A Hobo Wedding

[The Wiser Hatter]

A guy I work with had a Hillbilly wedding in Gatlinburg Tenn. It's an actual business for weddings there. The internet better not find out they may be up set.

 

[sheeplady]

I forgot to mention this: The other thing that people have to keep in mind is that Etsy featured this wedding- made mainly using their products. They are not going to showcase a truely bride/groom handmade wedding, because that won't generate much business for them.

They are also not going to showcase a cheap wedding, because again, not much money for them. But, if they present this wedding as frugal, maybe they'll get a few takers for their products they feature who are looking for even more frugal options.

And truth be told, with weddings being Big Business and highly marketed, I doubt that many brides and grooms know it is possible to handcraft their own weddings to the extent that you can. There is a lot of marketing that shows that you need to have this or that in your wedding. It takes a crudload of work to even plan your own (traditional) wedding, yet alone handcraft it.

 

[Miss Peach]

And truth be told, with weddings being Big Business and highly marketed, I doubt that many brides and grooms know it is possible to handcraft their own weddings to the extent that you can. There is a lot of marketing that shows that you need to have this or that in your wedding. It takes a crudload of work to even plan your own (traditional) wedding, yet alone handcraft it.

I think I'm in for the "crudload." (<--I like that word)

 

[LizzieMaine]

Agreed. It is very much an example of the internet mob mentality.
On the comedic side.. such anger and reactions is so flaccid. Flame wars, etc. have to be at the bottom rung of any kind of real outrage or response to a perceived injustice.
Technology has made wimps of people. Self-righteous keyboard activitsts..HA!

Exactly. A bunch of middle-class twits criticising another bunch of middle-class twits for being middle-class twits. O brave new world, that has such people in it.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Seriously, I can think of how to throw this wedding for much less than $1,000. I'd do it the way that people actually did during the depression- rather than just going for the "vintage look." In reality, that is all this couple was after is the look- not the actual meaning behind it- simplicity and frugality. And a celebration of love and family. But my wedding probably wouldn't look as nice- they were really photogenic- and really got the look.

Given the nature of people and particularly the cyber lynch mob mentality, I get the sense that if this couple had instead opted for a very simple, run-of-the-mill, no-frills wedding they would get just as much criticism -- from many of the same people! Only the criticism would be about how cheap and tacky they are for not throwing a "nice" $40,000 wedding with champagne and the works. Sometimes you just can't win. [huh]

But on a brighter note, I would venture to guess that given the amazing level of imagination and creativity seen here at the Lounge that one could easily put together a very nice little vintage-themed wedding for roughly what it would cost to organize a small FL get-together or event.

 

[sheeplady]

I think I'm in for the "crudload." (<--I like that word)

I actually did this. It is a crudload of work, but damn (can I use that word here?) is it rewarding. You can make sure you get exactly what you want, which is awesome. If you want any tips, you can PM me.

Given the nature of people and particularly the cyber lynch mob mentality, I get the sense that if this couple had instead opted for a very simple, run-of-the-mill, no-frills wedding they would get just as much criticism -- from many of the same people! Only the criticism would be about how cheap and tacky they are for not throwing a "nice" $40,000 wedding with champagne and the works. Sometimes you just can't win. [huh]

I actually got this comment from someone a year after my wedding. I complimented her sense of elegance (she did have a very elegant modern wedding) and she said that she didn't want something "cheap and tacky" like mine. So I can attest that general rudeness over weddings isn't just cyber.

 

[Kitty_Sheridan]

Without even telling him what the story was about I showed my fiancee and he 'wow, that looks lovely-everyone looks like they're having a great time'

As an English person posting here, what's the hoo-haa? The word 'Hobo' (I always associate with the dog of the 'littlest' variety, was that offensve?)

I tell you what I find obscene, people spending £20-30,000 on a big fussy wedding all for show, only for the marriage to last a year. We're seriously considering just eloping!

K

 

[sheeplady]

As an English person posting here, what's the hoo-haa? The word 'Hobo' (I always associate with the dog of the 'littlest' variety, was that offensve?)
K

I think people took the word hobo to mean homeless person. I think there was a lot of transposing of current images of the modern-day homeless person without an understanding of historical context.

My understanding of a hobo during the depression is that it refers to someone who rode the rails (hopped freight trains) around the country looking for work and their next meal. While they were homeless, they often had loose communities through their shared experiences with other hobos- and therefore there was a hobo culture. I've only heard it refer to men and boys. One of the commentors on the wedding blog said that they were migatory workers, but I've always thought as them as being more independent (my image of migratory workers is that they work/worked for a boss who moved those workers places- they didn't travel on their own once they were in the system). Some of them were skilled artisans who created "tramp art."

Because they were homeless, they did suffer from exposure, being killed (accidentally or purposefully), and starvation.

I have never heard the term hobo used as a derogatory term for a person*. In fact, the only way I've ever heard the term is in a positive light and I have heard it used by modern day people living on the street to describe themselves. I have always seen it as a more positive term than wino (suggesting all homeless are drunks) or bum.

*I am willing to admit that I could be wrong on the common usage of the term. I only recently learned that the term "Lynch Mob"- which I always thought refered to any angry crowd that wanted to hang somebody for no justifiable reason- specifically refers to lynching Blacks and African Americans for the color of their skin.

 

[LizzieMaine]

There was a whole hobo culture during the first half of the twentieth century -- complete with a weekly newspaper, "The Hobo News." Hoboes were "migrant workers" in a sense, but the imagery the wedding folks seemed to be going for was more Okie than hobo -- these were farmers, devastated by the dust bowl, who packed all their belongings into old cars and headed to California in search of work. They didn't have jobs lined up before they left -- and they weren't welcome in California, either. "Okie" comes from the fact that a disproportionate number of them came from Oklahoma. Few Okies were hobos -- they traveled in family groups, for the most part, and usually traveled by car or wagon, not by railroad.

 

[ButteMT61]

My sister in law (well off) had a "shotgun wedding" at their Santa Barbara ranch some years back. She was way pregnant, which made it even funnier. Everyone dresses as "Hatfield / McCoy" types and her father indeed had a shotgun with him. Such a fun day. Wasn't making fun of anyone, just taking a jab at the situation and making it fun.
People need to mind their own business.

And I never, EVER use the term "offended"
Pissed, yes. "The offended" are generally those I keep a distance from.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Eddie Cantor mocks the homeless in 1933. How offensive.
[video=youtube;N8xHK01yINI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8xHK01yINI[/video]

 

[Lady Day]

I forgot to mention this: The other thing that people have to keep in mind is that Etsy featured this wedding- made mainly using their products. They are not going to showcase a truely bride/groom handmade wedding, because that won't generate much business for them.

Wait wait wait. 'Their products'? I know a lot of people, myself included, who sell on etsy, and the term 'their products' is, and I believe I can say this with justification...offensive.

If this couple chose to use a good portion of their budget to buy hand made crafts from individuals who sell on the portal that is etsy, then that just bumped them up to a much higher level of respect for me. Choosing to recognize an artisan for their talent is something we rarely do in this country, rich or poor, and if these two used their wedding budget to support them, and of course etsy would use the publicity (as any business would), then there is absolutely 100% nothing wrong with that.

In truth, that made this story all the more happier for me.

LD

 

[Flipped Lid]

Fer cryin' out loud. Ignore that sound you hear. It's just me banging my head against the wall.

Wait wait wait. 'Their products'? I know a lot of people, myself included, who sell on etsy, and the term 'their products' is, and I believe I can say this with justification...offensive.
LD

 

[rue]

I wouldn't call this a Hobo wedding, more like a Hillbilly wedding, but either way, I think it was inventive and it made them happy, so that's all that matters.

Lady Day is right about these people using hand crafted things. I think it's great too.

This whole argument about whether or not it was cheap or expensive is silly [huh]

 

[rue]

Eddie Cantor mocks the homeless in 1933. How offensive.
[video=youtube;N8xHK01yINI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8xHK01yINI[/video]

What movie is this from Lizzie?

 

[Lady Day]

Fer cryin' out loud. Ignore that sound you hear. It's just me banging my head against the wall.

Ha! See, sarcasm does not translate well over the tubal interwebs Point made!

LD

 

[Bluebird Marsha]

It's such a harmless thing for people to get worked up over. Okay, yeah I wouldn't call $15,000 cheap- but the reaction from some of the commentators (I'm referring to the folks over at Etsy, here is nice and rational )is out of proportion. You'd think they had called it Mayan Wedding, and instead of sacrificing a person, they cut the hearts out of kittens. White, fluffy kittens with little bows on their ears.

There seems to be a resemblance between the internet, and a small town. There was a time when you left your hometown for the excitement and anonymity of the big city. Whatever happened in (New York, Washington, L.A., or Vegas baby), stayed there. The internet has partially destroyed that wall. Now everyone can see, and commentate on your behavior. And there has always been a sizable minority of people who are eager to complain about everything. In my town there was a contingent of puckered up, sour tongued people (who were referred to by my grandfather as old maids, and old maids in britches- regardless of their marital status) who couldn't wait to jump on any perceived offense against decorum. I hate to think of what they would have done if they had the internet available.

Lord, I hate to say it, but life in a Southern (U.S.) town can be infuriating and hilarious. I just never thought the internet would be so much like it.

And dating myself- I remember my grandparents referring to the difference between a hobo and a bum also. A hobo would come around and ask if there were any chores he could do in exchange for a meal or wages before he traveled on. They never had a problem giving the guy a sandwich or a dinner plate, even if they didn't have work available. But there was usually something out at the farm that needed doing- and a hobo would do it. A bum was just a bum. And since they were locals, everyone knew who they were.

 

[Flipped Lid]

Sorry, LD. I'm always a little slow on Sunday.

Ha! See, sarcasm does not translate well over the tubal interwebs Point made!

LD

 

[sheeplady]

Wait wait wait. 'Their products'? I know a lot of people, myself included, who sell on etsy, and the term 'their products' is, and I believe I can say this with justification...offensive.

I'm also slow and I just realized that you meant that in sarcasm. Sorry.

I was really responding to the comments that were saying that the bride and groom could have really had a frugal wedding if they had handmade it themselves (crafted). There are some nasty comments on that blog that amount to "make it yourself you idiots." However, if you are crafting your wedding yourself, you're not likely to make it on Etsy's blog, because why would they showcase a wedding totally unrelated to their site? And quite frankly, a wedding with artisian-made goods is going to cost more than bride and groom crafts, which was my point. When you're buying something artisian made you expect them to use their years of experience, training, and skill to make it look damn good. And you pay for that.

I think there is a big difference between doing crafting for a hobby and being a craftsperson/ artisian, even if you make the same... end-thing... (just not to be offensive but I am pretty sure I'm treading on dangerous ground here ). They both may be handmade, but one is a craft and one is an artisan's work.

 

[LizzieMaine]

What movie is this from Lizzie?

"Roman Scandals" (1933), one of my favorite films from that year. And if you look at that clip closely, the gal in the saddle shoes is Lucille Ball, in her movie debut. Being dispossessed never looked so fun.