Prepare to have your expectations shattered and your wedding beliefs flipped upside down—because this is not your average love story. Meet Marley Jaxx (34) and Steve J. Larsen (37), entrepreneurs who took the phrase “plus-one” into completely uncharted territory—by turning their wedding into a ticketed event!

The Genesis of The Ticket Bride and Groom

The idea started as a joke: “Wouldn’t it be hilarious if our wedding was literally an event with tickets?” But once they got engaged, the joke quickly ramped up to real talk when they received an absurd $650 cake-cutting fee quote. Yep—you read that right, just to cut the cake. Not the cake itself. Just to wield the knife.

That’s when Marley took to social media and asked her community: “Are wedding markups just insane?” The flood of answers—stories of overpriced charges and over-the-top wedding expenses—sparked something. And rather than cringe, she leaned in.

Ticket Tiers That Will Blow Your Mind

Fast forward: The couple rolled out a two-tier ticket system—not just for entry, but for the full immersive experience.

Basic Ticket: $57 per person, granting access to their wedding ceremony and reception on August 1 at Honalee Farm in Eagle, Idaho. That price point? Calculated based on typical per-guest wedding costs—and way more reasonable than what most couples end up paying.
VIP Ticket: A jaw-dropping $997—for two people! This elite pass included:

The rehearsal dinner on July 31
A “biohacking brunch and recovery lounge” on August 2
Priority seating
Brand exposure in their wedding program
Plus access to wellness sessions—think breathwork, PEMF mats, red light therapy, vibration plates, and brain optimization tools! Yep, fancy.

Talk about turning “I’m getting married” into “I’m throwing a wellness festival.”

Drama, Debate, and “Cash‑Grab” Accusations

As you might expect, the response wasn’t entirely a standing ovation of praise. Comments ranged from admiration for creativity to flat-out outrage. Some accused them of being tone-deaf, opportunistic—calling it a “money grab.”

But Marley hit back with clarity:

“A cash grab is something done purely for profit with little regard for value or integrity. That’s not what this is.”

Their aim was to challenge the wedding industry’s skyrocketing costs—and start marriage on a foundation of freedom rather than debt.

Tickets Sold—Plus a Whole Lot of Impact

At the end of the day, they sold approximately 100 basic and 30 VIP tickets. Enough not just to celebrate—but to break even financially. But that wasn’t even the end of their plan.

Everything above break-even went straight to charity: $132,550 in total—funds destined for Village Impact, a nonprofit supporting education, clean water, and menstrual products in Kenya. Feast your eyes:

“We went home on our wedding night with 96,200 reasons to be grateful… and the next morning… raised even more, bringing our total to $132,550.”

It Wasn’t Just a Wedding—It Was a Weekend of High‑Taste, High‑Purpose

The ceremony boasted upscale treats—smoked salted caramel ice cream, luxury wedding cake, and gourmet cookies. DJs, trombonists, and wellness gurus rounded out a three-day festival of celebration. And once the vows were said, it wasn’t over—they’re launching WeddingFunnels.com, a platform to show other couples how to creatively fund weddings through tickets, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing.

Final Word: Wedding Revolution or Wedding Taboo?

In a single bold move, Marley Jaxx and Steve J. Larsen made one thing crystal clear: weddings don’t have to be financially crippling, or drain savings for a single day. Instead, they can be communal, purpose-driven, and yes—even profitable for the right cause.

Will your wedding sell tickets, VIP passes, and recovery lounges? Maybe not—but what if you did start a celebration model that doesn’t blast your bank account?

One thing is certain: this couple turned “I do” into “I donate,” and flipped expectations right on their head. Whether you cheer or cringe, you can’t look away.