AisleDash

Yesterday's New York Times had an article about a new bridal trend: Providing over-the-top entertainment for your guests instead of just a boring old wedding. Forget the first dance or having your cousin perform a heartfelt solo for the couple - oh no, we're talking everything from strolling magicians and Broadway performers to air-brush tattoo artists and cigar rollers during cocktail hour.

Whatever happened to not upstaging the bride? Or, I don't know, celebrating love and commitment and all that mushy stuff?

I'm in complete agreement with Letitia Baldrige, etiquette expert, who had this to say: "It is dumb...Old-fashioned traditional weddings where you looked at the bride and groom and you watched them dance and toasted them, that is what a wedding should be about."

I'm all for livening up the reception - to a point. This strikes me as another way for companies to make money off couples trying to upstage one another. Are stilt walkers necessary? You be the judge.