Shannon, Renee, Princess Sabrina and Jen (Image: Four Weddings Canada)
We’ve grown accustomed to certain reality TV tropes: the people who “aren’t here to make friends,” the lonely folks who legitimately appear to be on the show to make friends, and the dullards who say stupid things or are generally so boring that the audience repeatedly yells, “Shut up, ______!” Unfortunately, in episode two of Four Weddings Canada, the brides aimed to be successful villains and super-friends, but we soon realized that not one of them was really up for the challenge. See our Brides Behaving Badly report cards (complete with Bitch-o-Meter) and find out who was named Head Bitch in Ceremony (H.B.I.C.) after the jump.
“Princess” Sabrina
Twenty-six-year-old Sabrina evidently likes to eat—we know this because she won’t shut up about the importance of food at weddings (she regularly reminds the three other brides how much food she’ll be serving at her reception; modesty is not one of her strong suits). She’s also Italian and likes to talk about her heritage, so in her intro she’s staged preparing homemade lasagna (molto bene!). She complains about the prospect of only three courses at Renee’s wedding and is just generally obnoxious, saying things like, “No food, no nothing, I can’t celebrate right now,” and “Shannon’s lack of preparation gives me a heart attack.” Oh, and she’s a self-proclaimed princess, which meant adorning her reception’s head table with diapers tiered ruffles.
Renee
Thirty-six-year-old Renee is pegged as “the opinionated one” from the beginning of the show. She presents herself as the arbiter of taste, even though her wedding is as tacky as a tiki bar at an island-themed party (think fuchsia everywhere and lots of “bling,” like mirrored glass). On a wedding dress, she remarks: “Her veil is a different colour than the dress. That’s wrong.” On a venue: “I feel like I’m in a school gymnasium. I didn’t relate to it.” (What does this even mean? Nothing.) Because Renee allegedly planned her entire wedding herself, she believes she’s the most inventive, and the most deserving of the honeymoon prize—despite the fact that when people are inventive (for example, Shannon had vodka snow cones and cotton candy at her cocktail hour), she thinks they made bad decisions. She even complains about a single bee outside at Jen’s wedding, claiming it’s the reason she hates outdoor weddings. Renee is a woman who clearly can’t be satisfied. Good luck, husband.
Jen
Twenty-nine-year-old Jen reminds us of a girl who’s looking to make friends. Her Gilmore Girls–style town hall wedding, excluding the prepared desserts at her reception and black mini bridesmaid dresses, is our favourite. In her critiques, she makes the kind of bad jokes you’re likely to hear on the Comedy Network at 3 a.m. (“It wasn’t a cocktail hour. It was more like a cocktail 20 minutes”). We chuckle when she comments on the green bean shortage at Renee’s wedding, complaining that she received only two while Shannon and Sabrina got three each (also funny: the meticulous counting of potatoes and green beans during dinner at Renee’s reception: one, two, three potatoes). Jen gets really excited about seeing the underbelly of an airplane at Renee’s wedding, and says that even though she’s only met Renee once, she really feels like she got to know who Renee really is. Someone give this girl a friend.
Shannon
When Princess Sabrina complains about Renee’s significant lack of food (and she does, a lot), it’s obnoxious, and when Shannon chimes in at the last moment—“We’re generally not bun eaters”—it’s comedy gold. These girls are more like social bun eaters. Final bun tally: Shannon 2, Renee 3, Jen 2. Apart from this one out-of-character moment, though, Shannon is perky and generally doesn’t contribute much. She complains (a lot) about not hearing the wedding services, as if that’s the reason people actually attend the ceremony. And that’s it. Of course, she does have vodka snow cones, which we think is pretty awesome.
For saying things like “I don’t get country” and “The whole mood was lost”; for claiming she deserved to win, then saying everyone deserves to win; for her general indecisiveness; and for her desire to be the show’s biggest bitch, we honour Renee with the title of Head Bitch in Ceremony.
(Oh, and Sabrina won the honeymoon.)
No comments on this yet??
January 12, 2012 at 6:11 pm | by So quiet?i completley agree with these comments… that rennee was a complete bitch ranking every girl no higher in a 5 sabotaging all other brides but in the end she doesn’t win… it looked soooooo good on her and made me laugh..LOVE THIS SHOW but girls can be mean
January 12, 2012 at 8:46 pm | by lilmariah7Renee was an absolute disgrace! Two faced, petty and conniving.
Black women are saddled with the unfortunate stereotype of being bitchy, confrontational and materialistic. This girl went one further and added simple-minded to the list.
I mean who has an outdoor wedding, then goes to another person’s outdoor wedding, sees a bee, AND THEN has the unmitigated GALL to say “That’s why I don’t like outdoor weddings!”
Absolutely INSANE!
Take a long hard look in the mirror sista’. Then give your head a shake before you make a fool of yourself on national television again.
January 12, 2012 at 10:31 pm | by weddingfailsareringingI want to like your comment weddingfailsareringing lol
January 13, 2012 at 12:33 am | by M74WRenee was truly sickening. Not sure what makes her think she’s better than everyone else but I have news for her… she isn’t. Feel sorry for her poor husband. I would have voted Jen’s wedding as best. To do something as nicely as she did on less than 1/3 of the next lowest-cost wedding on the show was amazing. She had a lovely wedding day and didn’t break the bank – good for her! Too bad the show is about women with attitude who love overspending. It would be more entertaining to see what women like Jen can do on a budget. Thought you were awesome, Jen! Love that you weren’t spending the down payment on a house in order to show off to your friends.
January 13, 2012 at 1:53 am | by MarieMarie – I agree with you 100%
January 13, 2012 at 2:18 am | by JudyWell I watched and now I’ve read and I have to agree. No one really cares that Renee planned or designed her own weddding. So what? It shows that she likes to try to make an impression but the one she made isn’t the one most of us would want. Diva. Overbearing (which she calls outspoken, but she doesn’t know better). Control freak. Poor taste. (That awful one shoulder dress looks terrible on her!) Overly made up. Inappropriate. Bad attitude. Think her wedding money was well spent? Will hubby be there in five years time? The other women showed class and taste… good for them and congrats Sabrina. I have a problem with the money Sabrina spent in this economy because I think it’s just wasteful, but I think all the brides won because they had the weddings they wanted and enjoyed their days and that’s what it’s really about.
January 13, 2012 at 8:33 am | by snowbound_mamaNot sure why people feel the need to comment on the amount of money spent on the weddings. If someone has the money to spend, what is it to you?! Everyone has different priorities and choose to spend their money on different things. How do you know where they even got the money??? It could be generous parents choosing to spend the money on their children. It could be a couple who saved and saved to be able to have the kind of wedding they want. Either way, WHO CARES!! I don’t like how the show includes the budget, because it really has nothing to do with the show. This isn’t one of those wedding planning shows where the budget is important.
January 13, 2012 at 12:18 pm | by Reality CheckFYI a lot of comments on both of the Four Weddings articles are just as bitchy and judgemental as they say the brides are!
All of you are judging these girls based on a few comments made on a stupid tv show. The difference is, the girls are SUPPOSED to be judgemental as that’s what the show is about. Half of it is set up and the girls are all but short of forced to say these “bitchy things”.
REALITY TV=NOT REALITY!!!
soo sooo true reality check! well said.
January 13, 2012 at 2:25 pm | by 12345I have the honour of being Sabrina’s mother-in-law. She’s really quite lovely. I think a lot of the bitchiness is staged so that it makes for fun viewing. Because Sabrina truly has a heart of gold and wouldn’t hurt anyone. I did think Shannon was hilarious, Renee a little over the top with her comments, and I loved Jen’s hometown wedding. But I have to say, my son’s wedding was an absolutely fabulous wedding with amazing food. It was a real party and the best wedding I’ve ever been to so congrats to Sabrina for putting so much time and effort into it. It paid off! Congrats Justin and Sabrina!
January 13, 2012 at 2:41 pm | by Mom of the GroomThe problem with being opinionated is that it’s a trait that isn’t likeable. It implies that your opinion is the right one and no one else matters. Outspoken implies that you say what you are thinking without filtering it, and you don’t care if you hurt others with your comments. Both are traits that are only palatable in very small doses. People who are thoughtful and considerate are more enviable.
The show itself is lame. It’s a money contest – she who has the most, wins. Anyone can stage a beautiful wedding with a hearty budget. They can also afford their own honeymoon.
It would be a better show if the brides were kind and nurturing to one another and shared ways to plan a modestly priced wedding that was first class. It seems wrong when money is tight for so many people to see others blow huge bucks on a big party for one day. I don’t envy their tunnel vision.
January 13, 2012 at 5:16 pm | by BabeFirst let me say… I am thoroughly enjoying everyone’s insight of our Episode, and most of all their opinion of me!! I definitely believe in free speech!
To the person who reminded everyone it’s Reality TV… Thank you!
As for my experience on Four Weddings Canada, ALL of my fellow cast members had GREAT weddings! It’s surprising to see how many people take a few comments made on camera, and sum up a whole person’s personality! It’s quite baffling! All of us had one job on this show… to critique our fellow Brides wedding! We all did just that!
It would make for a pretty boring show, if all of us had nothing but positive things to say throughout the whole episode! It’s clear that some may feel I was over the top… I remind everyone, someone has to be, to hold the interest of the viewer!
It should be said, that for every negative comment I stated on the show, there were several positive compliments I expressed as well! It goes without saying that not EVERYTHING is shown on the show! Therefore the emphasis clearly then leans towards… my more controversial views! It’s all in how it’s edited! By no means do a few comments shown on T.V, sum up my personality, or reflect how I conduct myself in real life with those around me!
As far as I’m concerned, I had the opportunity and pleasure to have the most important day of my life filmed on a television show, that’s an International Hit Series!!! Something a lot of people don’t get to say!
If that means that my 60mins of fame comes with a backlash of people who will judge me and post comments on the Internet… So be it!
Truth be told… Most of us have all attended a wedding in our lives, where we have secretly whispered complaints about the food, music or venue! Or did you forget about the millions of fans who do the very same thing, while watching this show every week, only judging comfortably from their living room?
In the end… the opinions or thoughts expressed by myself towards my fellow Brides weddings, was EXACTLY what I was expected to do on the show!! I may have a no nonsense approach to delivering my feelings… but that’s what keeps the viewer entertained, gives the Author something to write about, and allows you a forum to share your judgmental comments! We aren’t so different after all…
To Sabrina and Justin who won… Congratulations Again & Have a fabulous time away!
To the next H.B.I.C of Episode 3… Good Luck!!
January 13, 2012 at 6:58 pm | by Renee CharlesWhat a fantastic reaction this show has created. People are opinionated, it’s human nature. We should all know what to expect from “reality TV” and it sure isn’t warm hugs and compliments now is it? If you tune in you must surely expect that the producers of the show will focus on every contreversial thing done or said. I know one of the brides personally and I know that she signed on because it was something “fun and different” to do. I’m sure many good things were said about each wedding – we just didn’t get to see any of those comments. It was so obvious to me that each of the brides put much effort and love into their weddings. I think they were all fabulous!
January 13, 2012 at 7:20 pm | by NCSAs cool as it sounds to have your wedding filmed for a national reality TV show…the whole process, in my opinion, stole the genuiness away from the event. What was I doing here again??? Oh yah, witnessing my friends get married…how could I forget?. I get that you could win a great honeymooonn…but seriously, ask yourself, what the objective was for your wedding day before you signed up for the show, and what it became once you started filming? Were they the still the same? I’m just saying!!!
January 13, 2012 at 11:36 pm | by not impressed...Wow, that’s a lot of exclamation marks in one post. Just about every sentence ended in at least one. Oh yeah, you were the over the top one, weren’t you? It’s not just the remarks made on TV that people judge the brides by; it’s their whole demeanor. Expressions, tone of voice, eye rolls, and so on. But as you wrote, you’re an expert on what holds people’s interest on TV, so I guess what you say goes.
January 14, 2012 at 8:43 pm | by my opinion only