# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/61 "2008-03-27T10:23:57Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] Ahem, Post #41. [/QUOTE] Oops. Well, great minds think alike and all that. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/62 "2008-03-27T10:36:20Z")
The photographer wants to make a ton of money, IMO. The markup on the pictures is insane and a special item like thatā€¦$$$. I concur with the board: itā€™s bizarre and tacky. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/63 "2008-03-27T11:14:52Z")
[QUOTE=Anne Neville] You, as the bride, can say ā€œNoā€ to photographers. It needs more emphasis: You, as the bride, can say ā€œNoā€ to photographers. [/QUOTE] If I could say ā€œNoā€ to photographers, I probably wouldnā€™t be marrying one. šŸ˜‰ The one shooting the wedding though, is one I can say ā€œNoā€ to. > [@Duckster](#): > > You do realize if you say yes to this idea, stills and videos of your reception will end up on the internets for everyone to gossip, snicker, gawk at, laugh, make fun of, etc. It might even end up as a SDMB thread, complete with web links. And that, my friend, is why no Dopers have been invited to the wedding! šŸ˜ƒ I may have exaggerated in my shock at what I was being asked to do. The photograph wonā€™t quite be life-sized. What the photographer has in mind, Iā€™m told, is a large portrait of me in the dress. If itā€™s my head and shoulders, which is what I had a mental picture of, Iā€™d say it will be about 3/4 life-sized. He had several similar shots in his studio. Even if it isnā€™t life-sized, it will still be far too large a portrait for my taste. As for the photographer himself, heā€™s a friend of the gentleman, he does excellent work, and heā€™s giving us a discount because theyā€™re in the same photography club. (the gentlemanā€™s hobby is photography). I like him, but I will say ā€œNoā€ to him when necessary and I already have. I donā€™t know where he got this notion from. Heā€™s from Pittsburgh and got his start as a photographer in New England. Thank you for your input and for the laughs. The gentleman sprang this on me yesterday morning while we were getting ready for work, and I thought it sounded strange. ---
**Author:** ![FourPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e0b2c6/32.png) [@FourPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FourPaws)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/64 "2008-03-27T12:02:56Z")
Thatā€™s just creepy. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/65 "2008-03-27T14:53:37Z")
[QUOTE=gwendee] At first I imagined the lifesized bride as a cardboard cutout like I have, at different times, had of Chewbacca and Bart Simpson in my apartment. I went on to imagine that, similar to the dollar dance, it could be set up where guests would have to pay $1 to be photographed with it. [/QUOTE] This is what I envisioned as well. A friend of mine wanted to do something like this at his wedding. But he wanted cutouts of both the bride and groom and to have the cutouts do all the posing for pictures, thus freeing the couple up to mingle, eat, and enjoy the party. Needless to say, his wife nixed the idea. Anyway, another vote for TACKY. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/66 "2008-03-27T15:35:47Z")
[QUOTE=AudreyK] If I saw a big photo of a bride outside a reception room, Iā€™d think they were having her funeral. ā€œYoung brideā€™s happy day cut short by her tragic death; groom and family devastated.ā€ [/QUOTE] Thatā€™s exactly what I was going to come in to say. You display a formal portrait of a person at their _funeral_, for heavenā€™s sake, not at their _wedding._ What the hell do you need a picture of yourself for there, anyway? Youā€™re going to be right there in person, in your gown, for God and everybody to see. Iā€™d also echo the people who say, What on Earth are you going to do with a life-sized photo of yourself afterward? Iā€™m reminded of the portrait of the Queen that for many years hung in the Winnipeg Arena; since it was demolished, theyā€™ve been trying for years to find someone who wants a gargantuan picture of the Queen, and it hasnā€™t been easy going. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/67 "2008-03-27T15:36:15Z")
Iā€™m getting married in August, and wouldnā€™t dream of subjecting my fiancee to that. The life-size cake, on the other handā€¦ šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/68 "2008-03-27T16:03:36Z")
I want to believe what **Sarafeena** said, that this is really a miscommunication. What he meant was a ā€˜full lengthā€™ photo, meaning a shot of her in her gown where itā€™s not just a head shot style portrait but all of her, head to foot. But actually just a normal sized photo. Even so, it makes me wonder why it isnā€™t a full length photo of both the bride and groom instead of just the bride. Life size? Tacky, weird and creepy, not to mention expensive (Iā€™m guessing), all in one. I used to work for a swish caterer and have been to hundreds of weddings. The kind of weddings people like to call ā€˜over the topā€™. Thought Iā€™d seen it all, but this idea leaves me speechless. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/69 "2008-03-27T16:40:05Z")
Oh, man. Iā€™d be using that thing to scare the crap out of my new spouse for months to come! Hear screaming from the bathroom? Thatā€™s because I put the demon bride behind the shower curtain. Blood curlding scream worthy of a B-horror movie? Demon bride was behind the front hall door Squeal first thing in the morning? Demon bride was in the closet behind her bathrobe. I wonder if you could use it as a passenger in the carpool lane? Think anyone would notice? ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/70 "2008-03-27T16:56:39Z")
Weird and tacky! I keep imagining it to be one of those cardboard cut out things: [http://www.cardboardcutout.net/](http://www.cardboardcutout.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/71 "2008-03-27T17:08:19Z")
Just donā€™t have it done [naked and on pillows](http://www.etiquettehell.com/content/eh_wedding/bridalshwr/ebridshower2005-1arc.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/72 "2008-03-27T17:35:50Z")
[QUOTE=Swallowed My Cellphone] Oh, man. Iā€™d be using that thing to scare the crap out of my new spouse for months to come! Hear screaming from the bathroom? Thatā€™s because I put the demon bride behind the shower curtain. Blood curlding scream worthy of a B-horror movie? Demon bride was behind the front hall door Squeal first thing in the morning? Demon bride was in the closet behind her bathrobe. [/QUOTE] I like the way you think. Iā€™m not sure Iā€™d want to be married to you, though šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/73 "2008-03-27T18:02:37Z")
[QUOTE=elbows] Even so, it makes me wonder why it isnā€™t a full length photo of both the bride and groom instead of just the bride. [/QUOTE] I think it goes back to the ridiculous and sexist notion that the wedding and all its trappings are mostly about the bride and itā€™s supposed to be the greatest day of her life, the pinnacle of all sheā€™s ever achieved, etc., etc. The groom just shows up. Believe me, I wish this notion was totally outdated, but you would not believe how much the wedding industry still caters to it. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/74 "2008-03-27T18:07:50Z")
> [@](#): > > **SaharaTea** said: > I think it goes back to the ridiculous and sexist notion that the wedding and all its trappings are mostly about the bride and itā€™s supposed to be the greatest day of her life, the pinnacle of all sheā€™s ever achieved, etc., etc. The groom just shows up. > > Believe me, I wish this notion was totally outdated, but you would not believe how much the wedding industry still caters to it. They cater to it _because it sells_. If there were not a large grain of truth to the idea of weddings being big extravagant festivals where the bride gets to be a princess, there would be no show _Bridezillas_. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/75 "2008-03-27T18:43:09Z")
Old Joke: Kid at wedding: ā€œMommy! Why is the bride dressed all in white?ā€ Mom: ā€œBecause itā€™s the happiest day of her life!ā€ Kid: ā€œThen why is the groom dressed in black?ā€ g,d&rā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/76 "2008-03-27T19:32:44Z")
[QUOTE=SaharaTea] I have heard of a bridal portrait being displayed at the reception. From what I gather, this is an old southern tradition thatā€™s mostly disappeared, except among the most formal and over-the-top southern weddings. But Iā€™ve never heard if it being life-sized, which really scares me. [/QUOTE] This is what I figured. At our wedding, we had a larger portrait of us both next to the entrance where people could sign the matt around the picture instead of a guest book. Itā€™s a nice picture, that also has some good words from family and loved ones. But that sounds a bit different than what is going on here. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/77 "2008-03-27T19:36:37Z")
[QUOTE=SaharaTea] I think it goes back to the ridiculous and sexist notion that the wedding and all its trappings are mostly about the bride and itā€™s supposed to be the greatest day of her life, the pinnacle of all sheā€™s ever achieved, etc., etc. The groom just shows up. Believe me, I wish this notion was totally outdated, but you would not believe how much the wedding industry still caters to it. [/QUOTE] Whatā€™s really scary is how young it startsā€¦a bunch of the little girls at my daughterā€™s preschool all want to dress up and play wedding every day, and the boys want no part of it. They had to take their Flat Stanley down from the wall the other day to use him as the groom! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/78 "2008-03-27T19:43:25Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] Whatā€™s really scary is how young it startsā€¦a bunch of the little girls at my daughterā€™s preschool all want to dress up and play wedding every day, and the boys want no part of it. They had to take their Flat Stanley down from the wall the other day to use him as the groom! [/QUOTE] Once, I was getting measured for a tux, for a friends wedding, and this little boy and girl were there. The girl (7 or 8?) was going on and on about how the bride gets to choose everything about the wedding. The dress, the cake, the tableclothes, _everything!_ I pointed out how the groom gets to pick one thing. She looked up at and said What? I leaned down and smiled and in a decent Jack Nicklson said the groom gets to pick the bride. ---
**Author:** ![Radegast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@Radegast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Radegast)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/79 "2008-03-27T20:16:59Z")
Only if you would be naked. Or maybe the garters and stockings look. That would shake up the guests. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817/80 "2008-03-27T20:56:58Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] Whatā€™s really scary is how young it startsā€¦a bunch of the little girls at my daughterā€™s preschool all want to dress up and play wedding every day, and the boys want no part of it. They had to take their Flat Stanley down from the wall the other day to use him as the groom! [/QUOTE] Awwww! I hope you [got a picture of that and sent it to **labtrash**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=460045&page=1&pp=50). Flat Stanley gets marriedā€¦ Edited to add: Playing wedding isnā€™t a reliable indicator of anything about what a girl will be like as a grownup. I used to play wedding when I was little. Now, I am probably about as un-girly as you can get without actually being a butch lesbian. The last time I did anything with my nails other than cut them when they break, Iā€™m pretty sure Bush I was in the White House. The last time I wore makeup was for my wedding in 2003, and the last time before that was for senior pictures in 1992. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-sized-photo-of-the-bride-at-the-reception/442817.md?page=5)