Unconventional way couple saved $70k on wedding costs – and guests were not happy

A New York couple determined to get married in style lost 80 percent of their guests when they decided to charge $333 per person.

Nova and Reemo Styles had their sights set on a wedding at the city’s iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral, but discovered the venue alone would cost $150,000.

Sixty guests took the plunge and paid for the experience, which included a double-decker bus tour of New York City and a steak and lobster dinner. But traditionalists were shocked by the decision.

‘What a TACKY!’ wrote one person. ‘I would never dream of letting someone pay to come to my wedding! That’s just ridiculous.’

But the couple had their sights set on New York’s iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral for $150,000

Nova, 30, told ABC7 they had to think creatively when they found out how much their dream wedding would cost, and they started thinking about it in entertainment terms.

“And I said, ‘People choose to go to a Beyoncé concert because they know they’re going to have a special experience,’” the lifestyle influencer told the station.

“Let’s stress out the guests and sell tickets to a wedding.”

Reemo warned her that the idea risked turning a success into a disaster.

“I thought, ‘Honey, there’s no one coming,’” he said.

And indeed, the couple immediately received a backlash when they told their loved ones to open their wallets.

“I would never spend money on tickets,” someone said.

“Who do you think you are? Jay-Z and Beyoncé?” asked another.

The annual Knot Real Weddings Study found that the cost of the average U.S. wedding will rise by $5,000 to a staggering $35,000 by 2023.

And no state was more expensive than New York, where the average wedding now costs $49,000.

“Location is typically the largest expense, accounting for about 37 percent of total costs,” said Esther Lee, the website’s deputy editor.

Sixty guests put themselves to the test, paying for the experience, which included a 12-hour double-decker bus tour of New York City and a deluxe steak and lobster dinner.

The couple has saved a whopping $70,000, which they plan to use to start a family

Styles’ unusual approach allowed them to secure their dream venue and pack enough guests to fill their bus for a spectacular journey through New York City.

What’s more, they saved a whopping $70,000, which they plan to use to start a family.

The couple tied the knot in June 2023, but news of how they financed the occasion spread back in May of this year when the couple posted their wedding videos on TikTok with the caption, “Did we really sell tickets to our wedding!?”

Many were quick to react and thought the bride and groom had already eaten their wedding cake.

‘What a joke!’ wrote one. ‘These people are cheap! They want the bling but are too cheap to pay for it. They expect their friends to pay for their wedding!

“I would break off my friendship with anyone who tried this!”

“Only 60 guests out of 350,” wrote another. “That says a lot. I would be extremely offended if I had to spend $333 per guest. If you can’t afford it, don’t do it.”

‘I definitely wouldn’t pay to go to a wedding because I’m already paying for it; gas, time to get ready, a gift. That’s money/time I can spend elsewhere,’ added a third.

“That’s probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” wrote another. “I imagine a lot of guests would say no.”

“I said, ‘People choose to go to a Beyoncé concert because they know they’re going to have an experience,'” Nova told ABC7

However, some were impressed by the innovative idea, given the rising costs of weddings.

‘This wedding was EPIC!’, one person wrote. ‘The love, care, attention and creativity that went into planning this is incredible!’

“You really cared about making this an unforgettable, memorable experience! Well done!”

“That’s actually pretty clever,” wrote another. “Those who mattered didn’t mind paying to celebrate.”