# Life-Sized Photo of the Bride at the Reception? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 26, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817 "2008-03-26T18:16:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/41 "2008-03-26T22:26:59Z")
Tacky in the extreme. If you’re not comfortable with it, tell the photographer to piss off. At my cousin’s wedding last year, they did a photo slide, featuring pictures of them growing up, then as a couple, at the prom, on vacation, etc. It was sweet, not vain. (It was especially fun seeing all the pictures of my cousin I remember from when he was a kid!) Maybe you could have small pictures of yourselves, as a couple around the gift table, or childhood pictures of each of you. Just a wee bit larger than wallet size. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/42 "2008-03-26T22:41:56Z")
Another vote for really really Tacky. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/43 "2008-03-26T22:45:22Z")
[QUOTE=gwendee] A life sized portrait from the shoulders up is not as unreasonable as my next thought which was just a 6’ high full length portrait. Man, I’d like to get that framing job… [/QUOTE] I have seen the big photo of the bride from the shoulders up at a couple of weddings, both of which were traditional Southern Baptist weddings in North Carolina. But it’s not at all common, IME. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/44 "2008-03-26T22:45:27Z")
How about if set up one of those photo ops - cut the face out and let people stick theirs in. Everybody’s the Bride! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/45 "2008-03-26T22:50:23Z")
Another vote for… well… _everything_ they all said above. It’s a weird idea, possibly tacky, probably inappropriate, perhaps expensive and certainly presumptuous of the photographer to say what _he_ wants to do. I’m sure you’ll find a firm, yet tactful way to slap him into place. You’re the customer, he’s the contractor - sure, he is an _artist_, but he’s being commissioned by you, and should take reasonable directions from you. Tell him you don’t think it will look right when it’s alongside the six-times-lifesize sculpture of bride and groom, carved entirely out of corned beef. If he says that’s a weird idea, say “yeah, so’s yours”. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/46 "2008-03-26T22:52:06Z")
How much does he want for this abortion? The google ads have finally switched from being gun related to matching the topic and [these guys](http://www.advancedgraphics.com/store/pc/custom.asp) offer custom lifesize jobs for about $150. Be interesting to see a comparison of the prices. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/47 "2008-03-26T22:53:35Z")
Like everybody else said, tacky, and something that would make me question the photographers good taste. A charming alternative, IMHO, would be to hire a laptop and beamer and use a wall (off to the side) to have a continuous slideshow of pictures from you and the groom and perhaps your family. Pictures of everybody as kids, teenagers, students, etc. I did that for my dad’s 75 th birthday, as there were a lot of younger people at his birthdayparty that only know my dad as an old man. They all pointed out to each other the pictures of my dad as a young man. ---
**Author:** ![onions\_without\_tears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c37758/32.png) [@onions\_without\_tears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onions_without_tears)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/48 "2008-03-26T22:56:04Z")
Consider this, that even TV stars are embarrassed by those things at fan conventions. Maybe get hubby to settle for the life size Elvira holding a six pack of Bud Light that’s in every 7-11’s back room 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/49 "2008-03-26T22:57:16Z")
[QUOTE=Maastricht] Like everybody else said, tacky, and something that would make me question the photographers good taste. A charming alternative, IMHO, would be to hire a laptop and beamer and use a wall (off to the side) to have a continuous slideshow of pictures from you and the groom and perhaps your family. Pictures of everybody as kids, teenagers, students, etc. I did that for my dad’s 75 th birthday, as there were a lot of younger people at his birthdayparty that only know my dad as an old man. They all pointed out to each other the pictures of my dad as a young man. [/QUOTE] Ahem, Post #41. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/50 "2008-03-26T23:06:13Z")
[QUOTE=Shoeless] A life size portrait, huh? And what do you do with it when the wedding is over? [/QUOTE] Target practice!!! ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/51 "2008-03-27T01:34:38Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] Or Charles Foster Kane. [/QUOTE] OR CHARLES NELSON REILLY!! Other than that, I got nothing. 'Cept congratulations and a ‘tell the photographer to quit trying to bilk you’ for **Siege**. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/52 "2008-03-27T01:44:25Z")
[QUOTE=Shoeless] A life size portrait, huh? And what do you do with it when the wedding is over? [/QUOTE] Perhaps \*\*Siege \*\* could keep it and use it when she had some obligation to attend a really boring public meeting or sports event or a terrible concert. Then send the photo instead. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/53 "2008-03-27T01:47:06Z")
Oooh! Or for a fake-out in a really weird game of paintball!! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/54 "2008-03-27T01:53:22Z")
[QUOTE=freckafree] Target practice!!! [/QUOTE] I was thinking, “renting it out to stag parties”. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_Johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mrs\_Johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_Johnson)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/55 "2008-03-27T02:00:07Z")
Does the bride-cake remind anyone else of a blow up doll? I agree with everyone else who thinks the life-size photo is absolutely ridiculous. Unless you have a thousand wedding guests… then you could have a life size bride and groom for everyone to take photos of/with. But that too would be stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/56 "2008-03-27T02:04:48Z")
[QUOTE=fessie] How about if set up one of those photo ops - cut the face out and let people stick theirs in. Everybody’s the Bride! [/QUOTE] [Oprah] You’re the bride! You’re the bride! You’re the bride! Everybody is the bride! [/Oprah] _rapturous screaming_ ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/57 "2008-03-27T03:04:01Z")
[QUOTE=fessie] How about if set up one of those photo ops - cut the face out and let people stick theirs in. Everybody’s the Bride! [/QUOTE] When I first read this, I thought you were going in a different direction. If you replace “cut the face out” with “cut the **mouth** out”, it would be much more entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/58 "2008-03-27T03:35:22Z")
One more vote for tacky, and even creepy. And the motive seems more likely to be mercenary, rather than artistic, or tradition. Tell the photographer he’s effing nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/59 "2008-03-27T04:10:53Z")
In my experience, that’s a Southern thing. Are you getting married in the South? Only here have I ever seen weddings that are covered with portraits of the bride (but none of the groom.) Including, often, front and center, a life size one. Count me out. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/60 "2008-03-27T05:43:40Z")
**pulykamell** is a professional wedding photographer. He says he’s never heard of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817.md?page=4)