Wedding Water Cooler in Uproar over 20/20 view of the Wedding Business

By Paul Pannone

A slanted view of wedding industry professionals presented by ABC’s 20/20 has many members of the business rankled including the Wedding Water Cooler. What started as a positive post hoping the team at 20/20 would give a balanced view of how the credible part of the business treat their customers soon became a lynching of the industry, putting consumers on alert.

The wedding industry is in an uproar over how ABC’s 20/20 portrayed them in a segment of their show. Members of the Wedding Water Cooler group say they’ve contacted the show to get the story straight.

Responses posted during and just after the segment unanimously turned negative;

“First of all, the nonsensical videos of “wedding disasters” were ridiculous.   How many brides get peed on by their dog as they walk down the aisle?   But,mostly, it insulted the industry as a whole.   It made us out to be a bunch of thieves and idiots, based on a few phone calls to a DJ and Chris Evans’ “expert” opinion.   There was no substance to the show and there was very little fact- only conjecture and stupidity!”

Stunned members of the group and long-time veterans of the business said the show’s producers worked on ‘very old information” and a very slanted view of the business, leaving out hard -working people who are dedicated to their clients.

“Well it was just tawdry, and that reflects poorly on what should be a spectacular time in someone’s life.  It also underlining the old saw about not trusting your vendors, which puts the couple and their wedding products partners at odds.  And lastly, I’d like to see some “confidential” reporting on “how to” shop, preferably with good wedding vendor partners.  I’m specifically tired of the reality foolishness,” said one member of the group.

But not everyone bothered to watch– some people have a life and live during the weekend– but did comment on all the hoopla when they finally arrived late to the discussion:

“As mentioned, I didn’t see the show last night.  However, based on all your comments, it appears that the content was off target and useless to most consumers.  If that’s the case, what’s to be done about it?

I’d like to see the show personally before I pass judgment on the content.  Regardless, I believe what you’re saying and also believe that someone at 20/20 should be informed that they did, in fact, miss the target and what they can do to correct this problem.  Maybe they will listen — maybe they won’t.  If nobody tells them what they did wrong, they’ll never know that they did anything wrong or that there is another point of view that should be explored.

I only have one solid contact in TV who can direct me/us as to how address this problem with 20/20 or any other TV program.

Based upon personal experiences, I know for a fact that producers shape a show in whatever way they wish.  Right or wrong.  Usually, people are so flattered to be a part of a show that they honor the producer’s every request.  When we’ve done programs with the Today Show and others, the producer calls most of the shots on which merchandise is featured.  If they want Vera Wang or only high end resources, you either give them what they want or they find someone else,” said one industry veteran.

Members of the group said they’ve contacted the show to get some sort of balancing statement and a possible segment that would portray honest vendors of the wedding business in a better light.

What do you think about the wedding business?

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