A couple who charged their wedding guests up to £745 for tickets say the move allowed them to enjoy a debt-free honeymoon in Hawaii. Marley and Steve, both online marketing entrepreneurs, raised £37,550 from ticket sales to cover the entire cost of their big day.
The couple, who met in 2020, decided to sell tickets after realising how expensive weddings had become. Standard tickets cost £42, while VIP tickets were priced at £745 per couple and included a three-day event with a relationship retreat, rehearsal dinner, and a 'biohacking brunch'. Guests wore coloured wristbands to indicate their ticket type.
Marley said the idea was initially met with criticism, with her maid of honour furious and her mother-in-law only revealing her true feelings at the wedding itself. However, the couple defended the decision, noting that the average UK wedding costs £20,822 and that they had told guests not to buy gifts.
Around 200 tickets were sold, and the couple's 40 closest relatives and friends did not have to pay. Marley said they were inspired by a colleague who noted that in some cultures, guests are expected to give cash gifts to cover costs.
