A Circus

A Circus

December 14th, 2007 @ 4:43 pm by Mrs. Jasmine
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A couple of weeks ago I was browsing Joe Photo’s blog (Joe Photo is an amazing Southern California wedding photographer), when I stumbled across these photographs. A couple featured Cirque du Soleil performers at their wedding reception.

I didn’t know what to make of that. On one hand, as a guest, I would be completely floored and awed by such extravagant reception entertainment. On the other hand, it seemed way over-the-top to me, especially since I consider weddings to be sacred. Unsure if I was being too judgmental, I asked Mr. Jasmine if he thought it was too much. He nodded that he did. When I asked him why, he replied, “Because at that point, you’ve literally turned your wedding into a circus.”

That Mr. Jasmine, he’s a wise man What do you think? Is there such thing as “too much” when it comes to extravagant weddings? At what point, does a wedding become less about the ceremony and more about the show?

All images courtesy of Joe Photo

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16 Responses to “A Circus”

Guest

kELLY

Ha! I’ve heard of that too and it’s like “Wow, nice Party… oh I mean wedding…” I completely agree -there’s a time and a place for cirque performers and I think a wedding is inappropriate. I LOVE some Cirque but i’d rather buy tickets then see a performance at a friend’s reception!

12/14/07 @ 4:54 pm (reply)

Member

reesey (message) 143 posts, Blushing bee

I love that you brought this issue up. It makes me feel better that what I’m trying to create won’t be tacky and “trying.”

I do believe sometimes a wedding can be “too much.” I went to a wedding this past May, and it was the epitomy of simplicity, and it was a great wedding!

12/14/07 @ 4:56 pm (reply)

Guest

beanchar

Mr Jasmine hit the nail on the head. If you’re so desperate to impress your guests with your massive wealth, you’re nothing but a clown.

12/14/07 @ 5:09 pm (reply)

Guest

marisa

if i had those types of resources at my disposal, i would save it for a birthday party or anniversary vegas-themed bash….just doesn’t seem right at a wedding…

12/14/07 @ 5:34 pm (reply)

Guest

Lucy

I agree that the ceremony is sacred and should be treated as such, but the reception isn’t the ceremony. The reception *is* a party–whether it’s a simple party with cake and punch or a buffet dinner with a DJ and dancing or an elaborate 15 course dinner party with live music by The Vienna Boys Choir. So while I love Mr. Jasmine’s characterization of the Cirque de Soleil performers turning the event into a literal circus, I don’t really see anything wrong with it.

12/14/07 @ 5:45 pm (reply)

Guest

Jenny

What if Cirque du Soleil had a special meaning for the couple and they thought it would be nice to have them perform at their wedding. I don’t think the performance will necessary turn a wedding into a “circus”. Many wedding I’ve been to have bands and have live singers and other types of dance performances. To each their own…

12/14/07 @ 5:49 pm (reply)

Guest

Tea

now if the performers dropped down from the ceiling during the ceremony [whether in a church or not], sure that’d be waaaay too much but at the reception? i’m all for it. i agree with lucy, the reception isn’t so much “sacred” as the ceremony. the reception is the party and should be fun. now if that means having a cirque du soliel troupe perform or your little cousins do a little dance routine depends on the couple, what is just right for one couple can be way too much for the next. the troupe is out of my ballpark but i’d love, love, LOVE to have a group of korean fan dancers perform at our reception. i’ve always loved them.

i consider the wedding to be the ceremony, not so much the reception. you get wedded at the ceremony after all. the reception is where it’s time to party and celebrate.

12/14/07 @ 6:00 pm (reply)

Guest

Annie

Whether or not the reception is also considered part of the sacred aspect, people want to be at the wedding and reception to celebrate you as a couple. Have Cirque perform is not in anyway a celebration of the couple, even if that was their first date or where they got engaged. WAY too over the top in my opinion. Drink, dance, eat, laugh, but I think having performers of any type takes away from the true meaning of the day (bands are different as you are actively participating by dancing). If they had really wanted Cirque to perform, do it at the rehearsal dinner and invite everyone to that!

12/14/07 @ 6:16 pm (reply)

Guest

amy

i say to each their own. how do we know? maybe the couple are cirque performers themselves? let’s not be critical of someone’s wedding before we know all the facts.

12/14/07 @ 6:30 pm (reply)

10.

Guest

peakay

I think it’s too much. I think it’s beyond extravagant. I wonder if the couple were sitting around the dinner table one day and said:

“Hey, I was thinking, maybe we should have Cirque at our reception.”
“Great idea, honey, I’ll call them tomorrow.”
“It’ll have to come out of our “extras” budget, though.”
“Yeah…A few thousand dollars (at least!) is okay, right?”

If I were a guest at that wedding *I* would feel a little awkward. And really, if I had enough money to consider having Cirque perform at my reception, I would DEFINITELY think of a way to use that money differently!

But it all boils down to this: Whatever floats your boat…

12/14/07 @ 6:32 pm (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss Jasmine (message) 1,170 posts, Bumble bee

Thanks to everyone who shared their views– it’s so interesting to see how people view this topic so differently. I just want to clear that up I definitely didn’t mean to criticize the couple, although I can definitely see how it might across that way. In fact, I was afraid I was being judgmental to begin with, which is why I talked to Mr. Jasmine with. I completely agree with “to each his own”– if I had lots of money to spend on my wedding, who knows what things I splurge on. So I apologize if it seemed like I cast judgment on the couple in any way. I just think the topic in general is very interesting.

12/14/07 @ 7:01 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

myfiancesbrave

very extreme and over the top. if it defines them as a couple then i would be a little forgiving for that. but like other people say. its a special day and the focus should be on the couple and their new nuptial.

12/14/07 @ 7:51 pm (reply)

13.

Guest

Vivian

wow~ just wow. i mean it is quite memorable for sure. i think it would be a treat to be a guest. and i am definitely a part of the “reception= party” mentality. if you can do it or it means something to the couple, i say go for it. but if it’s merely the sprinkles on top of the cherry on top of the icing on top of the cake - well then - that’s kinda overboard.

12/14/07 @ 8:29 pm (reply)

14.

Guest

Vivian

OMG ! in this link on joe photo - I was the MOH at this wedding (but not the actual BM in this photo)http://www.joephoto.com/image_preview.php?path=AZ%202006%20300%20Favs%20with%20Borders%20UPLOAD/View%20Gallery&image=072&SkooksKartUserSession=6af31de86b5fadfab7d2674d57b075fe
Funny to see this!

12/14/07 @ 8:36 pm (reply)

15.

Member

cs (message) 50 posts, Worker bee

Not being South Indian myself, please correct me, but…

My understanding is that in South Indian weddings, it is quite common for relatives and friends to put on choreographed traditional dances in honor of the bride and groom. I could see this as a sort of logical extension of something like that. I bring this up because I *think* the first picture has some people in saris.

12/14/07 @ 11:27 pm (reply)

16.

Guest

mrs. caramel

Don’t worry Miss Jasmine! It’s hard not to offend someone while bringing up a topic, yes? =) But I think this really depends on what type of couple you are…
I’m very outgoing & Mr. Caramel is very introverted…so when I wanted to do some very “look at us!”, he felt uncomfortable since he’s just not that type of guy. He felt like we were were being too much of attention whores and … a bit tacky and extreme. At first I argued about going full out… but then I saw a wedding video with a couple talking about the way they met and it was seriously like 25 minutes long… after watching that, I thiiink I knew what Mr. Caramel was talking about. So yes, I do think there is a borderline but it all depends on the personalities and the comfort level of the couple.