An Admission and Some Thoughts on Self-Awareness
If you follow me (@weddlady) on Twitter or happen to be a Facebook friend, you’ll know already that I’m an inordinately enthusiastic fan of the Fox hit TV series “Glee”. I have a regular “Hulu” date with Ryan Murphy’s motley crew of loveable characters. I’ve even threatened to fire my beloved assistant Debbie and one of my very favorite florists, The Flower Cupboard, for not watching the show. They must have missed the pre-requisite on my screening forms.
That would make more sense to most of you if you knew that pretty much my entire life has been accompanied by an ongoing “score” in my brain (that’s music for you non-theater types). When you approach me in the grocery store, I could very well be mentally humming something like ‘You’re So Vain’ or ‘Do You Think I’m Sexy’. Thus, non-Glee fans are no use to me on wedding days when I want to compare something that just happened to that “time when Kurt did this” or that “episode when Rachel said that”.
You LOST fans who are still in mourning know exactly what I’m talking about.
I’m also from Los Angeles originally, where there’s a little less oxygen in the air, so you have to grant that I was altered to begin with. Really cool people will note that the actor who plays wheelchair-bound “Artie” in Glee went to high school at the same community college I attended for awhile, and Naya Rivera (Santana) grew up in my hometown.
Yeah, it’s strikingly similar to mental illness, but I’ve always felt awareness was a good indicator of stability.
In any case, the wedding world is FULL of Glee fans, so I know that there enough of you out there who share my “amour” that this post will be duly appreciated.
The rest of you are fired. Okay, you can just ignore this post, or better yet, start watching Glee now and you’ll understand it!
How Can Watching Glee Help You Choose the Right Wedding Pros?
What should you consider when you’re deciding who to hire to fill each vendor category at your wedding? Consider yourself a casting director, of sorts. What are the most important characteristics for each role and how will they help you choose your professional team?
Each of the main characters in Glee fulfills a stereotype (although some also simultaneously dispel them, which is the Ryan Murphy brilliance…but I digress). If I were evaluating the strengths of the Glee Wedding Team as an experienced planner, these are the pros I’d choose for each job:
Logistical Wedding Planner: Quinn
You probably thought I’d say Rachel, but Quinn has everything you want in a wedding planner (except maybe clear ethics and a moral compass…but this IS television). She’s organized, intelligent, perceptive and diplomatic. She can set you straight with a smile which makes her a great team leader. She’s confident and generally pretty cool under pressure. She dresses the part and understands that ultimately, no matter what is actually going on around her, it’s her demeanor that controls a situation.
Wedding Designer: Kurt
Lest you think I’m advancing stereotypes, you’ll remember that Kurt chose the role of wedding planner and designer at his own father’s wedding. Kurt shares Quinn’s intelligence and organization – but what makes him a 2nd choice for logistical planner is his relative lack of diplomacy. What he might also lack in outward calmness under pressure, he makes up for with his big-picture knack and theatricality. Kurt is your David Tutera – he’ll make sure that your vision is captured and that it comes alive. He is authoritative, so he’s a great one to keep your florist and lighting designer on track…although there’s every chance he’ll also make them walk out (at least temporarily).
Really Classy DJ: Mike Chan
Mike knows music and he knows dancing. He is likely to read a crowd better than most and he’s dignified (though I’d expect him to wear dancing shoes with his dark suit or tux). He can also take instruction, so you’re in good, safe hands.
Really Fun DJ: Puck
If you want a wild party, Puck might be your guy…just know that you’ll have to put the bartender on notice and warn your gorgeous single (and maybe attached) friends to keep a safe distance. He’ll get a crowd going, but you’ll need someone to manage him the whole night.
Stylist: Brittany
If you need an expert on style, Brittany’s your girl. You won’t want her to take charge of making your gown because there’s no way she’ll remember your wedding date, but you should definitely take her shopping with you. She’s your go-to gal for hair and makeup as well, and she’d probably make a great personal attendant ensuring that you looked your best all day. Well, if she didn’t get distracted by a shiny object along the way.
Funky Stylist: Mercedes
If your style tends more towards “Hip”, Mercedes is a great alternate choice for fashion expertise. She would definitely offer more responsibility than Brittany, so you wouldn’t necessarily need to send an attendant to her home to make sure that she remembered appointments. Mercedes will tell you straight up if you look like 10 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound sack, but she’s sensitive and caring and will dry your tears too. On a personal note, Mercedes would make an incredible maid of honor – she’s responsible, caring and an all-around good friend.
Ceremony Soloist: Rachel
If you plan to ensure that no eye in the house is dry during your ceremony solo, Rachel is the performer for you. Her talent is undeniable, and it doesn’t matter if the performance is in front of 100 wedding guests or 10,000 raving fans…she’ll be rehearsed, on time and ready to wow every time. Oh, and if you can get the club’s pianist (you know, the “piece of furniture” that Santana referred to in “Rumours”) you won’t have to worry about a single missed cue – that guy is unshakeable.
Other Possible Matches:
Artie: Give this guy anything that requires responsibility and superior intelligence. He’d be a great lighting technician or sound tech. He (along with most of the cast) could do more than a little justice to a ceremony solo or featured song at the reception. He might surprise you as a DJ as well! Keep him away from the fashion decisions and you pretty much can’t go wrong.
Santana: I’d vote Santana to be your biggest drama threat in almost any role. She’s highly fashionable (but will call you a cow during a fitting and mean it). She could contribute a lot to a design team, but lacks the genetic ability to demonstrate diplomacy. Like Rachel, a solo from Santana would reduce an audience to tears, so if you can keep her focused on the task long enough, she’d be a jaw-dropping entertainer. She’d also throw an epic bachelorette party, but I’d say she’d be a super-risky maid-of-honor.
Finn: You can’t hire Finn because he’s just cut out to be the quintessential Best Man. You can trust him to throw an awesome bachelor party – one that won’t result in any convictions (Puck) or calling off the wedding (Puck again). He’ll sensitively calm the groom down and keep him presentable, even if that means keeping a bottle of eye drops and a pack of breath strips in his breast pocket. Finn won’t do the stupid “convince the wedding planner I lost the rings” thing right before the wedding either (well, not after he’s threatened with pain at the rehearsal at least). He’s a big, goofy cutie with a heart of gold. Of course, if you had to find him a pro role he could emcee as master of ceremonies (and he makes a great toast).
Tina, Lauren Zizes and Sam: Tina is trustworthy, talented and smart. If she says she’ll do something, she can be trusted. She’d make a great bridesmaid, and I would feel completely confident writing a check to her for any professional role in which she demonstrated talent (if she bakes, hire her for your cake). Her “unique” style might disqualify her from most people’s stylist picks (unless you like her goth-ish style, then go for it!).
Lauren is Tough (capital “T” intended). She’d be a great bouncer. She’s also confident and smart – it would be safe to assume that she’d deliver on pretty much any agreement she made (except first dates with Puck). She’s a great enforcer, but she also has heart. I’d put her in the middle of any team and expect things to go 10x more smoothly.
As for Sam, he’s a reliable guy, a lot like Artie. If he says he’ll do something, you can count on him. Put Sam in charge of stuff you really want to go right. He also has excellent groomsman potential.
The Wrap
It might seem like sheer insanity to devote any time at all (let alone this much space) to an article about TV characters serving as wedding pros. It is. However, you do legitimately need to consider the strengths, weaknesses, skills and proclivities of every person you choose to fill a role at your wedding. Sometimes the “obvious” choice actually isn’t, and for good reason. Keep this in mind when you evaluate pros (and even friends) for your wedding. Who do you really want backing you up on your wedding day?
Oh – and every wedding needs a Ryan Murphy. ‘Nough said.
From one Glee fan (and wedding planner) to another, this was a very entertaining post. I love your analogy of "casting" for your wedding. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Julie McKenney, Denver Wedding Planner | May 10, 2011 at 02:13 PM
Thanks Julie! Nice to be in good company. :)
Posted by: Shayna Walker | May 10, 2011 at 02:41 PM