Battle of the Wedding Designers
Designers try to top each other in unfriendly competition.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this reality show reinforces the idea of wedding-day-as-dream-fulfillment -- and the excess that often goes along with that. There's also some trash talking among the designers, which gives the competition an unsportsmanlike feel. Forget fair play -- here it's all about the win.
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Good For Moms and Daughters
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What's the Story?
Traditionally, when you hire a professional to perform a service -- such as designing a wedding -- you get bids and presentations from multiple people, looking for the best/most creative value for your dollar. BATTLE OF THE WEDDING DESIGNERS ramps up this process by bringing three competing wedding pros together, with each making a presentation to the featured couple. The couples also share the story of how they met and fell in love and set a budget for the designers to work with.
Is It Any Good?
On the plus side, the couples expect the designers to stick to their budget, and they often talk about the importance of family and their relationship. But on the downside, it sometimes seems as though the designers have been encouraged to trash talk each other (one in particular behaves so badly that it's hard to imagine anyone wanting to work with her). Friendly jibes are one thing, but watching designers interrupt each other with snarky questions, each proclaiming to be the best, is just tiresome and obnoxious.
And, of course, the weddings being planned are the usual excessive parties, with no bearing on what real people can afford or even want. Bottom line? Between the over-competitive feel of the relationship between the designers and the over-the-top nature of the weddings, there's not too much positive here for kids to take away.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether some of the designers' competitiveness could be heightened by the way the show is put together. Why would producers of this kind of show want more conflict?
How realistic are the weddings being presented? What kind of expectations does the media instill in audiences when it comes to things like weddings? What makes a "good" wedding?
What role does the media play in making us think that the wedding is as important as the marriage? What does a wedding really signify?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 18, 2010
- Network: TLC
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Wedding Day
Inspirational couples get royal treatment on their big day.
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Masters of Reception
Wedding reality show reinforces "perfect day" ideal.
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Say Yes to the Dress
Content mostly OK, but best for brides to be.
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