Every year in the United States, there are approximately 2.5 million weddings, and the wedding industry has grown to an empire of 40 billion dollars per year. The following provides a sociological overview of how the wedding industry functions in the United States, cultural and social elements of the event and how it has become the economic giant seen today. The article will also discuss elements of the wedding process that generate major revenue for many major corporations each year. This includes clothes, flowers, music and many other elements that are a part of the ceremony, reception, honeymoon, and bachelor and bachelorette parties.
History of the wedding industry
The wedding industry has come a long way in the last couple thousand years, and has evolved from a system where women were viewed as possessions and sold as wives to the modern day billion dollar system where couples spend thousands of dollars to have their ideal of the perfect day of union. In ancient times men would capture their wives from neighboring tribes, and the marriage relationship took on a persona of the man being the victorious slave owner and the woman as the defeated enemy forced to work and bear children. Later, marriage developed into an actual industry where women were sold as wives for cattle, grain, or other valuable goods. It was not until the Roman civilization that women were allowed to choose who they married.
Marriages were also a way to secure peace and form alliances between families, tribes, or even nations. This type of marriage was known as a Marriage of state and played a heavy role in the history of the world. A prime example of this is the marriage of King Henry VIII of England to Catherine of Aragon, Spain in 1509, and this wedding formed an alliance between Spain and England. King Henry the VIII also used this alliance to invade France. Using marriage to climb the social ladder has been used throughout history and in each economic class.
The wedding industry changed an evolved in to a capitalist industry that we know today between the 1920s to 1950s, and many of our traditions today were developed during this time by advertisements and promotions from major retailers, jewelers, caterers, and many other companies. This industry is atypical of United States companies in that it is made up of many small parts, and many of them are local. There is no one major company that provides all the services for a wedding but several that generally have to be contacted, scheduled, and paid for separately; making the planning and organization of the modern wedding very complicated.
In the 1960s and 1970s brides started to deviate from the original wedding plan, and moved the wedding outside of the church. This developed the idea of the "destination wedding," and is still very popular today.
Weddings in the history of humanity and the United States have always played a major role in society, and will continue this role until society deems matrimony unnecessary.
Bachelor and bachelorette parties
Main articles: Bachelor party and Bachelorette partyPre-wedding rituals such as the bachelor party and the bachelorette party have been going on for more than sixty years. Countries around the world have celebrated these parties in various ways with different activities. Bachelor parties were believed to have started before bachelorette parties. It is also believed that bachelorette parties started sometime during the sexual revolution in the 1960s. Bachelor parties are also known as stag nights or stag parties. People believe that the bride and groom should not pay for the event and must always keep the bride and groom's interests in mind.
The bachelor party is known to be the final night out for men where they participate in various activities. Also, it is so that the groom can spend his last moments of the "single" life with his male friends. Different events are known to go on during bachelor parties. Men will engage in different activities such as going out to a bar or "bar-hopping," going to strip clubs, or even hiring a stripper to come to the host's home. Some believe that bachelor parties are a rite of passage from bachelorhood to a more responsible martial life with their spouse. The person that organizes the party is usually the best man or the sibling of the groom. Usually the groom is not to know about any of the activities that are going to take place however, some plan out the event. Other activities that men would like to participate in would involve attending sporting events, hosting a sporting event, or a road trip.
Different countries hold different types of "bachelor parties." For example, Denmark has parties called a Polteraband. The men will meet for breakfast, then go on to activities such as paintball or some sort of activity that is very casual, then dinner at a nice restaurant and finally go out on the town. Also, France has parties that are call "enterrenment de vie de garcon" which literally means burial of the life as a bachelor. These parties usually contain heavy drinking and sometimes they will hire a stripper.
Bachelorette parties are also known as hen do, hen parties, and hen nights. Activities involved include exchanging and laughing about intimate secrets with the bride's closest girlfriends, getting drunk, attending strip clubs, and drinking games. Also, the maid of honor gives a speech to the guest of honor.
Costs of bachelor and bachelorette parties can vary depending on what the party is going to entitle. On average, if the party was very casual at host's home and played games such as horse shoes or bocce, then it may cost 15-30 dollars per person. If everyone went out to a steakhouse or sushi bar, then went bar hopping or wine tasting, it may cost 35-50 dollars per person. Or lastly, say the party was held at a upscale hotel or resort with a 5 course meal and then everyone went out to a nightclub in a limo or a party in a suite then people may be paying anywhere from 150 dollars to 300 dollars.
Weddings in the media
As of 2006, Bridal Television Shows in the United States attracted more than 30% of the brides planning their wedding each year and over 6,000 bridal shows have taken place each year. Wedding TV shows allow viewers to see all the hard work and planning that goes into this one day event. Though humorous and entertaining for those watching at home, these shows get up close and personal into the bride and groom's emotions right up until they say their vows. Many of these shows focus on the temperament of the bride and receive outstanding ratings, but some offer great tips on planning, organizing, and budgeting for a wedding. For example, one of the most popular of these shows is Bridezilla . The process of the wedding along with the lude behavior of the brides involved makes many viewers around the country tune in week after week."
A few other popular reality TV shows include My Big Redneck Wedding , A Wedding Story , Say Yes to The Dress , and Rich Bride, Poor Bride . These shows show a variety of different aspects involved in this very special day. Realistically, it seems that these shows have become so popular because of America's need to become part of a higher social class. Though it is just a reality show, over the past few years, reality shows have made simple California girl Lauren Conrad of The Hills and Tiffany a.k.a. New York, originally from Flavor of Love television royalty. According to an article from the Washington Post, this desire to be in the spotlight is a psychosocial issue. Simply put, these shows make the wedding of small-town people mirror images of storybook celebrity weddings. Though Americans reject the idea of social classes and status, for those who aren't "A-list celebs", they still try to recreate that sense of privilege and entitlement. Weddings are one of the few occasions that social classes almost mesh or at least become less important.
Wedding ceremony
Until the Middle Ages, the Wedding ceremony or betrothal involved of the exchange of a ring or a piece of fruit, a kiss, and then the bride moved into the groom's home. Today however, the ceremonial aspect of marriage has become more extravagant and more detailed. The average American couple today spends about 19 to 20 thousand dollars on their wedding and for a middle class family, this can be about 51 percent of their income. This money may go towards things such as the venue, the rehearsal dinner, the officiate, the wedding planner, and invitations to the event, as well as a band, singer, or pianist for when the wedding party walks down the aisle.
The wedding ceremony itself can cost a couple about 2,600 dollars on average, depending on the site, whether it be indoors or outdoors, a church or the beach. The location may only cost the couple 500 dollars, but accessories and decorations cost extra. For the officiant, priest, minister, or rabbi a couple may spend about 300 dollars. The rehearsal dinner, which many couples have for their guests, costs them about 1,269 dollars.On flowers alone a couple may expect to spend about 2,000 dollars. This cost includes flowers used for decorations in the wedding venue, as well as for bouquets for the bride, bridesmaids, and flower girls. Even mundane elements of the wedding such as invitations can cost a pretty penny. Couples spend on average, about 848 dollars which includes costs of stationary accessories ($188) and printed, pre-made invitations or reply cards ($659). A wedding band or singer may cost at least 1,000 dollars depending on who performs, and this cost can be for either the ceremony or the receptio
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