>>> WELL NOW, A BIT OF A GEARSHIFT AS WE TURN TO WEDDINGS.

THE MILESTONE EVENT OFTEN LEAVING COUPLES WITH THEIR HEARTS FULL, BUT THEIR WALLETS LATE.

THE AVERAGE AMERICAN, GET THIS, SPENDS AROUND $30,000 ON THEIR WEDDING, AND OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS THEY ARE ONLY GETTING MORE EXTRAVAGANT.

IN HER RECENT ARTICLE, THE FAKE POOR BRIDE, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR REVEALS THE WORLD BEHIND THIS LUCRATIVE INDUSTRY, AND SHE JOINED MICHELLE MARTIN TO TALK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE AS AN EX-WEDDING PLANNER.

>> THANKS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SOME PEOPLE MAY KNOW YOU AS THE AUTHOR OF THE NOVEL , BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW YOU FROM YOUR WORK IN THE ATLANTIC.

YOU'RE KIND OF TRANSIENT.

ANALYSIS OF RACE AND CLASS AND POLITICS .

OKAY, SO LUXURY WEDDING PLANNER.

LIKE, HOW -- HOW DID THAT, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> WELL, I THINK MY CLIENTS ARE WONDERING THE SAME THING.

THEY'RE SORT OF ALL SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS, BEING LIKE, I GUESS THE STILL WATERS RANDY.

NO, I THINK IT WAS A GREAT POSITION TO SORT OF OBSERVE , OBSERVE CLASS IN AMERICA, ABSORBED SORT OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL STRATA OF LIFE, AND I HAD JUST SORT OF BEEN --I WOULDN'T SAY STEWING IN MY OWN JUICES, BUT KIND OF CEMENTING A LOT OF OBSERVATIONS OVER THE YEARS.

AND IN THE NOVEL GAVE ME A CHANCE TO KIND OF PUT THAT ALL INTO PLAY, AND THEN THE ATLANTIC HAS GIVEN ME A LOT MORE ROOM TO KIND OF JUST KEEP CHEWING ON THINGS.

AND WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A FUN WAY TO MELD MY OLD LIFE WITH MY NEW LIFE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I KIND OF REALIZED IN THINKING ABOUT YOUR PIECE IS THAT NOWADAYS, MAYBE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT JOB.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A PERSON WHO DOES THAT JOB, OR, OR A TEAM.

BUT I THINK WHEN YOU STARTED OUT, IT WAS KIND OF A HIDDEN -- >> UP WITH A HIDDEN CAREER.

I THINK I SAY IN THE PEACE, MY FAMILY, WHO WAS VERY WORKING- CLASS AND LITERALLY HAD WHAT WAS CALLED A FOOTBALL WEDDING, WAS LIKE, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DO.

AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE KIND OF LEVELS OF WEALTH OF THE PEOPLE THAT I WAS WORKING FOR, THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE FIXATION WAS ON --BUT THEY COULD BUY A HOUSE WITHOUT MONEY.

AND IT'S LIKE, THEY HAVE SEVERAL HOUSES.

HOW DO I EXPLAIN THAT TO MY GRANDMOTHER.

IT WAS SORT OF A NEW PROFESSION, AND WE SORT OF RODE THAT WAVE, AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

AND THEN AT A CERTAIN POINT, IT BECAME UN-FUN.

I WROTE ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT IN THE PIECE.

I THINK AS OUR POLITICS --IT WAS FUNNY.

AS OUR POLITICS CAME --CAME MORE TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE COUNTRY, IT BECAME HARDER TO SORT OF SEPARATE WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON FROM WHO YOU ARE IS A PROFESSIONAL IN SOME SENSE.

YEAH.

>> WHO YOU ARE.

YOU COME FROM, AS YOU SAID, A WORKING-CLASS BACKGROUND.

I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT, LIKE, THAT FIRST WEDDING THAT YOU DID, WHEN YOU REALIZE, OH, THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY WE DO THINGS IN MY FAMILY.

>> THERE'S A WEDDING STRATA.

THE WEDDING STRATA REPLICATE OUR CLASS STRATA, RIGHT?

LIKE, WHERE PEOPLE ARE CHARGING A DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS, AND THE WEDDINGS HAVE DIFFERENT BUDGETS.

REMEMBER WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED, OKAY, WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT FIELD HERE, WAS WHEN THERE WAS A SEPARATE PERSON INVOLVED THAT DEALT WITH THE MONEY VERSUS ANYBODY INVOLVED SO THE PARENTS WERE PAYING, THE BRIDE WAS MAKING A LOT OF DECISIONS, YOU KNOW, THE MOM MIGHT'VE BEEN CONSULTED, BUT THEN YOU TALK TO A COMPLETELY SEPARATE ENTITY THAT ACTUALLY REVIEW THE CHECKS AND DEALT WITH THE BUDGET , AND YOU SUDDENLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A FAMILY.

IT'S SORT OF A SMALL CORPORATION.

AND I THINK FOR A LOT OF COUPLES, JUST, THE AVERAGE COUPLE IN AMERICA OR ANYWHERE, HONESTLY, IN THE WORLD, REALLY, THE MONEY IS WHAT MAKES THE WEDDING PLANNING STRESSFUL.

>> THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME FUN.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CRAZY REQUESTS?

>> I TALKED ABOUT THE STORY ABOUT WANTING TO HAVE A PONY MAKE AN APPEARANCE SO THAT IT COULD BE GIFTED TO THE BRIDE ON THE FLOOR DURING THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE'S TOAST.

THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITES, BECAUSE IT INVOLVED ANIMAL WRANGLING.

>> HE WANTED TO GIVE HER A PONY BECAUSE?

>> HE FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT?

SINK.

LET'S GIVE HER EVERYTHING SHE EVER WANTED.

EVER SINCE SHE WAS A KID, SHE ALWAYS WANTED A PONY.

AND SO WE SORT OF BRING OUT THIS PONY .

AND IT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NO ONE WAS EXPECTING IT.

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD, LIKE --I MEAN, SOME OF THE MORE NORMAL REQUESTS ARE, LIKE, HAVING, LIKE, ROCK STARS PERFORMING EVENTS, WHICH IS LIKE A FUNNY SIDE HELSEL THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, LIKE, MUSICIANS WILL DO.

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD, A LOT OF THE TIME, SOME OF THE HARDER REQUESTS WERE ACTUALLY TRYING TO MAKE, LIKE, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE THINGS HAPPEN IN SPACES WHERE THEY WERE DESIGNED TO.

SO IT'S LIKE, HAVING A FIRE DURING A HINDU CEREMONY.

LIKE, IT WAS LIKE --AND NEGOTIATING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OPEN FLAME.

REALLY, A LOT OF THE TIME, THE REQUESTS WERE NOT SO MUCH STRANGE AS THEY WERE A CULTURAL TO THE PLACE WHERE THE EVENT WAS MAYBE HAPPENING, OR MAYBE I GOT FRAUD BOILED INTO THINKING THAT NOTHING WAS STRANGE.

THAT'S ALSO POSSIBLE.

>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WITH THE FAKE POOR BRIDE.

>> YES.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE FAKE POOR BRIDE.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THERE AMOUNT --IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE RECEPTION, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FEAR OF SEEMING LIKE A WEALTHY PERSON.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS SHE'S GETTING MARRIED, AND SHE DOES NOT WANT PEOPLE --NO ONE KNOWS SHE HAS MONEY.

AND SHE HAS REAL MONEY, YOU KNOW?

LIKE, HER MOTHER HAD THROWN ANOTHER SISTER A WEDDING, AND I THINK PLASTERED THE COMEDY BALLROOM OF ONE OF NEW YORK'S HOTTEST HOTELS, LIKE, WITH ORGANS, RIGHT?

AND SO WE KNEW WHAT THE MOTHER COULD DO LEFT TO HER OWN DEVICES, AND THE DAUGHTER WAS JUST LIKE, IF THAT HAPPENS, EVERYONE WILL KNOW.

AND WHAT THEY DECIDED WAS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HIRE ME.

WHAT THE BRIDE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT SHE THOUGHT I WAS BEING HIRED TO KEEP HER MOTHER UNDER CONTROL.

BECAUSE HER MOM WAS ACTUALLY PAYING ME, I WAS ACTUALLY BEING TAUGHT, LIKE, TO GET WHATEVER THE MOTHER WANTED WHILE MAKING THE BRIDE THINK IT DIDN'T COST ANYTHING, AND THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE OUT OF HAND.

AND IT WAS A FUNNY STORY ABOUT CLASS, BECAUSE THE BRIDE'S MOTHER ALSO HAD BEEN RAISED WITH NOT A LOT OF MONEY.

AND IT KIND OF MARRIED INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEIR WEALTH INCREASED AS THEIR YEARS WENT ON.

AND THE BRIDE HAD ALWAYS BEEN RAISED WITH MONEY.

AND SO IT WAS ALMOST AS THOUGH THE MOTHER OF THE BRIDE WAS LIKE, WHY DO YOU SHUN THIS THING THAT I'VE WANTED MY WHOLE LIFE?

AND THE BRIDE HERSELF WAS LIKE, WHY DOES THIS HOLD SO MUCH VALUE TO YOU, THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE HAVE IT?

AND I WAS JUST THE PERSON CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

I WAS REALLY AMUSED, HONESTLY, IN THE PROCESS, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD TO JUST TELL HER THAT ANY UPGRADE WAS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT.

BUT I WAS KIND OF AMUSED BY THAT IDEA THAT, LIKE, YOU'D SAY, LIKE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LITTLE BABY LAMB CHOPS INSTEAD OF PIGS IN A BLANKET?

THAT COSTS MORE!

AND YOU'RE LIKE, NO!

IT'S ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT.

I WAS SORT OF HER OWN, LIKE, EITHER GULLIBILITY OR LACK OF AWARENESS OF THE ACTUAL COST OF THINGS, LIKE, OR COMMON SENSE ABOUT COST OF THINGS, WAS SORT OF AMUSING TO ME, AND KIND OF UNDERMINES TO HOW LITTLE SHE ACTUALLY DID HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MONEY IN REALITY, EVEN THOUGH SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE >> HOW DID THEY COMMUNICATE TO YOU THAT BUDGET WAS NOT AN ISSUE, THAT MONEY WAS NO OBJECT?

DID THEY ACTUALLY COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY IT?

>> THEY JUST SAID THAT, YES.

THEY JUST SAID THAT.

AND OFTEN TIMES, YOU KNOW, AND I TALK ABOUT THIS TOO.

MOST OFTEN, IF MONEY WAS AN ISSUE, LIKE, IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE GIVEN A LUMP SUM AND HAD TO DO A FEW THINGS WITH IT.

SO THEY'D BE GIVEN A FIGURE FOR --BUT WAIT, DID YOU SAY -- WAIT.

CAN I JUST PROCESSED THAT?

A SEVEN-FIGURE SUM?

>> YES.

YES.

A SEVEN-FIGURE SUM , AND WITH THIS SEVEN-FIGURE SUM, THEY WOULD NEED TO GET AN APARTMENT AND HAVE A WEDDING.

AND SO THE BATTLE WAS NOT SO MUCH THAT THERE WASN'T MORE TO POTENTIALLY GET.

THE BATTLE WAS, THEY WANTED TO BE RESPECTFUL AND STICK WITHIN THE SUM, BUT THEY WANTED A GREAT HOUSE, BUT THEY ALSO WANTED A GREAT WEDDING.

SO THE FIGHTING WAS LESS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF RESOURCES THAN IT WAS INTERNAL ANGST TO DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANTED WHILE STILL SEEMING, LIKE, RESPECTFUL TO THIS KIND GESTURE OF THEIR PARENTS.

IT WAS A FASCINATING TIME TO JUST SEE HOW TORTURED, IRONICALLY, PEOPLE COULD BE ABOUT THEIR OWN PRIVILEGE , WHICH IS HILARIOUS, BECAUSE IN TURN, THAT PRIVILEGES TORTURING OTHER BRIDES THAT HAVE LESS, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HAVE ALL THESE THINGS.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY, LET'S JUST KEEP IT REAL.

IT'S REALLY EASY TO, LIKE, NOT LIKE THESE PEOPLE.

I MEAN, YOU'RE LIKE, WOULD YOU MAKE AN INTERESTING TURN IN YOUR PIECE WHERE YOU ACTUALLY KIND OF STAND UP FROM AN EXTRANET, YOU KNOW?

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

AND I WAS SURPRISED THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM YOU, AS I SAID, YOU ARE VERY KIND OF A TRANSIENT OBSERVER OF, YOU KNOW, RACE AND CLASS AND HOW IT FUNCTIONS, AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE UNFAIRNESS IS THAT CAN ATTACH TO THAT.

BUT YOU ACTUALLY MAKE A TURN , AND YOU ACTUALLY STAND UP FOR THE EXTRA LIST.

SO MAKE YOUR CASE.

MAKE YOUR CASE.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

I THINK I ALWAYS ROOT FOR THE LITTLE GUY, AND WE LOVE TO SAY HOW MUCH WE LOVE SMALL BUSINESS IN AMERICA IN PARTICULAR, AND YET THERE ARE VERY, VERY FEW INDUSTRIES THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS.

AND WHEN JEFF BEZOS, KING OF AMAZON, FINALLY HAS HIS WEDDING, HE WILL BE FORCED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, BECAUSE THERE IS NO AMAZON AT WEDDINGS.

IT IS, LIKE, ONE MOM-AND-POP OPERATION AFTER ANOTHER THAT ALL, LIKE, RETAIN, LIKE, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THESE PEOPLE GOT THROUGH COVID WITH PVP LOANS, IF THEY COULD QUALIFY, IF THEY WERE EVEN BIG ENOUGH FOR THAT.

AND SO YOU REALLY SEE PEOPLE WEAR, IT'S LIKE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ARTISTIC INCLINATIONS, THAT COULD BE PART-TIME WORK.

I MEAN, LIKE, THAT INDUSTRY EMPLOYS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT NEED SIDE PUZZLES AND SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME, BECAUSE YOU CAN WORK ON A SATURDAY, YOU COULD JUST WORK ON THE WEEKENDS AND KEEPING A JOB.

I USE TO EMPLOY SO MANY TEACHERS THAT NEEDED EXTRA MONEY THAT WERE TRYING TO SAVE FOR A DOWN PAYMENT.

TO ME, IT'S LIKE, ONE OF THE FEW FLEXIBLE INDUSTRIES THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE , WOMEN, IMMIGRANTS TO WORK AROUND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES , AND ALSO HAVE A CREATIVE OUTLET.

AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE MONEY AND PUMP IT INTO THE ECONOMY, I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO DO THAT.

RATHER THIS THAN GIVING MONEY TO A CORPORATE CONGLOMERATE, YOU KNOW?

LIKE, LET ME SEE YOU SUPPORT 40 TO 50 SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE EACH EMPLOYING 20 TO 40 PEOPLE.

AND I TALK ABOUT IT AT THESE KIND OF EVENTS.

IT'S NOT JUST EVEN A WEEKEND.

IT'S LIKE YOU'RE EMPLOYING THEM FOR, LIKE, UPWARDS OF TWO WEEKS.

>> YOU HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CRAFTSPEOPLE, THE SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO MAKE THESE EXTRAVAGANZAS HAPPEN.

SO, SO TWO THINGS HERE.

LIKE, TELL ME MORE ABOUT THESE FOLKS , AND WHY WAS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO WRITE ABOUT THEIR WORK?

>> OH, I MEAN, IT FELT SO EXCITING TO ACTUALLY GIVE THEM SPACE, YOU KNOW?

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I --I LEARNED EVERYTHING I KNOW, AND I KNOW A LOT ABOUT FLOWERS, BUT GETTING UP AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING AND GOING TO THE FLOWER MARKET IN MANHATTAN THAT WAS COMPLETELY POWERED BY , THAT TIME, THIS WAS IN THE ODDS MEXICAN AND SALVATORI AND IMMIGRANTS, AND LITERALLY, PEOPLE WITH --IF I WAS THERE AT 5:00, THEY WERE THERE AT 3:00, RIGHT, UNPACKING THINGS FROM HOLLAND, UNPACKING THINGS FROM LATIN AMERICA, FROM ROSE GARDEN, FROM TWO LIT FARMS, AND KNOWING EVERYTHING ABOUT THESE BLOOMS, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS.

THEY CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, SOMEBODY ELSE BROUGHT THEM FROM THEIR COUNTRY , BROUGHT THEM INTO THE BUSINESS.

THEY WILL BRING SOMEONE ELSE INTO THE BUSINESS.

AND SO YOU'RE REALLY SEEING -- IT'S NOT JUST --IT'S MANUAL DIFFICULT LABOR, BUT IT'S ALSO LABOR THAT NEEDS SOME EXPERTISE AND SOME SKILL, AND I JUST LOVE THE IDEA THAT I WAS ABLE TO SORT OF HIGHLIGHT THAT, BECAUSE I THINK YOU CAN SEE A PHOTO AND NOT REALIZE I'M A PHOTO OF A BEAUTIFUL TENT, AND NOT REALIZE THAT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, 40 YOUNG GUYS WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SUMMER TO TRY TO PAY FOR THEIR FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE, THAT'S THEIR SUMMER JOB AS A RECOMPENSE ALL SUMMER LONG, RIGHT?

THEY'RE GOING TO BE, LIKE, LITERALLY TOILING.

AND I THINK AT A TIME WHERE LABOR IS SO OFTEN RENDERED INVISIBLE, IT WAS JUST A REALLY BEAUTIFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO, LIKE, REMIND PEOPLE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY HUMAN HANDS THAT MAKE ALL THAT STUFF HAPPEN.

>> DO YOU SEE PEOPLE WHO HAVE KIND OF LESS RESOURCE BEING KIND OF INFLUENCED BY WHAT'S GOING ON AT, LIKE, THE TOP OF THE COMEDY, THE, THE FOOD CHAIN , AS IT WERE?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A DESIRE TO SORT OF COMPETE WITH THE JONESES, AND AS I SAID, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS EVERY YEAR, LIKE, HOW DO YOU COMPETE WITH THE JONESES WHEN THE JONESES INVESTED IN FACEBOOK EARLY ON, RIGHT?

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS, WHY I ALWAYS BUCK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT TREND IS , I DON'T -- THERE'S A TENDENCY TO FEEL LIKE IT'S VENDORS SORT OF TAKING PEOPLE FOR A RIDE, AND IN REALITY, WHAT IS IS IS ITS SMALL BUSINESSES TRYING TO OPERATE.

THERE'S JUST NOT QUITE AS MUCH OF AN INCENTIVE, IF YOU HAVE A LIMITED INVENTORY , TO CATER TO SORT OF THE MID-OR THE LOWER TIERS OF THE MARKET.

AND SO I THINK , AS THERE HAS BEEN MORE AFFLUENCE AND MORE WILLING TO SPEND AMONG THE AFFLUENT, MORE VENDORS ARE KIND OF CATERING TO THAT MARKET SHARE.

AND SO IT IS --I THINK THERE'S A BIT OF A CRUNCH IF A COUPLE IS LOOKING TO HAVE A QUOTE UNQUOTE INSTAGRAM WERE THE WEDDING TO GET THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE WORKING ON YOUR EVENT AT A PRICE THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET.

>> YEAH, SAY MORE ABOUT THAT, IF YOU WOULD.

I MEAN, YOU WERE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT SURVEYS FOUND THAT SOME 30% TO 45% OF COUPLES REPORT TAKING ON CREDIT CARD OR OTHER DEBT TO PAY FOR THEM, AND THE NOW THERE'S THIS WHOLE NEW THING CALLED WEDDING LOANS , WHICH ARE, WHICH CAN CARRY INTEREST RATES AS HIGH AS 30%.

LIKE, YOU THINK IT'S --I HATE TO USE THIS WORD, TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT OF PEOPLE SEEING THIS KIND OF HYPER LUXURY , NOW FEELING LIKE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S A TWOFOLD THING.

I THINK IT'S A TRICKLE-DOWN AS BEING HYPER LUXURY, BUT IT'S ALSO, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE ARBITER OF MEDIA, LIKE, WE USED TO HAVE MAGAZINES, LET'S SAY, THAT REALLY WERE EDITORIALIZED AND HAD SOME INFORMATION KIND OF COMING IN.

THEY WOULD EDUCATE A BRIDE, A POTENTIAL BRIDE, ABOUT, LIKE, WHAT THINGS COST.

AND NOW IT'S SORT OF, LIKE, LOTS OF SENSORY INFORMATION.

LIKE, KIM KARDASHIAN'S FLOWER WALL, AND BEING LIKE, I WANT THAT, WITH NO UNDERSTANDING THAT, LIKE, OKAY, YOU KNOW, YOU USE TO SEE IN FASHION MAGAZINES, HERE'S A LOOK, AND HERE'S A LOOK FOR LESS.

BRIDAL MAGAZINES USE TO DO THAT FOR PEOPLE, AND NOW THAT SORT OF DOESN'T EXIST.

SO I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING IS, THERE'S A LOT OF PENDING VISUALS THAT COME ACROSS IN SOCIAL MEDIA, AND, YOU KNOW, IN REALITY TELEVISION, AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF EDUCATION.

SO THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT YOU DECIDE THAT YOU WANT IN THIS VERY EMOTIONAL TIME, WHERE EVERYTHING IS A LITTLE BIT DRIVEN BY GETTING LIKES --I TALK ABOUT HOW THERE'S A NEW SERVICE THAT EMERGED CALLED SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT FOR WEDDINGS, RIGHT?

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TALK ABOUT IS, THEY'LL HELP YOU DEVELOP A STRATEGY.

AND I REMEMBER BEING LIKE, WAIT, A STRATEGY FOR WHAT?

IT'S JUST WEDDING PHOTOS.

BUT THEIR SLOGANS, ONE OF THE COMPANY'S SLOGAN IS THE DAY PLANNING SHOULD BE SEEN BY THE WORLD.

RIGHT?

SO IT'S REALLY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE PARTY ANYMORE.

IT'S ABOUT WHAT THE AFTERMATH, AND WHAT THE RECEPTION OF THOSE IMAGES WILL BE LIKE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS THAT THERE IS THIS OBSESSION NOT JUST WITH, YOU KNOW , OVER- THE-TOP NETS, BUT ALSO, THEN, BROADCASTING IT TO THE WORLD?

YOU THINK THAT MEANS SOMETHING?

>> I THINK THAT IT ACTUALLY IS A STRANGE FOLD-OVER FROM KIND OF A TIME FREE FEMINISM WHERE THE WEDDING WAS KIND OF THE WOMEN'S LAST HURRAH, AND IT EMERGED AS PART OF, LIKE, LIKE , COMING OUT OF WORLD WAR II, LIKE, THE HISTORY OF WEDDINGS AND WEDDINGS BEING A PHENOMENON, THEY BECAME, LIKE, A WAY THAT SHOWING --FOR PARENTS TO SHOW THAT THEY WERE PART OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, BUT IT WAS ALSO SORT OF THE LAST THING THAT A WOMAN WOULD DO ON HER OWN BEFORE SHE THEN BECAME, LIKE, A MISSES TO SOMEONE.

AND THEN, AS BRIDAL CULTURE KIND OF EMERGED, AND THIS IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, I TALK IN THE PIECE ABOUT THE NOT AND HOW IT TURNS, LIKE, A DAY INTO SORT OF A PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THESE LITTLE COMMUNITIES , AND BEING A BRIDE BECAME AN IDENTITY, AND IT WAS AN IDENTITY THAT CAME WITH A LOT OF PERMISSIONS, RIGHT?

TO HAVE, LIKE, BAD MOODS, TO HAVE LITTLE OUTBURSTS.

AND I THINK THAT IT ALL SORT OF SNOWBALLED INTO , EVEN THOUGH, MAYBE, THOSE SAME TROPES ARE NECESSARILY NECESSARY, YOU KNOW, EVEN COMING YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE WEDDING GOWN, IT WAS MODELED AFTER QUEEN VICTORIA.

A WAY TO BE A QUEEN FOR A DAY.

BUT NOW IT'S OUT OF YOUR CHANCE TO BE A CELEBRITY FOR A DAY.

>> I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.

YOU SHARED SOME PERSONAL NEWS IN THE PIECE ABOUT HOW YOU ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH A DIVORCE WHILE YOU WERE DOING WEDDING PLANNING, AND SO THAT HAS TO HAVE BEEN HARD.

BUT, OKAY.

TRUTH.

IF YOU WERE TO GET MARRIED AGAIN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE, WOULD YOU HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER?

>> I THINK IF I WERE TO GET MARRIED AGAIN, AND I HAVE NOT, I THINK WE WOULD RUN TO THE COURTHOUSE AND HAVE A NICE LITTLE LUNCH WITH 10 FRIENDS AFTERWARDS.

LIKE, I DON'T THINK --I DON'T THINK I COULD DO IT.

AND IN THE MEAN I DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS.

ENJOY IT.

YEAH.

I KNOW TOO MUCH TO ENJOY IT AGAIN.

AND I REALLY THINK WE WOULD SPEND THE WHOLE TIME WORRYING ABOUT HOW HARD EVERYBODY ELSE WAS WORKING AND NOT NECESSARILY ENJOYING THE THING.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.