With wedding tv (Four Weddings and the plethora of similar shows), expectations in general of what weddings are supposed to include from every stage of planning is skewed. There is no basis in reality but it has become the base minimum of what people are expected to include or experience, even if it is not able to happen. Because of that, many get so wrapped up in the fantasy and tend to forget that the bare minimum requirements do not include those things but instead include an officiant, a marriage license, your fiance, 1-2 legal witnesses as required by the state and a reception the same day for those attending the ceremony. Everything else is fluff. But somehow over the years that fluff has become a minimum requirement for many. Not everyone wants or can afford the extra but they are made to feel like crap if they don't find a way to include them. A full meal, 6+ plus bridesmaids and so on. It doesn't help that the wedding industry preys on everyone by leading brides to believe she will be doomed for divorce and her family/friends will be embarrassed if it isn't a lavish party with things she may not even want to begin with or want to spend what vendors charge for the "required" extras no one can negotiate out of.
How much of your planning is reality and how much is expectation from tv?
