[CallMeMommy]

Bride-elect. It's getting to be wedding season so I'm seeing it all the time "Open house honoring Jane Schmane, bride-elect of Joe Schmoe". I. Hate. It. Sounds like she won some sort of a contest because she's the better ironer or something. Ugh. Grates on my nerves.<br><br>
That is all. Carry on.

 

[Logan's mommy]

I have never heard that phrase before, but I don't like it already. You're right, it sounds like she won some sort of contest. I probably would have punched someone if they had called me that <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
After a bit more thought, it sounds like his family took a vote and decided that she would be the better wife. I always hear "elect" tacked onto the end of a political position.

 

[just_lily]

I have never heard of that. I am getting married in June, and have a hard enough time with "fiance" - it just sounds pretentious to me. Bride-elect implies that there was a campaign.... and a vote?<br><br>
I don't care for it, no.

 

[Phantaja]

I think it's funny. Like "so ridiculous that you have to laugh" funny.

 

[mum4boys]

I have never heard this phrase before. I wonder if it is regional. It is kind of funny. So were their others running for this position? How close was the race? Was it a nasty campaign? What turned the tide allowed her to be voted in?<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[CallMeMommy]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Logan's mommy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15367960"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">After a bit more thought, it sounds like his family took a vote and decided that she would be the better wife. I always hear "elect" tacked onto the end of a political position.</div>
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Exactly! Like she had very little, if any, say in the matter.<br><br>
It must be a Midwestern thing, I had a minor outrage at work one day in the breakroom and my coworkers just rolled their eyes at me.

 

[Freedom~Mama]

I have never heard that phrase before. That is kind of weird.

 

[Purple*Lotus]

I see it all the time in the newspapers here. And bridegroom, which is another thing I don't understand. I just say "groom", I don't get the bride part added on. Kind of like she owns him, I guess <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[notjustmamie]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Bunnyflakes</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15368042"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I see it all the time in the newspapers here. And bridegroom, which is another thing I don't understand. I just say "groom", I don't get the bride part added on. Kind of like she owns him, I guess <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"></div>
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AFAIK, "bridegroom" is the original term. I think it was to differentiate from a stable groom. In any case, I've never heard "bride-elect" and I think it sounds kind of tacky. I much prefer fiancee. If they absolutely must toss the term "bride" in there, why not just say, "intended bride"?

 

[Ellen Griswold]

I've never heard of it before and I'm in the midwest. I find it quite obnoxious.

 

[Purple*Lotus]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>notjustmamie</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15368058"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">AFAIK, "bridegroom" is the original term. I think it was to <b>differentiate from a stable groom.</b> In any case, I've never heard "bride-elect" and I think it sounds kind of tacky. I much prefer fiancee. If they absolutely must toss the term "bride" in there, why not just say, "intended bride"?</div>
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Okay, that makes sense.

 

[Cherry Alive]

That's weird. I never heard it before. It's quite ridiculous...then again, most of the bridal industry is. $1000+ for a dress you wear once? Hahahahahahahaha!!!

 

[InMediasRes]

What happened to "bride-to-be" or "intended" or just plain ol' "fiance"? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/headscratch.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="headscratch"><br><br>
I don't like it either.

 

[jeanine123]

I grew up in WI (though haven't lived there for just over 11 years) and I've never heard that term before. I agree that it sounds rather ridiculous.

 

[KristyDi]

I've lived in the deep south (with some, lets say well to do, extended family) and have heard it many times but always in the hoity-toity old-money crowd.<br><br>
I agree that it's a strange phrase when fiancee would work just as well.

 

[MusicianDad]

Apparently bride elect is a woman who has been chosen for marriage to someone. I am thinking it probably dates back to when women were property and a bride was quite literally picked out as "most worthy of being a bride".*shudder*

 

[InMediasRes]

^Blech.

 

[Novella]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>MusicianDad</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15368349"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Apparently bride elect is a woman who has been chosen for marriage to someone. I am thinking it probably dates back to when women were property and a bride was quite literally picked out as "most worthy of being a bride".*shudder*</div>
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Yes, in this use the "elect" part means "chosen" (as in: by the man). Sure, it's out-of-date. I never use it, although it's still in use in our area. I don't bother getting annoyed by it, though, because I know most people who say it use it simply out of tradition and not because they are aware of it's history.<br><br>
I have plenty of other things that it's more important for me to get annoyed about. I know that's a difficult point to make because it always seems to imply that the person saying it has a superior attitude of not getting hung up on "the little crap". But if the issue is females being marginalized in society, I'd rather concentrate on how my daughters feel about their roles. If they feel good about themselves, someone one day characterizing them as "bride-elects" will just be water off a duck's back.

 

[lolar2]

Musician Dad was right-- it's an old term. This website lists a use of it from 1878: <a href="http://www.wordnik.com/words/bride-elect" target="_blank">http://www.wordnik.com/words/bride-elect</a>