Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys, Sag Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, Guild Awards, Critics Awards and Tonys. There sure are a lot of awards.

There is also no shortage of groups of insecure people needing awards to flatter themselves, including the wedding industry. The term “wedding industry” is in and of itself, disturbing enough. Since when is doing a great job and being known for it, not enough?

Consider that an award winner is usually different than a contest winner. Most awards are bestowed by a panel of accredited judges to recognize excellence in a given field. The award’s value depends upon the status of the awarder, so always consider the source.

Most contests are won openly like a horse race or American Idol. Competitors are staged fairly side-by-side, results are measured and verified, and there are tangible prizes like cash or trophies. 

However, when a contest is conducted in secret without open competition, the value is subjective at best. A list of “winners” is published and many heads shake, the competition knowing better than the contest results show. A number of blind votes is not any proof of quality or character, possibly just how many friends and family a wedding vendor can get to vote for them.

Once again, consider the source. The award for these wedding publication popularity contests is usually more advertising and exposure.

In a related situation twenty years ago, it became a known fact that the largest group of people reading the church ads in newspapers were the ministers and their spouses. In fact, church advertising was so lucrative that... well, it wasn’t. They finally discovered their actual audience. When was the last time you saw a page of ads for churches in a periodical? 

Popularity contests in the wedding milieu are designed to keep the advertisers engaged, not the public. Publishers depend upon advertisers to read the ads, compare themselves to others, and as a result, spend more. 

Perhaps the largest group of readers of wedding ads is wedding advertisers and their spouses. Writer Dave Barry pointed out in The Miami Herald, that wedding ads drive the cost of weddings higher as competitors merely try to keep up with each other.

There is already enough competition without meaningless popularity contests. Why not have a real contest, a staged throw down, or an old fashion debate? A blind popularity contest is less than a compliment to the larger wedding industry community. 

The wedding industry could offer an award for the volume of happy couples served over many years, for the creativity displayed while doing so, and from the people inspired by one’s sincerity. Give an award for proven leadership, influence or heroism, but not for popularity or just doing one’s job. 

(This article’s writer knows he probably won’t win any more contests, but he does promise to keep providing the same level of service he has the past 30 years. Right now, ArizonaWeddingList.com maintains the nominees for any sensible wedding competition, including designated “legends” of the Arizona wedding service community.)