I am about to write something that will alarm and upset many of our readers.
Those who will be most offended are couples who spend all of their time right now gazing into each other’s eyes.
Have you seen any wedding announcements lately? Of course you have. We live in the land of many weddings. I think someone, somewhere, should have the individuality to create a totally different wedding announcement. I know, they are folded differently now and are designed to be artsy, but they all look pretty much the same. Some people feel like they are pushing the envelope by posing for pictures in front of an old barn, a rusted car or a dump. This is one way that, it seems, everyone is being different at the same time.
Why not have a wedding announcement that features two people standing apart with their backs to each other, arms crossed, with grumpy looks, as if the photographer happened to catch them in the middle of a verbal fight? What would it hurt? Many people out in reality marriage land would think it hilarious. The bride and groom might get even more gifts.
Or what if you had a picture where the groom appeared to be unaware, scowling intently at his laptop while his bride leaned into the frame? What if the guy is the one positioning himself next to his fiancee, head to head, even though she is clearly asleep on her pillow. No need for makeup here. Better yet, what if he was drawing a mustache on her?
Are you catching the spirit of this?
If you feel that would put one of you in a bad light and you are all being lovey-dovey, why not hire some models to stand in for you? The announcement would have all the correct information but the photo would not be of you but of a Brad Pitt type with an Angelina Jolie bombshell hanging on him. Wouldn’t that blow your friends away? (Warning: In this situation, both people have to be replaced or this innovative approach could introduce serious tension into the marriage before it’s a marriage.)
“Look honey, I hired Bubbles, a swimsuit model, to stand in for you for our engagement pictures!”
It doesn’t take much to differentiate you from the Walmart masses when it comes to wedding photos. I still try to find ways to take the traditional photo to a new place. For example, I once had a chance to meet one of my favorite singers in the world, the legendary Bob McGrath of Sesame Street fame. I asked that he pose for a picture with me, with each of us leaning back to back. He obliged and thought it was cool.
I’ve been planning my next celebrity encounter and have a wonderful idea I can’t wait to try. Imagine that I’m in an airport with my wife when I spot Jay Leno.
“Excuse me, Mr. Leno, I’m a big fan and I’m just wondering if we could have our picture taken by you?”
Then I would hand him the camera as we quickly lined up in front of him several feet away. As he took the picture, I would say:
“My friends would never believe we met you if we didn’t get a picture. Thanks so much.”
Another thing you can do if you see a famous actor or athlete is to just scrawl “Best Wishes” on the back of a business card, sign your name and hand it to them, offering them your autograph. Face it, when you meet a celebrity, you are really secretly hoping they will remember you and call you later to ask you to come over for a barbecue in Hollywood to hang out with Brad and Angelina. With my approach, you leave them with all the contact information they need.
A strange wedding announcement may be too big a step for many of you. I have a simple three-step plan guaranteed to help you develop your own unique brand position, even if you live in Utah.
- Next time you are with a stranger standing in line or on an elevator, talk about your socks with enthusiasm.
- If you are in a social setting like a party, restaurant or court appearance, see how many times you can work the Flintstones into your conversation. Make sure you do it seriously, as if you are an intellectual, deep into literature so profound that no one has ever read it.
- If you eat fast food in a public setting, eat the wrapping and containers too. Do it with quiet confidence, as if everyone eats their fast food garbage with a plastic fork and knife. It won’t kill you and you might even be surprised to find it tastes better than the food you just bought.
I hope that some of this leads to some new, creative and unusual wedding announcements. I remember that when I got married 28 years ago, I came up with some clever but primitive ideas. I threw my bride to be over my shoulder at one point to create a sort of caveman courtship approach. My fiancee decided that it would be best that we not use any photos with our announcement. She said our love was so “special” that we should keep it private. I’ll bet Fred Flintstone had the same problem. Ever wonder how he got such a good-looking cavewoman to be his wife? And he never wore socks. I have some amazing socks.
Steve Eaton lives and works in Logan, Utah. It has taken time, but the people there have become accustomed to him, and it has been weeks since there have been any "incidents."