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Popular Culture Re\k
In this paper, then, we analyze 50 episodes of A Wedding Story. We argue that
the opening narratives in these episodes contain four prominent themes: (1) Love
Happens—it is destiny ; (2) Love is for a unique and special person; (3) Love is
clear, certain, and decisive (at least once it is fully recognized or developed); and
(4) Love overcomes all obstacles and lasts6. Despite TLC’s claim that their pro
gramming is “life unscripted,” these episodes are in fact familiar stories to most
viewers. They do, indeed, follow, at least roughly, a set of scripts. We propose that
these recurrent plotlines constitute good romantic stories because they reflect larger
cultural assumptions and practices associated with love and marriage, as we will
discuss in our conclusion.
A Wedding Story
Each episode of A Wedding Story follows a relatively standard format. It be
gins with the to-be-married couple providing an account of how they had reached
the point where a wedding is upcoming: matters such as their first date, first kiss,
first time saying, “I love you,” the proposal. This introductory section of the pro
gram usually constitutes no more than 6 or 7 minutes of the broadcast. The re
mainder of the show provides coverage of the day before the wedding, the actual
ceremony, and the reception. It usually concludes with the couple looking into
each other’s eyes, expressing their happiness to be with each other, and comment
ing on the memorable parts of the day.
A man and woman who wish, in the words of TLC, “to become a famous
couple” must meet certain criteria in order to appear on the program. They must
agree to (1) having television cameras follow them continuously for the three days
prior to the actual wedding ceremony ; and (2) having the ceremony and reception
taped and broadcast. In addition, would-be participants complete an application
that asks, among other things, questions such as “What makes your love story
unique?”; “How did you and your fiance meet and begin dating?”; “Who pro
posed, when and how?”; “Please tell us about some of the ups and downs you have
been through”; and “Please describe some of the romantic things you have done
for each other on special occasions or on a daily basis.” Couples are then urged to
submit their applications electronically.7
The application itself provides couples with some resources to employ in con
structing their narratives. It also reveals what the show’s producers construe as the
essential elements that constitute a “real,” audience-friendly story. Each A Wed
ding Story narrative, then, is a collaborative effort—a constructed account that is
at the same time enabled and constrained by both the couple in question and the
expectations and creative efforts of the show’s producers. Somehow all parties
manage to conceptualize and craft a compelling story that will pass as romantic
and real. The narrative presented on the show is a complex accomplishment in-