Fortunately for her, taking a husband’s family name is so last century. Ralph Lauren changed his name to sound WASPy. Now his son’s married into the ultimate WASP family. Good luck to both of them, they are a gorgeous couple.
It’s worth noting that the groom’s mother, Ricky Lauren, is or was a Catholic. The wedding was officiated by a cantor; I personally am saddened when people born to Christian families renounce Christ to marry, just as Jews are concerned in the reverse situation. I hope the couple are settled on how to raise their children with at least respect for Christianity. They met in 2004; presumably they have had a long time to grow a relationship.
As Kalee noted in post 70, the bride did not convert. But it sounds like she was a “nothing” and therefore did not bring a Christian co-officiant. That’s a possible upshot of her parent’s acrimonious divorce over her father Neil’s infidelities. Shame on him. I hope the bride can overcome such emotional damage.
Still, it’s hard to read the vitriol directed at the groom and his father on this thread. David is not only the heir apparent to his father’s business and currently the senior vp of strategic marketing for some 20 Ralph Lauren brands — activities of which conservatives should heartily approve; but he is also the head of many charities.
IMHO, Ralph Lauren — the designer — has done a magnificent job of “codifying” a classic style of American clothing. A celebration of our nation’s history is present in the details of all his styles. Believing that the son of Jewish immigrants should not appreciate the history attached to his good fortune of being born American is bigotry.
Ralph Lauren changed his name in the 70s due to the bullying he had experienced in high school over his birth name, Lifschitz. I had a classmate named Fuchs (pronounced fYOOKs) who did the same. Lauren became the designer’s legal surname before he married or fathered the children; so it is David’s legal name as well. I see nothing wrong with that.
Besides admiring the lovely wedding dress, I love David’s Western groom’s clothing, watch fob and shoes. Beautifully done. I wish them the best.