George Boyle
Wedding announcements in the New York Times are as old as the newspaper itself, with the debut issue in 1851 featuring the marriage of two people from prominent families. For over a century, the section was reserved for privileged society figures. However, this is no longer the case. Today, the New York Times seeks couples with interesting, inspiring, and diverse love stories that represent and reflect the world around us. Couples can submit their wedding stories to be featured in the Mini-Vows section, which includes a detailed account of their love story and wedding. Occasionally, some Mini-Vow submissions are considered for the longer Vows column, where a Times reporter and photographer attend the wedding ceremony and reception.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Submission deadline | Ideally, at least six weeks before the scheduled legal wedding ceremony |
| Submission process | Submission form on the NYT website |
| Cost | The Times does not charge for publishing wedding announcements |
| Fact-checking | Announcements are thoroughly fact-checked |
| Selection criteria | Interesting, inspiring, and diverse love stories that represent and reflect the world around us |
| Selection criteria | Couples with interesting jobs, couples whose parents have interesting jobs, couples who went to notable schools, couples with interesting "how we met" stories |
| Selection criteria | Couples who have split up and are willing to talk about how their lives have changed and what they have learned |
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What You'll Learn
Interesting, inspiring and diverse love stories
The New York Times has been publishing wedding announcements since its debut issue in 1851. For a long time, these announcements were reserved for prominent families and privileged society figures. However, the paper has evolved, and now, The Times is actively seeking couples with "interesting, inspiring, and diverse love stories that represent and reflect the world around us."
So, what constitutes an interesting, inspiring, and diverse love story? Well, it's not about "standing in society." Instead, it's about notability by different metrics, such as interesting jobs or unique hobbies, like birdwatching through Twitter. It's also about the story of how a couple met and the complications they may have faced along the way. For example, a botched first date or a long-distance relationship could make for a compelling narrative.
The New York Times is also interested in couples who have unique wedding plans or traditions. For instance, some couples are reinventing the "singles table" by turning their weddings into matchmaking hubs with face sheets, TikTok shout-outs, and curated meet-cutes. Others are incorporating viral lead-up videos or creating playlists to share with their guests.
Additionally, The Times occasionally features couples who have split up and are willing to share their stories about how their lives have changed and the lessons they have learned. These features offer a unique perspective on love and relationships and provide valuable insights for readers.
To be considered for a feature, couples should submit their stories to The New York Times at least six weeks before their legal wedding ceremony. While there is no guarantee that a submission will be selected due to the high volume of entries, it is an opportunity for couples to share their unique and inspiring love stories with the world.
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Notability by different metrics
The New York Times has been publishing wedding announcements since its debut issue in 1851. Initially, the section was reserved for prominent families and privileged society figures. However, the selection criteria have evolved over time to include a wider range of couples. Today, the New York Times actively seeks couples with interesting, inspiring, and diverse love stories that represent and reflect the world around us.
While pedigree schools and notable parents may have been considered in the past, the focus has shifted towards unique and compelling narratives. Couples with interesting jobs, unusual meeting stories, or complicated relationship journeys are often favoured. The "messiness" of real-life romance is embraced, rather than a curated image of perfection.
The New York Times also considers elopements and unique wedding angles that deviate from traditional celebrations. They are not solely interested in a couple's "standing in society" but instead seek notability by different metrics. This shift in focus has opened up opportunities for a broader range of couples to be featured, celebrating the diversity and unpredictability of love.
The selection process for wedding features is highly competitive, and submissions are thoroughly fact-checked to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of the stories shared. Due to the high volume of submissions, the New York Times cannot notify couples of their submission status unless their story is selected for a full Vows feature, which includes an interview with a reporter and attendance by a photographer.
Couples interested in submitting their stories are encouraged to do so at least six weeks before their legal wedding ceremony. By sharing their unique love stories and embracing their authentic selves, couples have the chance to be featured in the long-running Weddings section of the New York Times.
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Fact-checking
The New York Times has been publishing wedding announcements since its debut issue in 1851. For over a century, the featured couples tended to be from privileged society figures with prominent families. However, this trend has changed, and the newspaper now seeks couples with diverse, inspiring, and interesting love stories that represent the world around us.
The New York Times specifies that it is not interested in couples' "standing in society". Instead, it looks for interesting jobs, unique ways of meeting, and complicated paths to love. Couples who have split up and are willing to share their experiences are also considered. The newspaper requests that submissions are made at least six weeks before the scheduled legal wedding ceremony.
Once a couple has been chosen for a feature, their submission is fact-checked. If the fact-checking process reveals exaggerations or falsehoods, the announcement may be discarded. For instance, if the legal ceremony took place a year before, it would be considered too egregious a transgression, and the announcement would be tossed.
If a Mini-Vow submission is selected for a longer Vows column, a reporter and photographer from the Times will be assigned to attend the wedding ceremony and reception. Due to the high volume of submissions, couples are not notified of their submission status.
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Submission process
The New York Times has shared that they are actively seeking couples with interesting, inspiring, and diverse love stories that represent and reflect the world around us. Wedding announcements are now known as Mini-Vows and include a detailed account of the couple's love story and wedding.
To submit your wedding for consideration, follow the instructions provided on the New York Times website. It is ideal to submit your application for review at least six weeks before the scheduled legal wedding ceremony. Mini-Vows are typically published online and in print within two weeks of the legal ceremony.
Occasionally, some Mini-Vow submissions are considered for the longer Vows column. If your submission is selected for a longer feature, the assigned reporter will explain the additional requirements. Due to the high volume of submissions, the New York Times does not notify couples of their submission status.
The New York Times is no longer focused on featuring couples based on their "standing in society". Instead, they are attracted to interesting and unique love stories, including how the couple met and any complications they may have faced. Some couples have been featured due to elopement, which provided an interesting angle to the traditional wedding story.
It is important to note that the announcements are thoroughly fact-checked, and any exaggerations or falsehoods may result in the announcement being discarded. The New York Times anchors its coverage on the date of the legal wedding ceremony, not any other wedding celebrations.
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Vows features
The New York Times has been publishing wedding announcements since its debut issue in 1851. Initially, the section was reserved for prominent families and privileged society figures. However, the selection criteria have evolved over time. Today, The New York Times actively seeks couples with interesting, inspiring, and diverse love stories that represent and reflect the world around us.
Mini-Vows, which include a detailed account of the couple's love story and wedding, have replaced the traditional wedding announcement format. Occasionally, some Mini-Vow submissions are selected for longer Vows features. For a wedding to be considered for a Vows feature, it must have a unique or interesting angle that sets it apart. This could include elopement, as one couple mentioned, or any other unusual elements that make the wedding stand out.
The selection process for Vows features is highly competitive, and not all couples who submit their stories will be chosen. Couples whose Mini-Vow submissions are selected for a longer Vows feature will be contacted by a reporter, who will explain the additional requirements. Due to the high volume of submissions, The New York Times cannot notify all couples of their submission status.
It's important to note that Vows features go beyond simply sharing a couple's love story. A Times reporter and photographer attend the wedding ceremony and reception, capturing the event through words and images. This aspect of the process can be a unique experience, as the reporter joins the celebration as a "fake guest" or "wedding crasher." While it may be an honour to have your wedding featured, it's worth noting that some couples have expressed disappointment if the resulting column is not flattering or glowing enough.
To increase the chances of being selected for a Vows feature, couples should emphasise any unique or interesting aspects of their relationship, such as a compelling "how we met" story, a botched first date, or complications they've overcome. While pedigree, prestigious jobs, and notable backgrounds may have been considered in the past, The New York Times now prioritises diverse and authentic love stories that resonate with a wide audience.
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Frequently asked questions
The New York Times Weddings section is looking for couples with interesting, inspiring, and diverse love stories that represent and reflect the world around us. The Weddings section is no longer the preserve of privileged society figures.
Wedding announcements are now known as Mini-Vows and include a detailed account of your love story and wedding. To submit your wedding for consideration, follow the instructions on the New York Times website. The Times does not charge for publishing Mini-Vows reports.
Ideally, the New York Times would receive your submission for review at least six weeks before the scheduled legal wedding ceremony. Mini-Vows are typically published online and in print within two weeks of your legal ceremony.
Occasionally, some Mini-Vow submissions are considered for the longer Vows column. If your submission is selected for a longer feature, the assigned reporter will explain the additional requirements. Due to the high volume of submissions, the New York Times is not able to notify couples of their submission status.
