Wedding Industry to the World: We Are Not Crooks

Posted on January 23, 2013 Written by 7 Comments

By Paul Pannone

A swooning wedding industry finds itself backpedaling after a TV segment first thought to educate and inform the public about planning a wedding. But instead an incensed industry finds itself defending against allegations that they’re a bunch of lying thieves.

Even a select cross-section of members known as the Wedding Water Cooler took a step back and a few days to think about what happened. Normally the group has instant answers to problems concerning the wedding business. But in this case the hesitation signals the 20/20 segment may have struck a nerve.

 

Famous last words includes the famous statement from Tricky Dickie: I am not a crook. So much for famous last words from privileged politicians. But in the world of hard-working wedding business owners, pile on yet another stigma to deal with.

 

eWedNewz watches industry personalities who’ve had to face the facts of a declining wedding market and rising number of vendors servicing the shrinking market. Since a Yale student studying the market supported the eWedNewz findings that include studies by authentic, revered data sources, marketers have scrambled to find a new angle to rallying paying wedding industry members to their seminars and listen to their opinions of how to market to brides.

Open letters and criticism of why 20/20 got it wrong proclaim protection of the wedding industry while simultaneously gathering eyeballs for a sales-pitch that’s sure to follow. Wedding marketers claim to have answers of how to “double your business”. But what does logic and facts say?

According to one member of the Wedding Water Cooler the ABC 20/20 show was not a front-running program viewed by a significant audience when compared to other programming, including sporting events.

“20/20 is a waste of time & I am certain that a yelp! review holds more weight in the eyes of the bride,” according to one member and ongoing WWC discussions.

The discussion in the Wedding Water Cooler group calmed many of the planner members once they heard information presented by some of the more logical thinkers. Some members say they’ve already made attempts to contact the show, insisting that balancing statements be including in a follow-up story. But once again logical thinkers in the group say there’s really nothing to balance and find it unlikely there will be a follow-up.

“If there is it’s likely to be a perpetuation of the same scandals involving brides that can be viewed on any wedding reality show and other poor examples that malign the hard-working people of the wedding industry,” said one Coolie Member and veteran of the wedding business.

An ongoing poll so-far says 27% of respondents feel the wedding industry is not crooked. Currently, 14% disagrees and says the wedding business is crooked. 59% of responses so-far feels there’s good and bad everywhere, including the wedding business.

What do you say? Is the wedding business a bunch of thieves and liars, preying on the emotions of the bride?

eWedNewz

All Rights Reserved

2013

Filed Under: Advertising and Marketing, Anti Fairy Dust, Data, Economic news, eWedNewz, Ongoing Story Investigation, Research, wedding industry, Wedding Vendors, Wedding Water Cooler Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=507675690 facebook-507675690

    Any time one makes a purchase, whether its the bridal industry or any other commodity, the Latin phrase, Caveat Emptor; buyer beware, comes to mind. The wedding business is no more crooked than any other and being a well educated consumer and doing your research well, will determine the outcome.

    In my 20 years of bridal publishing, I have seen very few crooked and unscrupulous practices and certainly none from any of my wedding professionals, because I make it my business to find out about their business practices and I meet with them face to face. Most of this industry is passionate and professional. They are hardworking businesses with good intent. There has always been the few rotten apples that spoil that spoil the bridal industry’s reputation.

    Any time one makes a purchase, whether its the bridal industry or any other commodity, the Latin phrase, Caveat Emptor; buyer beware, comes to mind. The wedding business is no more crooked than any other and being a well educated consumer and doing your research well, will determine the outcome.

    In my 20 years of bridal publishing, I have seen very few crooked or unscrupulous practices and certainly none from any of my wedding professionals, because I make it my business to find out about their business practices and I meet with them face to face.

    Most of this industry is passionate and professional. They are hardworking businesses with good intent.

    There has always been the few rotten apples that spoil the bridal industry’s reputation and they are always the most damaging to the reputation of the entire industry.

    Sheryl Davies

    Publisher

    The Wedding Guide Windsor|Essex County

  • http://www.trueinteraction.com/ O. Liam Wright

    Regardless of the snarky tone of the show, it seemed to just be another episode that sensationalizes drama for the sake of Gross Rating Points. Felt a bit like a hodgepodge Manzillas Felonies, Scams with no real “investigative science” behind their stories (regarding their comparative analysis of multi-variable scenarios between client type and vendor prices.)

    However, I do understand that many transitioning markets become spotty at times, and end up needing its own Quality Assurance Oversight to help bring up the market; similar to NYC Restaurant Inspection “NYC DOHMH” or Medallion Taxicab Passenger Bill of Rights. (not suggesting that federal or state oversight is a solution – but self policing may be an option, above and beyond crowd source ratings via social rating systems such as yelp.) – Peer review is what scientists do.

    I think the mix of 1) High-Stress Clients + 2) Cultural Norms + 3) Sensationalized Drama TV + 4) Emerging Digital Landscape + 5) Shrinking Budgets = a topography thats an easy target; yet creates a great opportunity for everyone to bring up their game.

    • eWedNewz

      There is nothing wrong with snarky, as long as all the facts and a balanced point of view is presented for public consumption. By experience, well-thought out and planned stories fall short of top performance or attention when compared to sensational headlines and statements. As I said on my private Facebook page, I reluctantly covered the story and agree; it’s just another episode of sensationalized drama. Great for eyeballs and rating but not so good for the hard-working, honest vendors of the business.

      Thank you for your view and statement,

      Paul Pannone

      • http://www.trueinteraction.com/ O. Liam Wright

        Many thanks for raising the awareness and dialogue on the matter.

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