Don + Emily Mamone Entrepreneurs Marley Jaxx and Steve J. Larsen sold tickets to their wedding weekend in Idaho as a case study, a proof-of-concept that weddings can be funded, not financed Guests could buy a basic $57 ticket for admission into the wedding day, or a three-day experience for two tickets valued at $997 that allowed access to the wedding day, plus the pre- and post-wedding events After the couple broke even, they donated their remaining $132,550 proceeds to Village Impact A bride and groom are trying to revolutionize the wedding industry, and they started by charging admission to their own nuptials. EntrepreneursMarley Jaxx, 34, andSteve J. Larsen, 37, were "baffled" by the "overpriced" traditional wedding planning model that often breaks the bank due to the "outrageous cost attached to the smallest things." Consequently, the pair decided to create a case study on their wedding byselling ticketsto prove that weddings can be funded so that marriages start without financial strain. "Weddings are this multi-billion-dollar industry where couples often go into debt for a single day and I wanted to challenge that," Jaxx tells PEOPLE. Don + Emily Mamone There were two ticket tiers. A basic ticket, valued at $57 per person, covered admission to the wedding ceremony and reception on Friday, Aug. 1, atHonalee Farmin Eagle, Idaho. Those wanting to "make a full weekend of the event" would purchase the second option, valued at $997 for two tickets, which additionally included access to the rehearsal dinner on Thursday, July 31, and the "biohacking brunch and recovery lounge" on Saturday, Aug. 2. Plus, the VIP guests would get priority reserved seating and have their brand profile spotlighted in the wedding programs. "I know this idea is new. It's disruptive," Jaxx says. "Some people might call it tacky or a money grab. But to me, a cash grab is something done purely for profit with little regard for value or integrity. That's not what this is. We're creating an experience to celebrate our wedding with people who want to be part of it, and the contributions go directly toward making that possible without going into debt, while also supporting one of our favorite causes." https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Before the couple got engaged at an ice skating rink on New Year's Day, they joked about selling wedding tickets. But once the duo, who have both previously been married, actually started planning their wedding, their joke turned into a reality. Don + Emily Mamone "We run businesses and do events all the time, so we'd say things like, 'Wouldn't it be funny if our wedding was a main event and we sold tickets to it?' Totally a joke at first," Jaxx says. "But then we got engaged, and when we started looking at venues and saw the quote for one, there was a $650 cake-cutting fee. Like… just to cut the cake. Not the cake itself. Just to cut it." Jaxx asked her thousands of followers if the financial investment and expectations attached to weddings added pressure to spend more than anticipated to meet the traditional standards. Her comments were "flooded" with couples sharing similar experiences of "wild wedding markups." "So then I made another post and said, 'People should just sell tickets to their weddings at this point,' " Jaxx explains. Don + Emily Mamone She took a poll within her social community about turning her wedding into a proof-of-concept, and was "shocked" by people's openness to buying tickets and the high figures they'd hypothetically be willing to spend. "Eventually, we landed on this idea that felt really good to us: don't buy us a gift, just cover your meal and come party with us," Larsen says. "It took the pressure off gifts, helped us manage the guest count, and made the whole thing feel a lot more fun and collaborative." Although there were a lot of positive responses, some people weren't happy. The couple's family and closest friends didn't need to buy tickets and were just sent wedding invitations. Everyone else, however, had to decide whether or not they wanted to pay to attend the wedding when they saw the concept online. One man "didn't hold back" in telling the bride that he was against the idea, and even challenged her to a Facebook Live debate. Don + Emily Mamone Jaxx accepted the debate because she thought if she "really believed in this idea, [she] had to be willing to defend it." "I wanted to bring weddings back to this idea that it takes a village, and to show that there could be a different model where couples don't have to go into debt," Jaxx says, with Larsen adding, "It wasn't about making money, it was about covering the cost of their meal and creating a really cool experience." Jaxx continues: "For couples who do want to bring together a big community, the current system often sets them up for failure. I mean, financial conflict is the number one cause of strain in marriage. So the idea that you should start your life together by going tens of thousands of dollars into debt over one day feels backwards." Don + Emily Mamone Jaxx and Larsen, who met through the online marketing world and have been in a relationship for five years, tell PEOPLE that they sold approximately 100 basic tickets and 30 VIP tickets. The couple determined their basic ticket pricing on the typical per-head cost of a wedding guest. "Most people would spend more than that on dinner, a concert ticket, or a random night out, so asking $57 to cover your meal and be part of an experience like this felt reasonable," Larsen says. "It also made it easy to take the pressure off gifts entirely." At the "over-the-top" wedding — which was planned byLisa Ball— guests enjoyed smoked salted caramel ice cream fromStella's Ice Cream, wedding cake from luxury cake artistMichelle Sohanand cookies fromMama's Secrets. Musical performances includeddancing trombonistJonathan Arons, husband-wife DJ duoTeam Ragoza, andDJ Dynamix. The VIP ticket was all about "upgrading the experience." VIP guests enjoyed a three-day celebration featuring brand exposure and exclusive experiences such as sessions from relationship and health experts. At the biohacking brunch after the wedding, guests were treated to breathwork, brain optimization tools, vibration plates, PEMF mats and red light therapy. "We hit break-even. That was the goal," Larsen says. "We weren't trying to profit off our wedding, we just didn't want to go into debt for it. And everything beyond that now goes toward the charity piece, which is the part we're most excited about." Proceeds beyond breaking even on the actual wedding itself are being donated toVillage Impactto help build a school and "support initiatives like access to clean water and menstrual products." The nonprofit organization partners with communities in Kenya to create "access to quality education where it's needed most," according to its website. Don + Emily Mamone "We went home on our wedding night with 96,200 reasons to be grateful because we were able to write a check for that amount to Village Impact," Jaxx says. "And then the next morning, during our biohacking brunch, we raised even more, bringing our total to $132,550." The funds came from the ticket sales, silent auction items and different donation tiers throughout the weekend. "That money is going to build classrooms in Kenya, support clean water initiatives, and provide essential resources for kids who need them most," Jaxx explains. "In July 2026, we're heading to Kenya with a crew of people to help build the very project we funded." Kedrick Stellway The newlyweds hope that couples will use their step-by-step wedding blueprint to turn their wedding into a celebration that funds itself instead of draining savings. They're teaching the model to other couples throughWeddingFunnels.com. The goal is to help couples fund their weddings creatively, whether that's through selling tickets, collaborating with local businesses, trading services, getting sponsors, or earning affiliate revenue through content. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I pray that what we just experienced becomes a blueprint for others and that this disrupts the way people think weddings have to be done," Jaxx says. "That other couples see this as an invitation to step into more freedom: financially, emotionally and relationally. Weddings don't need to be a source of debt or pressure. They can be something radically different that is generous, sacred and shared." Read the original article onPeople
