Why do we care about the marriages of strangers?

In the early years of my marriage, and even before that, when my ex husband and I were dating (ie. when things were good) I would open the New York Times style section to read the Modern Love column.  The “vows” section, a two page spread of wedding announcements, didn’t interest me, although for some reason I’d quickly glance at the couples’ last names to locate inter-faith marriages (foreshadowing?).  Sometimes I’d read the feature story to learn how the couple met, or what they did for a living. The feature story seemed to be reserved for power players or socialites, and I must have been intrigued by how they were able to “have it all” – a successful career, good looks, and of course, true love. 

During the period when my marriage was on the rocks, I found myself perusing the vows section more closely. I did this when my husband wasn’t around, to avoid detection (some people sneak porn; I’d sneak wedding announcements).  I’d study the photographs of the happy glowing couples and would experience a brief pang of yearning.
After my divorce, I didn’t even think to read this section, and when I did happen to come across it I’d roll my eyes. Sounds bitter I know, but at that point I saw things differently. Or rather, I felt I saw through things – I saw past the shiny idyllic surface and guessed there was more going on than meets the eye.  It strengthened my view that the media – books, movies, magazines – glorified marriage, and presented is as some fairytale illusion.
I considered blogging on this subject last week,  and then something in today’s vow’s section sealed the deal. The feature story was about the marriage of a guy named Matt Kay to a woman named Sascha Rothchild. Ms. Rothchild is the author of the book ‘How to Get Divorced by 30.’  
Yep. She got divorced, published a memoir about it, and then married again – announcing it in the vows section.  How’s that for irony?
It made me question who actually reads this section. Women who have never been married and hope to someday? Or is it women in unhappy marriages who read it? Do men? If you don’t know the people in it, how is it any more interesting than reading the classifieds when you’re not job hunting? Or stock listings when you’re broke?
You might be wondering why I found myself reading it today. It was the feature story that drew my attention. If a woman who has experienced divorce (a kind of shattering of the wedding fantasy) is able to re-embrace the joys of marriage, come full circle, and announce it to the world,  then maybe the vows section has a purpose. Perhaps its staying power is as strong, and as hopeful, as a long lasting marriage.
Do you ever read this section and stop to wonder what it says about you?
6 replies
  1. Anonymous
    Anonymous says:

    When I got married by now ex husband wanted nothing more than anything to be in that section of the NY times – so did his mother
    (bore). I was horrified by it because i did feel it was selling a fake dream and it all felt so elitist. But we where just married and so i thought i would just submit our photos to make him happy ( compromise i guess). Of course i subconsciously sent the worst pictures i could find in hopes we would not get picked. And then my prayers where answered and the paper did not pick us. Phew. I was so relieved. That event did summarize what our two very different views of marriage and ultimately led to our divorce. He believed and wanted nothing but perfection and when it wasn’t he bailed while i knew perfection doesn’t exist and that is what makes life so perfect.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous
    Anonymous says:

    I never announced my wedding in any paper because I didn’t buy into that fairy tale idea. I went into my marriage with a realistic point of view and am happy to say, that I have one of the strongest marriages around. I never said my husband was my “soul mate” and am so incredibly happy that we chose eachother to build a life together. Oh, and I stopped reading wedding announcements YEARS ago. Thanks again for another great post. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Erica Sara
    Erica Sara says:

    I read it when I was dating my ex and hoped he would propose. Then I read it when I was planning my wedding and was overwhelmed with the chaos and hopeful that everything would be just as perfect as it seemed in the NYT. I can’t remember the last time I read it. My divorce has definitely changed my perception of what’s important in a marriage and I don’t think an announcement falls on that list, nor does the hype and excitement that surround the wedding. If only the announcements let us in on what really goes on behind closed doors once the actual marriage begins.

    Reply
  4. Alia Ramer
    Alia Ramer says:

    I love wedding announcements in general, although my wedding was never announced. My hubby and I have a joke that our local Jewish news doesn’t let the ugly, uneducated ones in, but having worked for that paper for many years I know that we put in whatever ones we got. The Times, we’re not.
    Funny thing is, I blogged about the Vows column a couple months ago, http://njjewishnews.com/tribe/?p=815 , because I was so disgusted by it.
    And then I offered my own take: http://njjewishnews.com/tribe/?p=818

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *