The New York Times' wedding section has long been criticised for its focus on wealthy, highly-educated, and elite couples. The section has been mocked for its Ivy League obsession, with a disproportionate number of featured couples coming from privileged backgrounds. While the Times has made efforts to increase diversity in terms of race and sexual orientation, class diversity remains limited. The intricate application procedure, which includes details on addresses, schooling, occupations, awards, charitable activities, and parents' residences and occupations, strongly implies that the Times prioritises couples with elite social status and specific achievements. This has led to accusations of elitism and hypocrisy, especially given the newspaper's liberal leanings. Despite the criticism, the wedding section remains a sought-after feature for many couples, who view it as a status symbol and a way to showcase their prominence within New York social circles.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Number of weddings in the database | 60,000 |
Time period of the data | 1981 to 2013 |
Couples' political leanings | More Democrats than Republicans |
Boarding school mentioned | New England boarding schools, dropping in frequency |
Online dating mentioned | Increasing |
Women keeping their names | Not changing much |
Social media usage | Increasing |
Age of couples | Shifting towards 30 |
What You'll Learn
- The NY Times wedding section is known for favouring Ivy League graduates
- Couples are required to submit their announcements early to be featured in the NY Times
- Wedding announcements in the NY Times can be free but are competitive
- The NY Times wedding section is known for featuring couples with high-achieving parents
- The NY Times wedding section is known for featuring couples who can keep their eyebrows level in photos
The NY Times wedding section is known for favouring Ivy League graduates
The NY Times wedding section is notoriously difficult to get into, with around 200 couples competing for 40 spots each week. The section editor, Robert Woletz, has stated that the paper is "looking for people who have achievements. It doesn't matter what field these achievements are in." However, a closer look at the demographics of the couples featured in the section reveals a clear bias towards Ivy League graduates.
In a study conducted by The Atlantic, it was found that graduates from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were very over-represented in the NY Times wedding section. During the period analyzed, 9.4% of couples featured on the wedding page graduated from Harvard, compared to only 0.1% of the US population having a degree from this institution. Similarly, 5.8% of couples in the section graduated from Yale, and 3.6% from Princeton, both of which are significantly higher than the percentage of the US population with degrees from these schools. Overall, 18% of people featured in the wedding section had a degree from one of these three schools, compared to only 0.18% of the US population.
The study also looked at other factors that may contribute to a couple's chances of being featured in the NY Times wedding section. For example, couples with parents living in elite suburbs or vacation destinations, such as Greenwich, Connecticut, were found to be over-represented. Same-sex couples and congressional staffers were also found to have a higher likelihood of being included. However, the most significant advantage seemed to be held by graduates of elite universities, particularly Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.
While the NY Times wedding section claims to be focused on highlighting couples with notable achievements, the data suggests that Ivy League graduates are given priority. This bias towards elite universities contributes to the perception that the section caters to a specific demographic and reinforces social and economic inequalities.
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Couples are required to submit their announcements early to be featured in the NY Times
Wedding announcements in newspapers are a fun tradition and a great way to share your love story with the world. However, if you're hoping to announce your wedding in a prestigious publication like The New York Times, early submission is key.
The New York Times is a highly sought-after platform for wedding announcements, and with good reason. A feature in its pages bestows a certain level of prestige and serves as a timeless keepsake for the happy couple. But it's not as simple as submitting your story and hoping for the best. The competition to be featured is fierce, and timing plays a crucial role.
The New York Times receives a high volume of wedding announcements, and with limited space available, getting your submission in early is essential. Colton Simmons, a New England-based photographer and owner of Colton Simmons Photography, emphasizes the importance of lead times. He advises couples to submit their announcements well before the publication's deadline to avoid being in a queue behind hundreds of other weddings, especially if your wedding is during a popular season.
By submitting early, you not only increase your chances of being featured but also allow yourself some flexibility. Should any changes or updates be required, you'll have the time to make them without feeling rushed. It's a strategy that ensures your announcement is given the attention it deserves and maximizes your chances of securing a coveted spot in the renowned publication.
So, if you're dreaming of seeing your names in the pages of The New York Times, don't delay. Craft your announcement, gather all the necessary information, and submit it well ahead of time. It's a competitive field, but with early submission, your chances of celebrating your nuptials in the company of Ivy League grads and high-achieving couples improve significantly.
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Wedding announcements in the NY Times can be free but are competitive
Wedding announcements in the New York Times can be free, but they are highly competitive. The Times has a long history of publishing wedding announcements, dating back to 1851. Over the years, the format and content of these announcements have evolved, but they remain a sought-after way for couples to share their love stories with a wide audience.
The New York Times wedding section caters to a specific demographic. It is known for featuring couples who fit a certain mould, such as Ivy League graduates, those with high-achieving parents, and people with a particular aesthetic. As such, the competition to have one's wedding announcement published in the Times is fierce.
To increase the chances of being selected, it is advisable to submit your announcement early. Popular publications like the New York Times often have large lead times, and even submitting before the deadline may not guarantee timely publication. Following the newspaper's guidelines is also crucial, as editors prioritise submissions that adhere to their preferred format, lead time, photo requirements, and other specifications.
While some couples opt for paid wedding announcements in specific newspapers, others choose to share their news in their local papers, which are often free of charge. However, for those seeking a prestigious platform like the New York Times, the competition is intense, and early submission is highly recommended.
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The NY Times wedding section is known for featuring couples with high-achieving parents
The New York Times wedding section has long been a platform for couples to share their love stories with the world. While anyone can submit their wedding announcement, making it into the prestigious NYT wedding pages is another matter entirely. The section is known for featuring a certain type of couple, often Ivy League graduates with high-achieving parents.
The NYT wedding section has been described as a "perfect natural experiment" designed to answer the question, "What do the world's most self-important people think is important?" This sentiment is reflected in the content of the announcements, which often include details such as the couple's education, occupation, and the names of their parents. With competition to be featured in the section being high, it's not surprising that those who make the cut tend to come from privileged backgrounds.
A brief history of the NYT wedding announcements reveals that the first piece of content that could be identified as a wedding announcement appeared in the New-York Daily Times in 1851. This announcement, like many of those that followed, gave only the barest of details and was likely submitted by a couple who did not live on Washington Square, i.e., not from a high-society background. By the mid-19th century, wedding announcements had become a way for high-society individuals to broadcast their marriages to other prominent people.
Today, the NYT wedding section continues to showcase couples with high-achieving parents, suggesting that while the format of wedding announcements may have evolved, the underlying dynamics of social status and privilege remain intact.
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The NY Times wedding section is known for featuring couples who can keep their eyebrows level in photos
The NY Times wedding section is notoriously selective about the couples who make it into their pages. While some couples choose to announce their weddings in newspapers as a fun tradition, for others, it is a way to showcase that they are marrying another prominent person. The NY Times wedding section is known for featuring couples who embody a certain type of life: Ivy League graduates, offspring of high-achieving parents, and, interestingly, people who can keep their eyebrows level in photos.
The tradition of wedding announcements in newspapers dates back centuries and was initially a religious practice. Between 1215 and 1563, Catholic Church doctrine mandated that couples announce their intention to marry, allowing their communities to object and prevent invalid marriages. By the mid-1800s, these announcements had evolved into a way for high-society individuals to publicize their nuptials.
Today, the NY Times wedding section continues to be a sought-after platform for couples to share their love stories. However, with its focus on a specific demographic, not just any couple makes the cut. Those who do are often those who fit the mold of the "Times-worthy" couple, with their ability to maintain a level brow being an intriguing factor in the selection process.
While the level-brow trait may seem like a peculiar criterion, it likely symbolizes a larger trend among the couples featured in the NY Times wedding section. Perhaps it represents a certain level of composure, sophistication, or even genetic superiority that aligns with the other criteria used by the publication.
So, if you're aiming to get your nuptials featured in the prestigious NY Times wedding section, it might be worth practicing that poker face to ensure those eyebrows stay nice and level for the camera!
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Frequently asked questions
You can submit your wedding announcement to the New York Times by following the newspaper's guidelines and submitting all the requested information. This includes the basic information, such as the couple's full names, the date and location of the wedding, as well as a brief overview of the couple's relationship history and love story. It is recommended that you submit your announcement early, as there can be large lead times for these publications.
Announcing your wedding in the New York Times is free, but submissions may be more competitive. However, other newspapers may charge a fee for placement, with prices starting at $1,800 for an announcement in the Chicago Tribune.
The chances of your wedding announcement being selected for the New York Times are difficult to determine, as it depends on the number and quality of submissions received. However, you can increase your chances by submitting your announcement early and following the newspaper's guidelines.
The New York Times wedding section has been known to feature couples who fit a certain type or lifestyle. This includes Ivy League graduates, couples with high-achieving parents, and those who can maintain a certain level of composure while posing for pictures.