I’ve resisted saying anything about Jennifer Wilbanks until now (particularly yesterday because I wanted to think about happier weddings) but I thought I should add my two cents, especially after seeing her bridal registries and hearing the statement on the news.
(Her registries are here, here, and here. I got this information from a friend who got it off of WeddingChannel.Com.)
I wish I could shake this girl. Her wedding has 14 bridesmaids and 14 groomsmen. She invited 600 guests. I’m thinking this wedding costs 6 or 7 figures. She claims she ran away because the stress was too much. Well DUH! She’s doing the stereotypical fragile Southern belle routine and it’s really annoying. The items on her wedding registry combined are worth more than the parsonage, Jon’s yearly income, and all our possessions. Can you say “greedy”?
My wedding had 3 bridesmaids, 4 groomsmen, and 2 flower girls. I had 100 of my closest friends and family there. It cost 4 figures and people still talk about how it was one of the best weddings they’ve been to. WeddingChannel.Com and others cater to the HUGE affairs and it annoys me to no end because people end up focusing on topping one another instead of celebrating a special day when two people commit their lives to each other.
I really hope that they make her pay back the amount that was spent searching for her. Granted, it might equal the cost of the wedding but still… normal people see psychiatrists and some even get Valium or Xanax to deal with the stress. (I’m not saying I approve of or condone drugging the bride during the week before the wedding. I’m just saying that it happens.) You don’t run away because “the stress of it all was too much”. If that kind of stress is too much, scale down your wedding, honey.
our wedding was large – not quite as many in the wedding party as hers, but close; and around 500 invited, 300 showed up. we had alot of folks from out of town, so the reception was heavy finger foods – nice time.
my dad tried to make us elope. we could’ve done that 🙂
i don’t fault her for wanting to run away. i’d rather learn this about her before saying “i do” than after. but i feel sorry for her more than anything. and i don’t know that i’d want to force her to pay something like that back or not. the people gave willingly, and as long as no one was hurt or did without in the midst of it, i’d rather think that same care and concern would be there next time someone’s missing like that.
I heard about this woman all week long. (apparently random casino people like to tell wedding horror stories when they hear you’re getting married.) Mike said that if I pulled something like this, he would probably never forgive me. that’s such a waste of money, everyone’s time, and a total disregard for him and all the guests. I agree. wtf is wrong with people? 🙁
I don’t know if she planned the wedding or her mother did — all that hoopla may have been foisted upon her by a socially ambitious family. I pity her, but faking a kidnapping is LOW. Run away if you must, but don’t invent “Hispanic kidnappers.”
As far as my own bridal experiences, I’ve had two. The first, small (35 guests), 3 showers due to a far-flung family, 1 witness each. Nervous, but not manic. Second time: I planned it, 120 people, 2 witnesses each, several congratulatory parties but no gifts, and I was CRAZY the week before. A kind friend fed me Xanax and kept me from killing anyone, especially the groom when two days before the wedding he decided to demand the right to continue to see his old girlfriend. (Not a nice girl, a real troublemaker.) The storm passed. The wedding turned out fabulous, considering I went 48 hours without food. I never plan on getting married again.
I’m a minister whose officiated at wayyyyy too many weddings (200ish over the last 10 years)… my partner is a minister, too. We’ve come to the believe that a wedding is an icky way to start a marriage. *wry smile* The stress level for the wedding day is – often – really destructive.
I love weddings – they’re one of the favourite parts of what I do. But I wish that people didn’t feel like they had to go as huge as they often do.