Stop Pop Culture Weddings, Please.
Pop culture weddings may sound cool in theory, but in practice they can be unbearably wacky. Forcing your friends and family into LARP through ceremony and reception is almost brutal, especially when you remember that they’re probably already spending money just to be there on your big day. Unfortunately, there are more such events: new data from Hitched.co.uk shows that, at least in the UK, there is a growing interest in pop culture weddings. According to the site, inquiries about weddings in Bridgerton , in particular, are up 31% this year, and hits for articles about weddings in Bridgerton are up 285%.
Of course, this phenomenon is not new – and it is not limited to Bridgerton fans. For example, you can find hundreds of photos of Star Trek style weddings with a simple Google search, and even famous people get involved. Frankie Grande has just shared photos of his own Star Wars -style move with lightsabers and stormtroopers.
As old and popular as this practice is, it must stop.
Your photos will look dated almost instantly
It’s true that Bridgerton, which is on its second season on Netflix, has captivated viewers. But for comparison, let’s recall a few more series that not so long ago conquered us. Breaking Bad was a hit, as was The Walking Dead , and not so long ago we all gathered around our TVs to watch it and obsessively discuss storylines. However, the world of popular entertainment is moving fast. They’re all out of date now – so imagine how odd the Breaking Bad wedding photos might look, even just a few years after the show ended. The Walking Dead is currently still ongoing, but its cultural peak has certainly passed. Any fashion trend that you can use in your wedding will one day seem outdated.
Yes, the Regency costumes at Bridgerton are better suited to the glitz and glam of a wedding than the costumes at, say, The Sopranos . However, most major pop culture phenomena are flashes in a frying pan. They quickly go out of fashion, giving way to something newer and more interesting. The truth is that very few things age well. Consider how many people got married on Game of Thrones around the time the fourth season aired, and how many of them were among the hordes angered by recent seasons. What do you think they think of this day trip to Westeros now?
Worse, key players in our beloved cultural institutions can—and often do—fall out of favor. Imagine a Pirates of the Caribbean -style wedding when Johnny Depp was a pure and beloved icon. It might have been surprising for your hubby to dress up as Captain Jack Sparrow at the time, but you end up having to make one damn caveat every time you show someone these photos now that Depp has spent the last few years in court . Dealing with allegations of spousal abuse. And what about all those viral Harry Potter weddings now that J.K. Rowling has embroiled herself in so much controversy surrounding her unyielding trans-exclusive feminism?
Of course, all wedding photos look outdated over time. Think of your parents’ wedding photos in which your mom has huge sleeves and dad has the thickest mustache. Some pieces, like the A-line dress or the ball gown, are more or less timeless, but it’s easy to get dated by layers of tulle or an unfortunate chunky 2010s-era necklace. Adding an extravagant theme to an event that will look outdated in a few short years is a bad idea.
Your guests may not quite understand
Your wedding is of course about you, but also about the people who come together to celebrate with you. Requiring a complex topic is at best an inconvenience and at worst a way to confuse or alienate your guests. Some people may see the opportunity to dress out of the ordinary at your wedding as a blessing to themselves and their Instagram feed, while others may simply ignore your wishes. Maybe you can get most of your guests to play along like it’s London in 1813, but the best man’s girl would really rather wear her short hot pink number. She doesn’t watch Bridgerton; she doesn’t care that Rare-Jean Page didn’t return for the second season.
Also, it’s unfair to assume that your guests have the perfect Klingon costume lying around – they’ll have to buy something, and the money they’ve spent on travel, lodging, and gifts is already enough.
There is hope for your cherished theme
But there is no need to completely lose hope. If you and your fiancée are connected by, say, The Hunger Games or Twilight , you can still bow to the pop culture phenomenon that brought you closer. You don’t have to fiddle around in a flaming dress like the Mockingjay herself, but you can add some vaguely themed embellishments (if needed).
For The Hunger Games , add some dandelions to your bouquets. For The Lord of the Rings , pick up some copies of Evenstar Arwen for bridesmaids necklaces. If you’re still stuck on Bridgerton , maybe you could do what the show does and hire a string quartet to play top 40 hits. A wide sky theme can work for Star Wars or Star Trek and be beautiful at the same time. These more subtle options will pay homage to your shared favorites without overwhelming the entire event.