Why help a kid get into AMDA when you can pay for Jamie McGonnigal’s wedding? — Page 4

I remember a conversation with my aunt- who was married during WWII and whose marriage lasted 40 some years before ending in her death. She explained that because the important thing was to BE married- and before your groom went overseas to serve- a lot of weddings (even church weddings) were held on a weekday with just family or a couple close friends. She and my uncle decided to marry and did so a few days later at an early afternoon weekday church ceremony with just his parents in attendance. The reception was held that night in the local fire hall which her friends decorated that afternoon as their gift to the couple. She remembered that the fire hall had a "Wedding package" that was $100 for use of the hall, 100 assorted sandwiches, sodas and a keg of beer. I can't remember who she said that they had to borrow the $100 from- either my Dad or her sister and brother-in-law.

Divorce was very uncommon among that generation. Odd that weddings planned so hastily lasted so much longer than these huge "once in a lifetime (SIC)" mega-events do today.

Joe I would say one reason divorced was less commong back then was due to social stigma--but by no means was that the main reason. I've read that really elaborate weddings became more common with middle class people after the WWII boom (I always feel we can blame a lot of things on the 1950s influx of money that happened--like a regression in feminist rights, not to mention other rights). I know my parents got married in the very early 70s, and as a kid I was always shocked to see my mom wore a dress she made herself, they got married with a few witnesses at city hall, and then had a party back at their apartment (which my grandpa, who was horrified by it all, insisted on at least paying to have catered). Mind you their marriage "only" lasted 30 years--but there does seem to be a current belief that you have to have event weddings.

When I went to my first gay wedding here in Canada, nearly ten years ago, the whole thing seemed over the top. Mind you I didn't complain about things like an open bar--but I can't imagine how much it cost the families of the two grooms (who were friends, but not good friends). It looked amazing, but it was far from as moving, or frankly, fun as much smaller weddings I've been to since.

(And honestly, I don't think THAT wedding cost $10,000 though I do know if you have everything done for you it adds up quickly.) They're still together, though have never seemed happy to me.

If this campaign was from two guys who genuinely only had not-for-profit jobs, and wanted a few hundred to fly their poor single mothers out to be at their wedding, my feelings would be vastly different.

My sister just got engaged. She's been with her fiancé for 5 years already and they're putting off their wedding until 2014 so they can save up and plan for the wedding they want. Why are is this so rushed that Jamie and Sean can't do the same?

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Updated On: 12/7/12 at 02:25 AM

Oh great. Now they'll be fundraising for the layette of their dreams. When and where will the madness stop?

People are giving them money! I just took a look at the link and they're actually raising money!!

I wonder if one can post a comment without making a donation. A link to this thread, perhaps.

Bah humbug.

And, Namo, that's the most interesting observation. Not even a 'please'?
Shame, shame, shame.

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Updated On: 12/7/12 at 08:33 AM

How many homeless LGBT teens would $2,721 feed?

Anyone can comment, I think. Jamie is a member here and has many friends who are. I am certain he knows about this.

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Updated On: 12/7/12 at 09:03 AM

I would like my daughter to get to have her first trip to the US in September and we can't afford it right now. I actually made a ChipIn page for family for Christmas and birthday gifts. Maybe I should open it up to the public! lol

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Or a Haiku, in Swedish.

I honestly wouldn't be able to pick out either of the guys in a line-up, nor have I ever encountered either of them. But one of them has a Wikipedia listing and boy...
... does he sound like a real mover and shaker

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With his connections he should be able to get Jerry Lewis to come out of retirement.

Hopefully he'll take some of his wedding-cash and donate it to Wikipedia, in response to their recent appeal, to help support them, too! After all, it would be a shame to lose such a prominent write-up...

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Updated On: 12/7/12 at 12:14 PM

Did one of you guys flag it, or was that "this is a poorly sourced article" warning up there all along? :)

We champion Engagement Organizing as a specific practice, because we believe it is our best hope to revitalize democracy -- to create a future where Americans can change their communities with their voice, not just change the channel with their remotes.

I would feel some level of conflict if I were making money from doing TV voices while working at a non-profit that seems to look down on TV viewing.

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