these personal vows while they just...stared each other up and down. Your groom's name is Dug? Like, the past tense of dig? That said, quirk girl was gorgeous.

 

Wine girl - Yawn. If your biggest draw is a snow machine and typography, just...yawn. Normally, I'd think the brides sneaking in whiskey was classless, but they seem like lovely people who didn't embarrass themselves.

 

Sparkle girl -Their vows were clever! Over that one bridetestant who near-hate-fainted because it was a ballroom. It's a venue, get over it. But my own two cents? No choreographed dances. You're never going to get everyone on the same page, skill-wise. It is a train wreck, 100% of the time.

 

One of the brides said, "I really digged..." and I was like, "Were you afraid to say Dug because he'd show up?"

Edited September 20, 2014 by ScullyInApt42

[BC Mama]

Watching last night's episodes! Running commentary, here we go.

 

Charleston ("And A Pirate Parade"). I live in a southern state myself and I'm kind of bored by southern themes. It seemed food-based, more than anything, on last night's show. In fact, one bridetestant had "typical wedding food" and another turned up her nose. I don't know how much of a "unique meal" you can expect when you've already had that fare at three other weddings. Not that Southern food is limited, but catering food sometimes is, especially when all the brides serve only southern food.

 

I have no problem with 'typical wedding food' either. I love to try new foods, and I am an adventurous eater, but many people are not. At weddings you want people to go away full and happy. Also, some types of food lend themselves to being made on a larger scale better than others. I thought it was snobby for her to criticize the selection.

[poeticlicensed]

I really enjoyed the Miami episode. Of all the Four Weddings I have watched, this is the first one that I felt that the women actually enjoyed each other's company. Loved all the venues. I would have been ok with any of them winning. I thought Heidi was fun and I would have loved to go to a wedding with her. Dug looked like a douche in that purple suit and top hat. Alice in Wonderland anyone?  I did think that Heidi and Dug were a little long in the tooth to be having an enchanted forest pixie dust theme. 

 

Savannah weeding episode, love love loved the low country venue. I am so torn on the Pirate Party. ON one hand it was unique and if it was at night and they had an open bar (don't get me started on the cash bar at a wedding. Would you invite someone to your home for dinner and charge them for a glass of wine?). When all the guests were together, it looked like a Halloween party. I wouldn't want to have to wear a cheap costume to a wedding. The girl with 350 guests didn't bother me with the dry wedding. But the wedding looked boring for the guests. The garden party bride had a nice venue but the garden games and other elements didn't really work. 

Edited September 21, 2014 by poeticlicensed

[cpcathy]

I loved the Low Country wedding as well, and told my husband I would be pissed if she did not win. Bride was class A all the way, and I always go for classy brides.

 

Pageant Snot--oh, what can I say--why was she second? You can always tell when a lot of money is put into only a couple of items and then literally nothing is put anywhere else--fruit bowl with forks? Pirate bride was right on when she said the cocktail hour was a bummer. If someone calls a portion of your wedding a bummer, you failed, I'm sorry.

 

I like garden party bride, not sure why she was last. Don't get it.

 

Pirate Bride--I'm not as forgiving as you guys, I pegged her as coming in last when they first introduced her. There are things at a wedding I can't abide by, and she did all of them--tacky theme, daytime venue, cash bar, I'm sure there were more but I can't think of them right now! Just no, no, no, no. I can tell when someone is trying to scrimp, her wedding was probably even during the week!

[heebiejeebie]

I'm trying to keep the episodes straight but probably will muddle them. 

 

Most of my attention was caught by the Woodland fairyland woman.  Hi-def was not her friend.  Nor was she to the others I noticed.  She was very adept at making sure to comment in a positive way on things in front of the others and then tear it down in her talking heads.  Also I noticed she always made a point of pointing something negative out to the others right in the middle of them making positive comments.

 

I also did not think her wedding seemed all that fairy wood/wonderland so much as it seemed like a Vegas drive up wedding chapel's outdoor venue.  Particularly with the purple suit.  And no, Dug did not pull it off.  He looked pervy in it.  But then it matched the whole dress she wore.  Fairy Wonderland?  More like Galadriel the Stripper.    I also wonder just how fun this woman is and how much she turned on her interpersonal skills sales pitch to woo the others.  Be fun and slip in a few pointed negative remarks and you might just win the day.

 

I'll be honest I don't remember that much of the others but I was routing for the bride that won.  I also have noted that if the groom is good looking to a considerable degree more than the others, does that bride get an edge?   Also the bride that won got hooker Titania's highest overall score didn't she?  It would be a hoot if she gave her the highest thinking the other two were likely to lowball her (which I think at least one did) thinking to spread out her scores to look good for the show only to bump her up enough to win.  I never have the patience to parse the scores but it does seem like a lot of the brides are handing a first in each category to a different bride and the one that wins might be the one that is just lucky to blindly draw a coincidental double firsts.

 

I thought both the garden and the low country weddings were nice for what they were.  Both fit the setting (or theme if you will) and the couples.  I did not like the Pirate wedding because I hate timed receptions.  Which pretty much most early receptions are.  I do not like cash bars but I did wonder if that was unavoidable being on the boat.  Still in any case I think it is tacky.  If you can't go open bar due to cost, look into a couple of kegs of beer and some alcoholic punch or wine spritzers. 

 

I happen to like a good brunch.  However I do not like breakfast food from a hot tray.  I like my eggs right out of the pan, I like my bacon crisp but still hot fatty and has some flex to it.  Same way with pancakes or waffles.  And the food shown looked very heat lamp worn.  So that would get a ding from me. 

 

The Pageant bride was a bit dim wasn't she?  And 350 guests with a 15000 budget?  If you figure that easily non-food costs (venue, wait staff, apparel and flowers etc) was a third of that if carefully budgeted, that is less than 30 per guest for food.  In this day that is not enough unless you are doing the food yourselves or someone is doing prep gratis.  And it looked it. 

 

I think they need to add to their stable of wedding shows by flipping this a bit.  Get four brides together that have the same budget.  Whoever wins gets their wedding paid for.  The other three get stuck with their own tabs.  I'd like to see that or this show with a better breakdown of the money.  I'd love to see the expense breakdowns.  And i would love to see the expense breakdowns be part of the judgements instead of the pissy little girl "well I didn't like it so there" mentality.  Not so much dollars but I think it would be nice if the scores could be factored in by the percentage of the total wedding.  Sure you like her dress. but do you like for 50 percent or more of her budget when they run out of booze or food? 

 

I didn't notice so much bitching about too much food either show.  That gets on my last nerve.  Because the last thing you want is to not have enough food or have enough variety to make sure almost every guest has something to enjoy.   Yes I get the temptation to try everything.  i often eat past the point of comfort when given such an array.  But I don't consider that the bride's fault.  Not to mention it seems that when they bitch about it, their the same ones we see pile plate upon plate of food during the cocktail hour.  It's not that hard to figure out when you have a dinner plate or three piled with more food than any entree would for a regular dinner serving, and you still have the full dinner service to get through?  You have taken too much.  Again I get that temptation to try as much or everything you can is hard to not succumb to.  And I get that you are with two relative strangers.  But how hard would it to be to, knowing you have a full meal ahead, divvy up the array among the three of you so you have a bite of everything instead of each getting, most of the time at least two, full plates on.  Overall I just get tired of having someone whine and ding someone scorewise because of the simple rationale being "I can't control myself and its all someone else's fault". 

[poeticlicensed]

WRT the bride who had 350 guests on a 15K budget, my guess is that the church charged a nominal fee to use the room, the food looked like it was mass produced from either someone's kitchen or a fast foot joint, plus no booze (not sure if this was due to having the reception in the church or a budget issue), and my guess is that the music was gratis. So basically if you go to the wedding, you got a plate of chicken fingers and a soda. That leaves the rest of the budget for things like the dress, flowers, etc. Which screams to me that the bride made a decision to spend the bulk of her budget on herself. She didn't seem to spare any expense on her gown, flowers, hair, fur jacket etc. While I normally attend weddings to celebrate the day with someone who I am close to, if I shelled out a couple hundred for a gift and was served chicken nuggets and mac and cheese and no booze and there were 349 other people in the room, I would think that the wedding was a big gift/money grab. I'm not saying that my meal and experience needs to equal the price of my gift, but come on, man. For 15K, she would have been able to put on a really nice wedding for 100 people.  

[Patrizio]

The low country Savannah bride really had a beautiful venue, and she appeared to be a really lovely woman; so I'm glad she won. However, I don't know how the garden party bride came in last, unless she threw some major shade at the initial bride meet and greet. No way was that Pirate mess in any way better than hers. This is what happens when people try to be clever with the scoring.  I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would want her groom and bridal party to look like a bunch of wait staff from one of Savannah's dive bars. I noticed that the bride did'nt participate in the theme. Her food looked unappetizing, and don't get me started on a $9.50 signature drink. I can't even imagine what that first song was that they played, but it must have been a doozie, all the brides commented on it.  I felt badly for the church girl, at some point I hope she realizes that the groom's comments about the upcoming wedding nite sex was not cute but wildly inappropriate for a minister of the cloth. Full disclosure, I'm not even RELIGIOUS! She invited 350 people to the wedding-not the reception! That's why she had the woman checking the guest list for names. I'm sorry but to me that's just tacky. Where I come from, if you are invited to the wedding, you are coming to the reception. That's why she did'nt waste money on the "cocktail hour". Tacky.

[cpcathy]

I had totally forgotten Pirate Bride didn't participate in the theme! So, "you guys get to look tacky and stupid and I'll still be cute."

 

As for having to pay for drinks on a boat, I got married on a yacht and we chose to pay for our guest's drinks, so a cash bar is not necessarily mandatory.

[poeticlicensed]

^^ I also have been to a wedding on a boat. We were told that wine and beer was taken care of, if we wanted a mixed drink we would have to pay. We were fine with that. I'm guessing that most of the time when a wedding is at a non prime time (i.e. anything not a Saturday afternoon or evening), it's a cost cutting measure. As a guest, a brunch wedding would not be my first choice. I saw one Four Wedding way back in season one where the bride had a sunrise wedding. Yes, sunrise. I cannot imagine doing that to my guests 

[TwopLurker]

I've seen every episode of Four Weddings from the drunk Forth of July bride, Alana the gold digger, the hippie pizza weddin etc etc and nothing was as bad as Pageant bride's husband talking about sex. What is modest or holy about announcing that you waited and you can't wait to get married so you can finally do it?

[heebiejeebie]

  As for having to pay for drinks on a boat, I got married on a yacht and we chose to pay for our guest's drinks, so a cash bar is not necessarily mandatory.

 

 

 

If i go on one more round Manhattan booze cruise for work, my liver will jump overboard.  So no, I don't think just being on a boat would make a cash bar mandatory.  However from having to play social lackey for work on more occasions than I care, I do know how different liquor and food service laws and regulations are across the land.  Particularly when it comes to movable venues that cross outside of city lines and have to navigate (pardon the pun) a myriad of different sales tax and liquor laws.  Plus I know many short term cruises won't even serve alcohol simply because the insurance is way too high.  We had a cruise in Memphis that we paid a ridiculous rider for just so some visiting Saudi's lawyer and his wife could get their liquor on. 

 

I suspect it was due to the bride not wanting or having the money.  But there are a lot of things she might have given control up on by going with the venue she did.  including being able to provide free booze.

[Patrizio]

OK, so first we have the sexed up bridegroom in Savannah, then we go for a twofer with wedding ceremony starring MOM in Miami. I can't decide if it was the so very mother of the bride RED dress, or her impromptu remarks; but clearly this was a woman who was not going to be denied her chance to shine on TV! Her poor daughter was completely blindsided (we watched her reaction twice!); and all I can say is that these were very generous brides in that they chose to interpret Mom's grandstanding as some kind of touching moment. Also, way to go ombre bridemaid; alias YOLO girl for leaving a bad taste in the mouth of the contestants who are judging your friend's wedding! A word of advice to future contestants, ask a friend/family to make sure they experience your wedding fully. Don't put them at a table where they can't see anything or with kids, make sure guys ask them to dance, (that's what groomsmen are for), and don't have them be the last group at the buffet. In other words, make them feel special,(but don't target them with a corsage as other contestants have done). After all, these wedding guests have the potential to gift you with a nice honeymoon, could it hurt? Anyhoo, the blond resembled Kim Z from RHWOA. I thought she was going to be a jerk but ended up being pretty cool. I have noticed that in some instances, the reception dance floor has benefitted immensely with the presence of some of these dancing contestants. I thought the ombre wedding was very disorganized, the ceremony should never have been held outside with the after effects of the rain in play. I am over food trucks for wedding fare, unless it's a late nite snack after dancing. I don't like chocolate fountains, (unsanitary-almost threw up after seeing someone double dip), ice sculptures that deliver shots out of an animals willy, or the potato bar. I thought the bride with the wine wedding had some great ideas and her DIY was excellent (Blackboard), but I thought the "snow machine" that spewed clots of suds was cheesy. I don't know how they could have miscalculated so badly on the wine stock though.The girl that won was very nice, while her wedding was no great shakes, she and her groom were such a lovely couple, I was happy that they won.

[Kat20]

 

She invited 350 people to the wedding-not the reception! That's why she had the woman checking the guest list for names. I'm sorry but to me that's just tacky. Where I come from, if you are invited to the wedding, you are coming to the reception. That's why she did'nt waste money on the "cocktail hour". Tacky.

 

I'm wondering if her inviting more people to the ceremony had to do with the fact that the groom is a minister. There may have been several people that he had met in some capacity and would always mention her, the engagement, the wedding, whenever he saw them. They may have even expressed the desire to be there or buy a gift, so the couple told them they could come to the ceremony as a compromise.

 

It is true that weddings are cheaper in off times such as brunch, but guests should not have to pay for drinks. The NYTimes had an article a while back on venues charging more for weddings--they sent different people into the venues to ask about costs for a wedding, birthday, anniversary, retirement, etc. Yes, the wedding was always the most expensive. 

[auntjess]

I think sometimes churches, and the family, consider the ceremony itself as open to the congregation, especially if it's announced in the bulletin.
But the reception would still be by invitation only.
 

[friendperidot]

Missed the first part of "...And a Love Potion" but Vincenzo and Samantha - he didn't seem to know he was supposed to kiss the bride and didn't put his arms around her. And apparently the other brides didn't care for the fish. Came in just before this wedding where the brides were shocked about the bridal couple making out on the dance floor, I didn't see it, wasn't looking at the screen. That was quiye the budget for the winning wedding.

[poeticlicensed]

The cotton ball episode in South Carolina, all 4 weddings were meh to me. My fave venue was the bride who had the Christmas theme, but I guess I was expecting OTT christmas decor, but it was mainly pine needles and greens with a few red flowers and an ice sculpture. It didn't scream Christmas to me, but that's fine, I have seen other brides go crazy without good results. I actually liked the cotton ball decor, but I thought the space was too open. I did think the bar was cool. But it was a cold day and she served breakfast. Breakfast food immediately goes cold  if exposed to the cold. She was lucky it didn't rain, she had no back up plan. THe bride that won was supposed to have an outdoor wedding but moved it inside because of the cold, so I can't ding her on decor, but I didn't understand why she won, except for the food. I kept thinking that South Carolina isn't really a cold place, but my daughter lives in SC and this past fall/winter and intro spring was ne of the coldest on record. Overall I really felt like that group, save for the Christmas bride, were really unsophisticated. No idea what mulled wine is? Prounouncing sachet like hatchet? 

 

The love potion show should have been renamed three Jewish weddings and the other one. I love Jewish weddings and my husband is Jewish, so I had high expectations because they were all big budget affairs. 2 of the 3 had crazy blue lighting which I understand, but wasn't crazy about. LOved the baby animals even if it really didn't go with anything wedding related. But the bride seriously needed a makeover. Her hair, that tiara, not good looks. PLus she needed posture lessons, she looked hunched over. The princess bride theme was stupid for two adults getting married. Music from Jurassic park for your entrance? Really? And I did not understand the significance of the chemistry experiment. Was one of them a chemist? The bride who won, I loved her very traditional ceremony, loved that some of the women had wigs. Did anyone catch when the bride appeared before the wedding and there was an elderly woman with a huge blonde wig? I suspect it was her grandmother. I also liked the cocktail hour before the ceremony, since it was so long. I didn't like her dress, but she had to be covered, I thought there were better styles that might have suited her better and kept her covered. But I kept thinking is this marriage arranged? THere was zero chemistry between the bride and groom. THe bride who made out with her husband on the dance floor was just gross.  One bride gave another a 3 but I don't remember who. If the wedding happened and you ate and drank, no one deserves a 3. That was awful. 

Edited September 27, 2014 by poeticlicensed

[Tara1665]

That one bride from Miami looked like the twin sister of another Four Wedding bride from Miami. Remember the klutzy bride? Same angular long face and nose, same hair ands really thin.

Also why would you sign up to compete on a show where you are so limited in what you can eat?

Was there something wrong with Cottonball bride? When they are showing her with her father she looked like she was about to pass out. Then barely paid any attention to her groom. Weird.

[jackjill89]

I feel like the brides are definitely being harsher in their overall scores. I'm used to 6-8 range with a five being a "whoa -- that must have really sucked" -- but now they are dipping into 3s and 4s.  Seriously, unless it was an unmitigated disaster that is really harsh. 

 

Agree that the brides need to assess the other weddings in a more objective manner instead of "it's not my taste." It's not supposed to be your taste. It's not your wedding. 

[Tara1665]

The length of the weddings or the religions shouldn't even come into the scores. Overall, I thought that the first group of women were all bitches. They were just mean. Talking during the ceremony, making fun of the others weddings. The one bride that lowballed was particularly nasty. I think she had some jealously going on? The bride she gave a 3 to didn't have a bad wedding. To me she just didn't like the bride. She was in a mindset that she would just hate everything.

[heebiejeebie]

Yeah I already posted about my disgust with the threes.  And the more I think about the more disgusted I am.  Because I can't help but suspect that when you see an six, seven or eight you are seeing the bride giving that score probably edging a point or even two off the score.  Just to keep it open for herself.*  I've seen fives that I think are justified if you assume that most weddings you are a stranger at are not going to be the best weddings you have attended or one of the best.  Which would be a ten.  Fives that are horrible.  But a four or a three, knowing you are giving it out on tv is just plain pathetically petty.  Oh, can I buy a 'p'.

 

Especially when there is nothing that really stands out as being wrong or making the wedding unpleasant.

 

I don't like that they are jamming two episodes back to back as I keep getting the weddings confuddled by the time I sit down to type a post.  What I do remember is that I thought the cotton theme was a little heavy handed but it still worked in a pleasant display.  I do think she should have thought about the groom and the groomsment wearing just braces instead of those vests.  Sloppy looking.  It detracted from an otherwise crisp clean overall style.  The food was problematic.

 

The wedding with the football game playing was also the one with limited seating and limited food I believe.  First, I come from a football family.  I've attended weddings at big colleges carefully orchestrated around a football game.  And it has actually worked and has been fun.  Scheduling your  wedding probably long before game time is set is still no excuse imo.  You know the game is a distraction.  And against Florida?  It's probably going to be an evening game.  I thought that was pathetic.  I would have been annoyed to have more than half the guests be more concerned with the game going on tv than the wedding festivities.  And you should as many seats as potential guests.  I can't imagine what a couple of the brides from the other group would have thought about that wedding.

 

I did notice when the bride was presented (the one who won) the women in wigs.  Including the older woman in the blond wig.  The last Jewish wedding I attended I think more half the women wore wigs and they were all rather noticeable.  The first couple of times I had to stop myself from reaching out and smoothing it down a bit.  I'm such a twit sometimes.  There was something very, I don't know, comforting?  seeing so many traditional elements.  As a non-Jewish person it had a really nice Old World feel to it.  Was hers the wedding that the others complained about the service even as they sat back in the testing row?  Yeah there was a lot about that group that was unlikeable.

 

 

 

One thing I'm not clear on even though I've watched this show I don't know how many times, but are the scores given right at the end of the wedding?  Or do they tape them at the end.  I always thought they were wearing the same outfit, but that is easy enough to replicate for taping.  If they actually tape their overall score right after the wedding ends, then they might also score slightly lower so they don't get stuck looking like a raging bitch if they then attend a wedding that is simply incredible or be forced to give a higher mark.

[SusieQZie]

I just got done watching the first episode from last night. I am so not trying to be mean, but, um, stop slouching Samantha!!!! Oh, and please comb your hair.

 

That fish at cocktail hour looked so gross. I would've been turned off by that too.

 

I loved the Jewish weddings, especially the Orthodox one. My closest friend is converting, so I like a look in to the religion.

[Tara1665]

The Jewish weddings were interesting in the fact they had all three types. Reformed, conservative and orthodox.

[Patrizio]

"Three jewish weddings and the other one", best title so far for any show this season! I am glad that the woman with the Orthodox wedding won, the venue looked beautiful and the food looked great. She was a sweet girl too. I could'nt understand why the girl with the food allergies did'nt fix herself up for her wedding, that little tiara resting on that stringy hair was just sad.Her mother looked like a million bucks, so I can't figure out if she was just above all that looking good stuff, or was just a precious snowflake who can do no wrong. The groom certainly did not look all that enthused, I'll leave it at that. I must confess that even though I am a huge animal lover, I'm just not into them at a wedding. I would definitely not act all huffy about it like the bride who lowballed her by giving her that three. I don't know why, but I just got a bully vibe from that girl.The wedding cake alone should have ensured her at least a 5, one of the prettiest I've seen on  FW.  I thought that low ball bride's display on the dance floor with the groom at her reception was trashy. Her gown was pretty, though her bouquet overwhelmed the dress.  The "chemical reaction" bride I thought was gonna win, she definitely deserved MVP wedding guest! Her gown was the best in my opinion, but the science experiment at the ceremony has been done before (cheesy volcano), and once again her DIY project looked very childlike in theme and compostion. She was a fun girl though. The lady sitting next to Orthodox bride on the platform was probably her Grandmother, and I thought she rocked the Joan Jetson wig!

[millk]

I just got done watching the first episode from last night. I am so not trying to be mean, but, um, stop slouching Samantha!!!! Oh, and please comb your hair.

 

When ever she was on screen I just though "Well, bless her heart". And I'm not even southern! Maybe it had something to do with all her allergies and stuff but she just looked...odd. And sad. 

[Patrizio]

Wow, best vows so far go to the winning Savannah groom. I thought they were a good looking couple but I just can't with these tattoos. People are gonna say that it's part of who she is, and if that's the case then why did she airbrush them out of her wedding pictures? She was a real down to earth woman, and her wedding food was the bomb. Who has friends and relatives that'll make a feast like that for you? Not me! Also, I liked that it was served. Not crazy about the cotton theme, her dress was underwhelming and don't like pockets in wedding dresses. Can't stand Xmas themes outside the holidays, hot chocolate bar, ho hum. She was a pleasant bride though who liked more things than not. Pretty much hated the football wedding, thought the unity "painting" was poorly conceived and executed; even the colors sucked. The venue itself had all the charm of a bowling alley, and the prominent display of the game on the big screen TVs  with the guests cheering like rabid fans was tacky. With the exception of the winner, I did'nt think that the other brides dresses were very good. Poorly fitted, badly pressed or too dressy for the venues in my opinion. . 

[CoolMom]

And I did not understand the significance of the chemistry experiment. Was one of them a chemist?

 

I think they said during the intro that they met in college in some kind of science class. 

 

Who has friends and relatives that'll make a feast like that for you? Not me!

 

My family does this not for every wedding because not all the young brides/grooms want it.  But for the ones who the family goes all out, I would say that is the nice part of having a large family.  My niece just got married and my sister made all of her decor and invitations, then my her mom, my mom and the aunts made her food.  Twenty plus years ago my family made all of my food and people still talk about how much food I had and how good it was.

[auntjess]

I think the thing with the football reception, was that a whole lot of those people wouldn't have shown up without being able to watch the games.
Not saying that that makes it right, that's just how it was.

Ashley was the motorcyle bride, the non-Jewish wedding.  I agree her comments were nasty.

I started to dislike Samantha because of the "gluten-free" all the time, but she really seemed like a nice person, and didn't lowball people, like Jen, who was pleasant, but gave a lot of low scores.
I loved the animals, BUT, you really need to be passing out hand sanitizer when people are handling wild animals, even without food in the equation.
Anyway, I ended up wishing that Samantha could win, but was OK with Arlene.

I liked the winner of the other one, because she had a low budget, and it's the first time I've seen people not freak out when the family prepares the food.
Also, I wanted to be sure that the one who called her valentine theme "tacky," or some such didn' t win. 
 

[NikSac]

I have seen some really pretty and well done theme weddings. I like them and I think it's probably fun for the bride and groom as long as it's not too over the top. I enjoy planning themed parties and I hope the brides/grooms have fun with these. I feel so old fashioned when I realize hubby and I had a relatively traditional wedding - I mean we had a cake, DJ, even a dance floor! No church, barn, chalkboards, or decapitated mannequins though. I enjoy watching the more traditional weddings but maybe it's not enough drama for the show.

[NikSac]

(and I just finished the thread and realized I am apparently really far behind and need to update my DVR)

[Patrizio]

I rarely watch anything in real time. DVR really comes in handy when watching FW or Househunters. I'd  rather have only one episode a week of FW, but I guess that would cut into My Best Friend's Gypsy Wedding  or what is destined to be A Dugger Gets Married or has A Child Every Year for the next 20yrs screen time. NOT.

[Chellichik]

I was shocked that valentines wedding won. Obviously I can't judge the food, but the decor was so tacky. The cheapo silk flowers were awful. It totally reminded me of the wedding where the groom rapped his vow which I contend was still one of the worst weddings ever on this show.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Chellichik

[cpcathy]

I was honestly shocked that Valentine wedding won as well, I thought low-baller girl had killed it with her comments. I think it won for perhaps a few reasons--Valentine bride seemed like a nice, fun person; her husband's vow really were sweet and thought out (as opposed to another groom's "I love you and that's all I have to say"--he got a "really, dude?" from another bride!); her food was home-cooked and seemed to be delicious. Other that that, I'm stumped. White and that particular shade of red are so played out and tacky.

 

And yes, it's getting hard to discern one bride from the other, especially with two episodes and eight brides, though I'm sad we only have one more week of this show. Bring on some California brides next season!