Wed, 17 October 2007  Steve Wernick interviews Rebecca Mead the author of “One Perfect day: The Selling of the American Wedding�, in October 2007, where she answered questions concerning her book. The interview was conducted at Mead’s office at the New Yorker magazine, in the Conde Nast building at Times Square, New York City. Comments[2] |
Rebecca Mead has some great points.
As a 58 year old Dad of one bride and videographer too, my perspective is different.
First, I think she has some good points. “Why is there an INDUSTRY for weddings at all?
I guess, I did not read her book, she attacked all parts of the industry not just Videographers’ although she seemed to give a pass to Photographers in your interview.
Anyway, the fact that Dads are expected to spend the Mortgage on a wedding is ludicrous. But if they have it and want to that is fine with me.
The industry is what it is because people want it. Not because we are a bunch of retired autosales guys.
She appears to be young by my years so it is understandable that she places little value on memories. Believe me, in another 25 years, she - like most of us, will regret not having more videos of our kids and ourselves to share with our family.
Now $25k on flowers – what long term value do they have?
Video and Photos are only important if you don’t have them. They become over valued (lawsuits) if you loose someone else’s memories.
Brides do need to set their priorities better that is for sure.
Barry
As a 58 year old Dad of one bride and videographer too, my perspective is different.
First, I think she has some good points. “Why is there an INDUSTRY for weddings at all?
I guess, I did not read her book, she attacked all parts of the industry not just Videographers’ although she seemed to give a pass to Photographers in your interview.
Anyway, the fact that Dads are expected to spend the Mortgage on a wedding is ludicrous. But if they have it and want to that is fine with me.
The industry is what it is because people want it. Not because we are a bunch of retired autosales guys.
She appears to be young by my years so it is understandable that she places little value on memories. Believe me, in another 25 years, she - like most of us, will regret not having more videos of our kids and ourselves to share with our family.
Now $25k on flowers – what long term value do they have?
Video and Photos are only important if you don’t have them. They become over valued (lawsuits) if you loose someone else’s memories.
Brides do need to set their priorities better that is for sure.
Barry
posted by: Barry Rickert on Thu, 10/25 10:47 AM EDT
I'm sitting here listening to the Rebecca Mead podcast. It's the podcast is interesting, but hardly noteworthy. I'm sure her book is the same.
I have to ask, so what if the huge wedding industry is a mirror of our contemporary culture, and doesn't totally cast a flattering reflection. Lord, practically everything is a mirror of some facet of some culture or another. What's so phenomenal about the wedding industry in this respect? Nothing except basic food, clothing and shelter are necessitities, and the expenditure of trillions of dollars on all the other stuff is well....just a phenomenon of human nature. People have the money and the desire to have things, and they buy stuff.
You might find it interesting, but as my wife and I produced our first wedding videos in 1990, I was very skeptical. But I didn't have to see the great happiness a good wedding video brought to our customers to convert me. The fact is, wedding video is valuable to many brides. And they are willing to pay for one. It's very little different from most of life's purchases. Once that's established, the price structure is set by demand and supply....the same laws of economics that govern the rest.
Rebecca Mead needs to find something important for her next book, which I will also probably not read.
I have to ask, so what if the huge wedding industry is a mirror of our contemporary culture, and doesn't totally cast a flattering reflection. Lord, practically everything is a mirror of some facet of some culture or another. What's so phenomenal about the wedding industry in this respect? Nothing except basic food, clothing and shelter are necessitities, and the expenditure of trillions of dollars on all the other stuff is well....just a phenomenon of human nature. People have the money and the desire to have things, and they buy stuff.
You might find it interesting, but as my wife and I produced our first wedding videos in 1990, I was very skeptical. But I didn't have to see the great happiness a good wedding video brought to our customers to convert me. The fact is, wedding video is valuable to many brides. And they are willing to pay for one. It's very little different from most of life's purchases. Once that's established, the price structure is set by demand and supply....the same laws of economics that govern the rest.
Rebecca Mead needs to find something important for her next book, which I will also probably not read.
posted by: Case Marsh on Thu, 10/25 06:15 PM EDT
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