In a perfect world, brides and grooms wouldn’t have to bother planning their weddings. They’d simply arrive for the ceremony and experience the most perfect day, glitch-free. In reality, wedding planning isn’t quite so stress-free.
Most reality TV series capitalize on the drama and calamity of these preparations, but the newest program to make the airwaves has taken on a different, refreshing approach. Battle of the Wedding Designers instead pits three planners against each other, whose cattiness provides the sole source of entertainment value.
The couples in this series are, for once, given a break from exploitive dramatics for an experience even less stressful than the average private ceremony. In one of the most flattering portrayals I've seen in recent reality programming, the debut episode featured a Greek and Italian couple, Maria and Jeff, who sacrificed no dignity in return for the expertise of not one but three professional planners - something they never could have afforded outside of the show.
Last week, viewers met Brian Worley and Sonia Sharma, two of the featured wedding designers, and were also reintroduced to planner Michelle Buckley, who competed in the TLC one-time special Battle of the Wedding Planners last fall.
Between them, the designers boast more than 20 years of experience, and with the added pressure of a competition, the three were compelled to bring their best game, designing extravagant weddings on an $18,000 budget.
As a result, the show is not only fresh, but informative. The first one-hour episode offered more useful tips than the countless hours I've spent watching other wedding shows. With limited resources, the planners were forced to get the most bang for their buck while stretching their creativity to meet the bride and groom’s needs.
Sonia’s downtown Los Angeles wedding was hosted at the Vibiana, a luxurious historical venue with Baroque-inspired interiors and lush outdoor gardens, perfect for the “urban oasis meets timeless tradition” theme she had planned.
The cost of hosting a wedding at the Vibiana runs upwards of around $10,000, more than half the couple’s budget. Sonia, however, was able to negotiate the price down to $2,300, roughly one-quarter of the market price.
If bargaining tactics aren’t your specialty, Sonia also shared a few other pointers to save a buck or two. For ceremony site seating, borrowing pews from a church undergoing renovations in exchange for donations to the congregation is an affordable and stylish alternative to costly Chiavari chair rentals.
Perhaps the most creative way the planners managed to cut down on costs was by serving signature cocktails, like basil lime and cucumber lychee martinis, as opposed to offering an open bar to guests.
Innovative ideas aside, the series isn’t without its faults. Constant bickering and hostility between the planners does undermine the show at times. It also seems they’re each required to incorporate a cheesy, over-the-top element into the wedding in a bid for attention. The debut’s opera singer, gondola ride and horse were all vetoed by the couple for obvious reasons.
But in the end, Maria and Jeff experienced a picturesque “Malibu Mama Mia” ceremony after selecting Michelle’s proposal, something they never would have been able to afford without signing up for the series. The wedding of their dreams was entirely worth entering into dreaded reality wedding territory – not a bad trade off considering the couple’s image miraculously managed to remain intact.
Battle of the Wedding Designers airs Fridays, 10 p.m. ET, TLC
Thoughts? szolis@tvguide.ca or comment below..
 |
Whether it’s reality or scripted TV, Stephanie firmly believes the most important element to any series is a sordid romantic story arc – Grey’s Anatomy’s MerDer, Laguna Beach/The Hills’ Lauren and Jason, The Office’s PB & J, and General Hospital’s Soily, to name a few. The more dysfunctional a couple is, the better.
A proud single gal with an obsession for everything New York, Stephanie is one relocation away from living out her dream as a Carrie Bradshaw impostor. In the meantime, her weekly column scrutinizes the most explosive couples, crushes and relationship catastrophes to unfold on the small screen.
|
Follow TV Guide Canada on Facebook