Celebrity Wedding Culture & the Antithesis

Posted: June 29th, 2025 | Filed under: Culture, Personalities, Ruminations | 1 Comment »

It has happened a few times recently.

A moment when I’ve been chided with something like, “You’re the Culture Maven, or so you say, but you don’t seem to be posting much about, eh, culture.

“The occasional movie review, or another blog about how much you love the Tedeschi Trucks band, but not much else.

“So, are you the Culture Maven or not? Fish or cut bait, dude.”

OK. Guilty.

I remain fascinated as ever by the passing scene, what Katy Perry’s up to, or the every once in awhile curiosity about Paris Hilton.

In fact, I’ll own that I’m been more curious than I should be about those nuptials over in romantic Venice. One of the world’s richest dudes. His shapely new bride. The A+ list on hand for the celebration.

Actually, and this is the truth, I mostly look at the photos. Lots of security protecting Oprah as she gets in and out of water limo.

I wonder. Is Jeff Bezos really friends with the Kardashians? If so, whatever might they talk about? Does Tom Brady chat them up, now that’s he’s single?

Plus, are the Kardashians really friends with  . . . anybody?

Or, do these current most famous for being famous “icons”simply hire themselves out as a catalyst for the presence of paparazzi?

Anyway, I hope the new couple lives on in bliss. And that Jeff continues to get me my packages on time, even though one coming yesterday was delivered to the wrong condo in my building. Guess while the boss is away, there’s slippage back in the office.

 * * * * *

All this hoopla regarding the new Mr. and Mrs Bezos reminded me of the singular sorta almost but not really celeb wedding I’ve been “blessed” to attend.

Not sure where it ranked on the totem pole of Entertainment Tonight priorities. Mary Hart was not in attendance. But a film crew from “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” was.

True.

It was a reception for the betrothal of a second tier “star” on the biggest prime time soap of the era to a local gal whom I knew because she’d formerly been involved with a good pal.

None of the other players from that TV show were in the house as I recall.

But there were lots of bowls of popcorn about; the groom had just invested in some company that sold it.

The whole thing was simply odd, what with techs wielding kleig lights and cameras and boom mics flitting about. Nobody really knew how to act. It was as if we needed to feign what a sumptious affair the whole deal was.

Nonetheless I could hear Robin Leach’d voiceover in full rapture in my head.

Enough faux frivolity was enough for me. Needed to say bye bye to the gaffers waving their arms to encourage us to laugh toward each other.

The Seelbach ballroom wasn’t where I wanted to be on truly delightful if hot day in the middle of the summer.

I took my leave.

Which leads me to what happened next just outside, the rest of the story.

 * * * * *

A totally different Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous.

As I walked out the hotel, I noticed a truck parked at the corner; a small group of quiet, somewhat solemn folks dressed in the Sunday best lined up toward the back open end of the truck.

Curious, I walked over to observe.

Sitting on the back of truck bed quietly chatting up the folks and autographing copies of the Koran, Muhammed Ali.

THE most famous man in the world.

— c d kaplan

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