Where held: Lodge at Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs Valley, Calif.
Number of guests: 300
Cost: $4 million
The dream of finding one's soul mate on a reality show came true for Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter of "The Bachelorette," whose on-air romance blossomed into a pretty-in-pink, $4 million must-see-TV wedding ceremony and reception.
From the 30,000 roses flown in from Holland and Ecuador at a cost of $250,000 to the bride's $70,000 strapless satin Badgley Mischka gown and Stuart Weitzman diamond-encrusted shoes to the specially written song performed by country star Brad Paisley, the Trista and Ryan wedding was art's turn to imitate a real-life romance.
"Was it a made-for-TV event? It absolutely was," says Souza. "The whole event was manufactured by the production company. They wanted a certain look for it. It was an hour-long special that aired on ABC. That's a big time slot on a good night; that's a ratings winner. Weddings are ratings winners."
Souza says the made-for-TV couple with the made-for-TV wedding may have had the last laugh.
"Their relationship began on TV, so it was strangely appropriate, but they still love each other; they're still married with kids, which you can't say for a lot of celebrity weddings," she says.