The Waves: Gender, Relationships, Feminism

Is the Wedding Dress Dead?

Jul 6, 2023

Explore the evolving trends in wedding dresses and the challenges faced by traditional bridal stores. Learn about the rise of non-traditional options, genderless and grand wedding dresses, and the bankruptcy of David's Bridal. Dive into discussions about body regulations, storytelling, and the empowering nature of diverse styling preferences. Plus, get insights on addressing vaccine concerns and a TV show recap.

34:42

Episode guests

Shelly Mueller

Marteal Mayer

Alyssa Pung

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Modern brides are opting for non-traditional wedding dress options that reflect their individuality and personal taste.

Wedding dress boutiques like Lulet Bride are embracing the idea that wedding dresses should reflect the bride's personality and style, challenging the notion of a traditional white gown.

Deep dives

Podcast Overview

Beach 2 Sandy Water 2 Wet is a podcast hosted by Christine and Sandy where they do dramatic readings of wild and off-the-wall reviews found on the internet. They explore funny and real reviews about various subjects, ranging from Vegas weddings and matchmaking services to Trader Joe's and Spirit Halloween. The hosts highlight the amusing and sometimes strange things people feel compelled to share online.

Introduction

5min

Body regulations, storytelling, and an introduction to Unruly

3min

Evolution and Diversity in the Wedding Dress Industry

13min

Vaccines, Reviews, and Lulett Bride

2min

The Rise of Non-Traditional Wedding Dresses

5min

Wedding Dresses and TV Show Recap

9min

On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth does a deep dive on wedding dresses. From the oldest family-run bridal shop in the United States, to a warehouse in New York, she explores what the modern wedding dress looks like. Along with brides-to-be Shannon Palus and Susan Matthews, Cheyna talks with Marteal Mayer, the owner of Loulette Bride in Brooklyn, and mother-daughter duo Shelly Mueller and Alyssa Pung, co-owners of Becker’s Bridal in Fowler, Michigan.

In Slate Plus: Our weekly And Just Like That…recap. This week it’s episode four with Cheyna Roth and Slate culture writer Heather Schwedel.

Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Special thanks to Shannon Palus and Susan Matthews.

Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.

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