Reality Check

Over the past few years, we have become inundated with reality TV. From The Amazing Race to Survivor and The Apprentice, reality TV is a big industry now -- affording networks relatively low budget shows that can mean ratings success. Just ask Fox - with its goldmine of American Idol.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love watching some of these shows. Our TV is regularly tuned to American Idol, and I get a guilty pleasure from watching The Bachelor! But there also are many wedding-related reality shows that I'm sure you're glued to: Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? started the trend, that is now being followed by Bridezillas, The Real Wedding Crashers, Real Weddings, A Wedding Story...the list goes on and on.

When I watch reality wedding shows, I do so with a critical eye. And so should you! Some of these makeover shows that promise a million-dollar wedding on a $5000 budget - and the wedding looks amazing! - are simply scary to me. What you don't see, or are not informed of, is that the shoestring budget is supplemented by donated gifts and labor. In order for the budget to stay so low, vendors simply give things to the couple. In real life, "giveaways" do happen, but on a much smaller scale. If you tried to go out and duplicate some of the "low budget" weddings shown on TV, I suspect that the real life budget would be at least 4 times the amount anticipated. So, please keep watching reality shows for their ideas and for inspiration, but remember, it's a TV show!

Until next time, happy planning ....