Here Comes the Bride: An Ethnographic Content Analysis of Bridal Books

Weddings are the most common ritual used to mark a change in a person's relationship status. Engaged couples in the United States are inundated with messages about how to plan this significant event. Weddings serve as rites of passage and assist in role transitions. When preparing for a wedding, many couples turn to wedding planning books. It is important for professionals who work with couples, particularly premarital couples, to be aware of the messages that are given in wedding planning books. The purpose of this research was to examine advice in wedding books targeted to brides in terms of gender and creating healthy relationships. Wedding books were analyzed from a feminist lens and the overarching themes that emerged are: Women in Weddings, Men in Weddings, Relationship Advice, Changes in Weddings, and Looks are Important. The primary finding of this research is that the advice given to engaged couples maintains and promotes inequality in the planning of this important ritual.