What the Wedding industry teaches about people .
I spent a good part of this morning swapping horror stories with a friend who is even deeper in the wedding industry. This is what triggered me to write this post, because I do have a lot of thoughts about this. On the surface, it may seem like a world of glittering gowns, tiaras, perfect flower installations and fairy tale moments - but we all know things are not always as they appear. Behind the scenes, it is a high stress environment that reveals the very core of human behavior.
If your work coincides the wedding industry environment like me, you are exposed to all kinds of people. You get to see how differently people handle the same intense situations. It is a unique glimpse to humanity at its best and at its worst. Expectations run high, emotions are heightened. Some handle it with grace but there are others whose maintained facades begin to crack. And this is what you learn : Stress doesnt create character - it reveals it. Its not easy to witness but it is a deeply humbling experience. Someone can appear so demure and polite until placed in a high stress environment.
As a bride myself last year who has gone through the whole wedding planning thing, I often wonder why some people pour so much effort into making everything perfect for guests - obsessing over napkin colours, seating charts, entrance songs .. honestly, what is the big deal in all of this? I dont mean putting meticulous care and detail into one of the most important day of your life. I meant crying over a small hiccup and blowing it out of proportions just because things dont go 100% the way you planned.
If things did go wrong, SO BE IT. it is what it is as long as you did your best in the planning. That is what I did.. from doing detailed research, dedicating a lot of time to go through moodboards and vendors, trusting the right organizer, putting effort into making sure the day is enjoyable for me and my husb. Then I sit back and let it all flow without expectations.
What good is a flawlessly executed ceremony if the couple themselves forgets to cultivate peace of mind, respect and unconditional love in the days that follow? The more energy we spend trying to impress others, the further we drift from inner calm and emotional connection that truly sustains a marriage. Why cant people just see this?
After all, the best weddings are not the most extravagant, but they are the ones where love feels real, when joy is shared.
When "I do" is not performative, but a sacred promise.
Writing all of this down I know I might come across like a know it all or judgemental. But I dont care. These are my honest opinion on weddings and I am entitled to mine. Not only weddings but life in general. Its frustrating and a turn off for me to watch someone else nitpick or stress about such insignificant matter..I know everyone has their own way of dealing with things but I dont think I can be friends with people who make problems out of nothing. It is exhausting and I am thankful my friends are in the same wavelength and mentality like me. We understand some stress are simply just not worth the energy because life is already complex enough.
You choose your hard, you choose your struggles and challenges . I hope at the end of the day we pick the problems that are actually worth fighting for. Be smart enough to understand that the world does not revolve around us.
Ending this post on a positive note because it has been exhausting to write, but Ive focused my photography work to revolve around maternity, newborn and beauty sessions.
No more wedding industries for me, it has been a good character development process but I will just say hobbies are meant to be fulfilling, not work or a burden.
