Today’s Big Story

Weddings Go Casual

Everything eventually gets more relaxed, right?

We are gathered here today … to talk about weddings. And how they, like dress codes and cell phone etiquette, have become much more lax recently. Just look at the invitations—once a snail mail exclusive industry—a lot of time and money used to go into those announcements, fancy RSVP cards and hand-drawn calligraphy.

And they didn’t come cheap. The average total cost of wedding invitations and stationery was $530 last year, according to The Knot. For some weddings, though, the cost can be significantly higher. Laura Ritchie, who runs Grit & Grace, a luxury wedding planning service, says the engaged couples she works with spend upwards of $5,000—on paper invitations, alone.

But these days? Invites go beyond even email inboxes after the peak of digital invite services created in the late ’90s and early aughts. Today, modern couples are satisfied with a group text. Consider it the latest addition to the era of digital romance, where dating apps and Zoom weddings became fixtures, and it's in part due to a post-pandemic cultural shift toward more casual gatherings.

The “non-wedding wedding” with less traditional clothing, casual food and spontaneous photography are growing in popularity, reports Vogue. Couples now want to “celebrate their love with their family and friends but not to stick to all the stuffy traditions.” The data backs this up: According to a Pinterest report published in May, searches for “nontraditional wedding dresses” on the platform have spiked 110%, whereas “nontraditional wedding vows” went up 205%. The phrase “anti-bride”, meanwhile, increased by 480%.

Of course, it’s all leaning to a less formal and more relaxed vibe, but that also saves couples a whole lot of money. In today’s reality of higher interest rates and lingering inflation, the stressful and expensive months (or years) of meticulous wedding planning can all be alleviated if you opt for a text over a paper invite, a more casual ceremony and maybe a low-key afterparty instead of a big, blowout reception.

The DNC Starts Today

Here’s what you need to know

A refreshed Democratic Party reintroduces itself to a divided nation this week, having been transformed by the money, momentum, relief and even joy that followed Vice President Kamala Harris' rise to the top of its ticket just a few weeks ago. Of course, it wasn’t easy. Democratic National Convention organizers have had to rework programming entirely after President Biden dropped out of the race in late July.

Beneath the surface, real questions loom about the depth of Harris’ newfound support, the breadth of her coalition and the strength of her movement. Until the Brat energy of the Harris campaign shook everyone awake, Democrats were deeply divided over a range of things from foreign policy to political strategy. The Associated Press says this won’t be the typical convention. “How the Democrats present Harris and Walz will be critical, especially with Trump launching a weeklong effort to cut into their message.”

The theme of the convention is “For the People, For Our Future”. Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the convention, including about 4,000 delegates. Former President Obama will speak tomorrow, telling Americans that “democracy itself is on the line,” setting the stage for a heavily personal and biographical appeal by Harris “for people to see themselves in her speech,” advisers to both tell Axios. Outside the convention will be a less joyful message, as thousands of protestors are expected to march. Semafor reports that the coalition, composed of more than 150 pro-Palestinian, anti-war, and left-wing organizations, has been planning its direct actions for months.

Unresponsive Patients May Have More Awareness

Scans suggest many people with severe brain injuries are more aware than originally thought

When people suffer severe brain damage—a result of say, a car crash, serious fall or aneurysm—they often slip into a coma for weeks, their eyes closed, their bodies unresponsive. But a new study has found that about one in four people with severe brain injuries are more aware than originally thought. That’s kind of a scary thought, right?

Even though they can't move or speak, these individuals were shown via brain scans to be able to sometimes perform cognitive tasks following instruction. The study looked into participant data from 2006 to 2023, gathered from various healthcare settings across six multinational sites. Dr. Nicholas Schiff, a neurologist and an author of the study, told the New York Times the study shows that up to 100,000 patients in the United States alone might have some level of consciousness despite their devastating injuries.

The findings do offer hope for connecting patients to certain treatments in the future. For now, the options are limited: A Parkinson’s drug, amantadine, has shown some promise in helping people recover consciousness. Some doctors also prescribe Ambien, stimulants or antidepressants. Brain implants or neuromodulation (using electrical currents to alter brain activity) could represent the next wave of treatments, as well.

FTC Cracks Down on Fake Reviews

The rule prohibits businesses from buying testimonials and inflated social media influence

The Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule to prohibit the sale or purchase of fake reviews, allowing the agency to seek civil penalties against perpetrators. The ban also forbids marketers from exaggerating their own influence by, for example, paying for bots to inflate their follower count.

“Fake reviews not only waste people’s time and money, but also pollute the marketplace and divert business away from honest competitors,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan in the release. “By strengthening the FTC’s toolkit to fight deceptive advertising, the final rule will protect Americans from getting cheated, put businesses that unlawfully game the system on notice, and promote markets that are fair, honest and competitive.”

According to The Verge, the new rule could help address AI-generated reviews that pop up on sites across the web, including Amazon. However, it’s still not clear how the agency will enforce this rule on global marketplaces—where many businesses that post fake reviews are located outside the States. The rule will go into effect 60 days after it’s published in the federal register, so likely sometime in October. The FTC will now have the power to seek a maximum of up to $51,744 per violation.

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