Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Wedding Crashers

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It’s no surprise that I’m a part-time celebrity watcher. I visit usmagazine.com every hour on the hour, purchase InTouch Weekly every time I’m at the grocery store, and sometimes dabble in a little Perez Hilton (though as the years go by, I find him less offensive and just straight up cruel). And when I’ve exhausted the trash mags and online smut, I’ll occasionally log on to people.com to get the story that’s closest to the truth.

So, I’m not embarrassed to say I’ve been particularly fascinated by what the media is labeling as Taylor Swift’s faux pas. From reading several stories and reports, here’s a Coles Notes version for you:

1. Taylor Swift is dating Conor Kennedy (yes, one of THOSE Kennedys).
2. His cousin Kyle Kennedy was married last weekend.
3. Conor, of course, was invited to the intimate, sit down wedding – but failed to RSVP.*
4. An hour before the wedding, Conor texted the Mother of the Bride and asked, “Hey, can I come and bring my GF?”
5. The MOB responded, “No, please don’t.”
6. The duo showed up anyways, where according to the MOB – “I personally went up to Ms. Swift, whose entrance distracted the entire event, politely introduced myself to her, and asked her as nicely as I could to leave.”
7. The duo left after some coaxing… only to return again after the dancing began.

*In defense of Conor’s poor social etiquette in failing to RSVP, he recently lost his mother, whom I sure used to handle these of things on behalf of her 18 year old son. In today’s world, it actually doesn’t surprise me that a teenager thinks he can text his attendance an hour before a shindig – even a totally private, no-expense spared, pseudo-royalty kind of shindig).

Okay, so here’s why I rolled this over and over in my mind. I wondered: if it was MY wedding, would I be okay with a mega superstar crashing?

(Well, I’m not particularly threatened by young blonde chicks with boyish frames. So I’d likely have to picture Jennifer Lopez strolling into my reception. Oh. My. God.)

Here’s the thing: there’s a reason why decade after decade, brides stuff their bridemaids into seafoam green taffeta (cue: “And you can wear it again!” – honey, no one EVER wears their bridesmaid dress again). The goal is to have all eyes on YOU – and why not? You’ve invested too much time, money, energy and fights with your fiancé over everything wedding-related to be upstaged by a jilted bridesmaid who secretly thinks all eyes are on her. Hence, why give the option of clingy black silk when puffy orange works just as well?

(In case you’re wondering, I let my bridesmaids pick out their dresses themselves, as long as they were – wait for it – petal pink. I know, just shoot me now… I’m sure they wanted to. But it wasn’t from a malicious standpoint; I honestly believed that petal pink was the most romantic colour EVER. #mistaken)

But even a drop dead gorgeous bridesmaid could never compete with a CELEBRITY making an appearance at your wedding. Picture it: you and your new husband begin a slow waltz to your chosen song. With bedroom eyes, you gaze lovingly at each other. But as you scan the room, you realize that you can’t make eye contact with a single person… because they’re all staring at Megan Freaking Fox* who is standing in the back corner trying to be inconspicuous in a low cut Chanel sheath.

(*Pre-Botox Megan Fox. Plastic Megan is just wrong.)

So I get it! I really do. I can totally see why Victoria Kennedy chose to ban the Swiftster from wedding proceedings and keep the attention on her daughter, where it should be. (And, chances are that Conor Kennedy is NOT going to end up marrying Taylor, so why bend over backwards for a flavour of the month?)

But… just for argument’s sake… wouldn’t it be AWESOME to have a celebrity at your wedding? Like they could have been off making movies or singing in concert, but instead, they chose to spend their Saturday night at YOUR party. What wonderful stories you’d have to tell… for years to come!

“I had the perfect wedding. The food was fabulous, hubby didn’t flub his vows, and Sarah Jessica Parker showed up around midnight for the seafood buffet.”
“I just can’t believe that Katy Perry caught the bouquet!”
“Of course the highlight of the night was when Demi Lovato helped me bustle my train – she was so cute!”

In fact, part of me thinks that I *might* be okay with sharing the spotlight in return for bragging rights over each and every wedding I attend thereafter – what, no A-listers???

I’m curious – what do you think? Was Victoria Kennedy justified in kicking Taylor Swift to the curb? Or should she have graciously accommodated her with open arms, especially since Conor is family?

Of course, if Taylor Swift showed up to my wedding, I wouldn’t bat an eyelash. As you can see from this photo of “Who Wore it Better?” circa 2007, I’ve GOT IT ALL over Ms. Swift. HA!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Victoria

    Taylor Swift’s physique reminds me of a praying mantis. That dress requires curves, so yes, you wore it better.

    I can’t figure out why she bought a house across the street from Ethel Kennedy unless she thought Conor Kennedy was eventually going to a) shack up and play house with her; or b) marry her. He’s still in high school, and just lost his mother. Taylor would do well enough to stay away from him at least on a romantic level. But then, Taylor strikes me as being an 18-year-old emotionally herself. I can’t see this ending well. There was a video on TMZ yesterday about the wedding crashing that had a snippet of Glenn Close in ‘Fatal Attraction.’ I don’t think murder is on the horizon but that clinginess/co-dependency/whatever isn’t healthy. If Conor’s mother was still alive I wonder if Taylor would have been able to ingratiate herself so easily.

    As for the issue of the RSVP, Kathie Lee Gifford described the reception to co-host Hoda as a formal, sit-down meal, planned and paid for well in advance. That’s just one reason why the courtesy of an RSVP from a potential guest is absolutely, well, essential. I have the bride’s mother’s back on this one.

  4. Kyla @ Mommy's Weird

    OMG. THE SAME DRESS.
    Okay, back to the question.
    Mrs. Kennedy was right to ask her to leave. But, still, all this talk about it has already out shined the bride.
    P.s I love this post. I like when you post this kind of stuff. Entertains the hell out of me.

    • Lena

      LOL yes, the SAME DRESS.

      I like the way you think – “all this talk about it has already out shined the bride.” You’re absolutely right; the fact that people are still talking about it days later proves that she was the star attraction of that wedding.

      And thanks for the kind compliment – I’ll do my best to keep entertaining :)

    • Lena

      Thanks Jen! Even I think I totally have her beat on this one (but she’s got the whole tall, glamorous, ridiculously talented and filthy rich thing over me…)

  6. carly

    AH! You and Taylor Swift wore the same dress?!? That’s awesome lol.

    But obviously you look much more stunning :) Curves (and cute heels) win!

    • Lena

      Yup. Though not at the same time. She wore it to perform at the American Music Awards, whereas I wore it to a wedding in Scarborough. Ah well, didn’t you hear? Scarborough is the new LA.

  7. Jenny

    Victoria Kennedy was definitely right to kick Miss Swift out. Who wants to be upstaged at your own wedding by someone who wasn’t even invited? It’s one thing to have a celebrity friend and know that they’re part of your life (and therefore your wedding) and quite another to have a guest who completely steals the show based on her recent stalker ways (why the heck did she purchase a home across the street from the poor buy? Doens’t he know she’s crazy?)

    • Lena

      Well I think you nailed it. If you know the person has been invited, and is attending, it’s much different than a celeb just popping up. Totally have Mrs. Kennedy’s side on this one too. (Though I do love Taylor’s publicist’s comments that the bride thanked her “profusely” for being there.)

  8. RubyRed67

    “…young blonde chicks with boyish frames”

    When will stupid celebrities realize that you need CURVES to wear a dress! You win hands down, she’s too straight up and down to carry it. Gorgeous dress on you Lena!

    • Lena

      Ha ha ha thanks. As I mentioned to Jen, I have curves on her… she’s just got a whole lotta glamorous stuff over me! Though I’d challenge her to a blogging duel any day…

  9. Marissa

    I enjoyed reading your post Lena. You look gorgeous and the dress definitely looks better on you!

  14. Nay

    MOB had every right to ask them to leave, celebrity or not. You didn’t RSVP? then you can’t join in the fun. End of.

    And yes, for the record, and the unofficial count, you def wore it better.

  16. Tracy

    So Lena, clearly you have celebrity good taste or at the very least celebrity stylist taste. Whoo-hoo! Should be a source of pride!

    As for Taylor and the wedding faux-pas. Celeb or everyday folk- RSVP required. Food, seating and common courtesy.

    They could have spun it differently and still crashed. Pulling aside MOB, apologizing for the failure to RSVP but offering the newlywed couples the gift of song- a special solo after the traditional first dance. I bet the bride and groom would have loved that and no harm, no foul.