Douglasville couple on TNT’s “Wedding Day”
CREDIT: TNT/theknot.com
A Douglasville couple, Sara and Bryan Ray, are going to be on a TNT reality show “Wedding Day” this Sunday.
The show, executive produced by “Survivor” creator Mark Burnett, debuted to poor ratings during primetime June 16 and did even worse the following Thursday June 24. So the network has buried the remaining episodes on Saturdays, though this particular episode will air on Sunday at 10 a.m.
The concept is a watered-down “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” for weddings. Friends and family surprise a deserving couple by helping design the wedding of their dreams.
I watched the first episode and it was duller than C-Span. It lacked any real tension. At least with “Extreme Makeover,” no matter how treacly, the logistics of re-doing a house in an insanely short amount of time is far more compelling than putting a quick wedding together. With “Wedding Day,” the hosts are vanilla and there is no “Bridezilla” in sight. It’s very much a “feel good” show better left on WE or Oxygen.
“I’m just excited to see it on TV,” said Sara Ray, who married Bryan Ray in April 2008, when this episode was taped. “I’m being positive. I’m going to be at the beach over the Fourth of July weekend. We’ll have a beach breakfast and watch it in Panama City. We’ll have family and friends on speakerphone. We’ll also DVR the show and rehash it later.”
The show was seeking a blended family so Sara filled out an application. Much to her surprise, TNT responded. She was a single mom and he was a widower. His first wife Jessica died four years ago of ovarian cancer at age 29. He has two kids. She has one.
Bryan, a sales coordinator, “has learned to live life to its fullest,” Sara said. “And he’s so good with his kids.”
“We’re like the Brady Bunch, with fewer kids,” she added.
Bryan’s 10 year old daughter Savannah, Sara said, told everyone, “it’s not just your wedding show and daddy’s wedding show. It’s our wedding show!”
Sara talked with producers and was assured this was not “Bridezilla.” She appreciated the fact it was a feel-good series and heck, the show would be footing the bill.
If you want to see the wedding, theknot.com has photos and a recap.
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16 comments Add your comment
WR
July 2nd, 2009
10:53 pm
I have not seen the show but I can honestly say Bryan is a good person, I worked with him for five years and I remember when he first came in with the news that his wife had cancer. He was strong thoughout the treatments and up until the very end. Its always sad when anyone passes at such an early age, but to think, I had just meant his former wife just a few months before her cancer was discovered. We played basketball and softball together on would be company teams, we stunk, but we always found away to have a good time. As a matter of fact I took over Bryan’s supervisory position because he recommended me, what does all of this have to do with the show, absolutely nothing, but hey this is a person I once considered a friend, someone I know personally and for all he’s been through I wish him the best.
rid0617
July 3rd, 2009
2:11 am
I don’t know what was worse. Trying to read this article or actually watching this boring show
louise
July 3rd, 2009
9:17 am
I think that the show is great and have seen both episodes.
Best Man
July 3rd, 2009
9:42 am
I’m the best man at the wedding and hate that the show is getting bad reviews. Everyone works so hard to put it together… I can’t wait to watch it with the Rays while we are vacationing together in Florida. Plan was to have a big viewing party of friends/family but due to the world of television, things change and we had already booked this vacation.
I just HOPE there aren’t any embarrassing moments that might show up on Talk Soup!
Hopefully they show my game winning catch in flag football that the groom/groomsmen got to play with Jamal Anderson (former RB of Atlanta Falcons). Ok Bryan, I give you some props for throwing the game winning TD pass (even if it wasn’t intended for me).
AA
JuJu
July 3rd, 2009
12:36 pm
Hey WR the softball team wasnt that bad. However the basketball team was pretty crappy huh?
Sheila Ray
July 3rd, 2009
1:09 pm
The Wedding was beautiful,but even moreso was the family it brought together. Each person has their on view of things and thats a good thing! We wish the best for the Wedding Day Crew and hope they can continue with the show. Maybe this episode will be a little more entertaining than the first few,but they all have special meanings to their families. Thanks to everyone who helped in Bryan,and Sara’s wedding. The children are extremely happy and they think the show and their family is one big success!! We also thank God for bringing them together!
annasgra1
July 3rd, 2009
6:47 pm
This show may not show the drama that Extreme Makeover Home Addition has, but there is a huge amount of love and support from the friends and family who worked tirelessly in a short amount of time, from early in the morning, through the heat of the days and into the nights to help the cast and crew bring these beautiful weddings together. SARA (correct spelling) and Bryan and the children have all experienced a lot of heartache in a short time, and they deserved this fabulous wedding. Why not show a feel good show on TNT – a refreshing change from all the blood, guts and sex that is on TNT and almost every other channel these days. We need more feel good shows that reward people who have experienced difficult times. Shows that bring out the best in people and show compassion and kindness. You can bring on the violins any time you want, but that is how I feel, and I am sure I am not the only one. The reporter who did this article did not do a good job at all, asking questions and then cutting Sara off with another question before she had finished giving her full answer. Maybe someone else should have done the interview, someone who would spend more time listening to what Sara had to say. The Hosts were fabulous, also compassionate and caring people as were every crew member. Every person who was involved in this wedding commented on how kind everyone was while we were filming the show. That and the couples stories is why TNT chose to run the series. The time slot changes and lack of advertising is what is killing it.
WR
July 4th, 2009
2:55 pm
Juju, you still going by that name, yeah you got a point, the softball team wasn’t all that bad, but the basketball team had more drama. Actually I thing TNT could have used the adventures of that team for a reality show, you had people constantly being ejected, players playing drunk, and shots fired from half court with 5 minutes remaining in the quarter, and if that wasn’t enough, I still remember running late for the game because some of us were at the famous strip club Riley’s, well not quite a famous place for everyone but you could pop in get a quick drink or few and have a laugh at the entertainment. The funny thing is that people would think it was all made up for T.V., but we know its not.
Joel
July 5th, 2009
12:52 pm
What does AJC know. I don’t read it or buy it. Those involved and those friends and family that attended this Wedding appreciate the things in life that really matter. Like Family, Friends, and positive messages that make us who we are. So there is no “Shock & Awe”. The World is not about crimes, and negative things going on. It is about good people that make our Civilization what it is. Shame on you AJC for your constant negativity, and shame on you Rodney Ho for trying to rain on someones parade where there is always a bright light shining.
justnic
July 5th, 2009
4:35 pm
I love the show. It’s a refreshing break from the drama and ignorance of Bridezillas. There are so many drama filled reality shows, that this one is a welcome relief. I guess to each his own in terms of how you feel about it.
Chuckie D
July 5th, 2009
10:49 pm
Hey Rodney,
WIth “reviews” like this and your obvious disdain for a “feel good” human interest story in lieu of an obviously scripted “Unreal Reality Show”, is it any wonder the AJC circulation is down??? Why can’t you as a member of the Main Stream Media understand that not everyone likes the “tension” created by the aforementioned scripted shows?
I suppose you prefer the (UN) Real Housewives of Atlanta to shows like this?
Get a Life!
JuJu
July 6th, 2009
12:56 am
Wow what a scolding from Joel!!!!
B Ray
July 13th, 2009
8:10 am
Rodney, I am the groom on the show and I hate to dissapoint you that this show lacked the bridezilla that you long for. If you don’t want to hear real stories that touch people’s lives you should not watch Wedding Day. Oh, and my wife said you were a real jerk for the record.
WR, good to hear from you and thanks for the kind words. You should stop by the Y sometime, I’d like to catch up w/ you. B Ray
J Tyree
July 17th, 2009
12:39 pm
To the rude comments made regarding the wedding of Sara and Bryan: I am very sad that I was not able to watch this show. I have been a friend of the groom’s sister my entire life. I remember when Jessica (Bryan’s deceased wife) was first diagnosed with cancer. It was an extremely tormenting time for the family of Bryan and Jessica. This was a long and difficult road that I am sure none of us ever want to go down. The pain that Bryan, his children and Bryan and Jessica’s family must have endured is an absolute nightmare that you cannot wake up from. Bryan and his children have now been blessed with the chance to begin a new life. No, they will never forget Jessica who was only 29 years old and endured so much to be so young, but God in His faithfulness has given them a chance to heal and move on. If you did not get any of that from the story of this brave family, I truly think you have missed out on such an inspirational story. To many times there is not a happy ending. Let’s not ruin this one.
Courtney Moore
August 17th, 2009
8:56 am
I just wanted to say that I use to live next door to Bryan & Jessica and I will never forget when we found out that she was sick…I wish to this day that I would have gotten to know both of them more….I am so happy that Bryan found love again…he truly deserves it and so do Savannah and Alex…I pray God & Jessica will keep their hands on this beautiful family!!!! Jessica will always be remembered!!!!!
ChocolateBerry~
August 22nd, 2009
9:16 am
Through tears of happiness,I just watched this amazing wedding and love story and I must say it
Is remarkable what Sara and Brian’s family and friends did for them.
Good to see positive and uplifting messaged on television.