Author Topic: New York Times wedding announcements  (Read 854 times)

Hanna

New York Times wedding announcements
« on: December 10, 2019, 07:05:30 pm »
Is anyone familiar with the protocol around New York Times wedding announcements?

We came across* the announcement of a colleague’s marriage there and were surprised by it. First because they couple had no connection to NY - not from there, hasn’t lived there and does not have family there.

But also, the announcement ended with “The groom’s previous 3 marriages ended in divorce.” I don’t think most papers print that information and I certainly don’t think the couple had it purposely included. Is that something historically done for public info? I was thinking like posting the baans, as we discussed in another thread.

Thought it was an interesting discussion!

*googling for address and this came up.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


Penelope2017

Re: New York Times wedding announcements
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2019, 05:14:59 am »
To address your first observation, though it’s called the New York Times, it’s not viewed (in my opinion) as a New York centered newspaper. It’s more national and even international coverage. The people covered are usually notable, high level  and/or interesting in some way.

Their wedding announcements are definitely unique. I had a cousin in there once and they described how he met his wife - at first when they both were still with “other lovers.” I admit I was a bit taken aback at the level of personal detail and wondered how my private and proper family was going to cringe. So long way of saying I agree they sometimes include things that seem a bit invasive for a wedding announcement. Unlike other publications might, I think they view them more as news stories.

If your wedding is in The NY Times, though, you’ve probably read it and know what to expect.

Agree Agree x 1 View List

oogyda

Re: New York Times wedding announcements
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2019, 09:39:06 am »
Someone I know once submitted an application for a wedding announcement in the NYT.  This is based on what I remember she told me.

The couple submits an application (with photos) pretty far in advance.  If you are chosen, they interview you and do some investigating to verify what you've said in the application. 

I guess you'd want to stand out in some way with your story.
 
Informative Informative x 2 View List

DCGirl

Re: New York Times wedding announcements
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2019, 12:06:40 pm »
The happy couple doesn't write the announcements, a New York Times reporter does.   They are much different than the announcements that appear in smaller, more local newspapers and are written more as news stories.  Past marriages, whether ended by divorce or death, are considered relevant information. Think of it more like when a celebrity gets married and there's usually a mention of previous marriages (and often to whom) in the news stories about it.

When I submitted my wedding announcement to the Washington Post (admittedly years ago), I wrote what we wanted to say but the Post reserved the write to edit it.  No one from the Post interviewed me about the details, and our announcement was very traditional with name of our parents, names of grandparents, where we went to school, and where were employed.

A few years ago, the New York Times ran a story about a woman who wanted the wedding announcement from her very short first marriage deleted from its website because it was the first thing that prospective dates would find online if they googled here.  The Times' position is that these announcements are part of the public record and wouldn't delete it.  She ended having to create a LinkedIn profile, websites for her businesses, personal websites, Facebook, Twitter, and so forth to eventually get the announcement to stop showing up in the first page of search results for herself. 
Informative Informative x 1 View List

Hanna

Re: New York Times wedding announcements
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2019, 12:44:42 pm »
In this case there is no obvious reason that this couple would have been chosen by NYT.  They are very nice people but nothing particularly interesting in their backgrounds or family connections that would make their marriage a global point of interest.  They were married in the winter so now suspect it was easier to be included.

DCGirl

Re: New York Times wedding announcements
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2019, 11:11:36 am »
The Atlantic did a story about the odds of getting your wedding announcement in the NY Times if you're not from New York.  The following factors help:  graduating from an elite university (Harvard, Yale, etc.), working as a Congressional staffer, working as a elite lawyer (at a prestigious firm), living in a tony location (Greenwich, CT, Newport, RI, etc.)....

Hanna

Re: New York Times wedding announcements
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2019, 03:25:57 pm »
The Atlantic did a story about the odds of getting your wedding announcement in the NY Times if you're not from New York.  The following factors help:  graduating from an elite university (Harvard, Yale, etc.), working as a Congressional staffer, working as a elite lawyer (at a prestigious firm), living in a tony location (Greenwich, CT, Newport, RI, etc.)....
AHA!
She did go to an elite school.

JeanFromBNA

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 366
  • Location: Southern U.S.
    • View Profile

  • Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary Level 4
Re: New York Times wedding announcements
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2019, 01:58:33 pm »
Is anyone familiar with the protocol around New York Times wedding announcements?

We came across* the announcement of a colleague’s marriage there and were surprised by it. First because they couple had no connection to NY - not from there, hasn’t lived there and does not have family there.

But also, the announcement ended with “The groom’s previous 3 marriages ended in divorce.” I don’t think most papers print that information and I certainly don’t think the couple had it purposely included. Is that something historically done for public info? I was thinking like posting the baans, as we discussed in another thread.

Thought it was an interesting discussion!

*googling for address and this came up.
Well best wishes and good luck to your colleague.  She's going to need it.
Like Like x 1 Funny Funny x 3 View List