wedding – Topical Fruit

“I Now Pronounce You Man and Wife”… Brought to You by Doritos

If you’ve ever looked at your wedding budget and thought, “There’s no way I can afford this… unless Pepsi steps in,” you’re not alone.

A new survey found that 61% of Americans would totally consider a brand-sponsored wedding… as long as the brand covered at least half the cost. So if Target wants to drop 20 grand on your big day, congratulations, you’re now Mr. and Mrs. Red Dot.

Only about one-third of people say they’d refuse to “sell out” their wedding completely, which means the rest of us are fine with a little corporate romance if it means saving cash.

And if a company covers everything? People are apparently ready to get weird.

Over half of respondents said they’d be cool with things like brand-themed cocktails or slapping logos on reception tables, signage, church banners, and invites. More than half would even let the brand hand out free samples to guests. (Nothing says love like a goodie bag of energy drinks and protein bars.)

It gets wilder: one-third of people said they’d let a brand mascot attend the wedding, and one in five would let that mascot (or a company rep, like Flo from Progressive) officiate. Imagine walking down the aisle while the Kool-Aid Man says, “Ohhh yeahhh, you may now kiss the bride.”

Nearly one in five would even name-drop the sponsor in their vows. (“I promise to love you, cherish you, and never forget that this moment was made possible by Subway. Eat Fresh.”)

And yes, 17% of people said they’d sew a logo right on the wedding dress. NASCAR, but make it nuptial.

At this rate, weddings of the future might look less like fairy tales and more like Super Bowl halftime shows… and honestly, that might be the only way anyone can still afford one.

The Stars Came Out for Selena Gomez’s Wedding

Selena Gomez is officially a married woman. The pop star and actress tied the knot with music producer Benny Blanco on Saturday in Santa Barbara, at a spot called Sea Crest Nursery, and the wedding already has fans buzzing online.

The couple didn’t waste time sharing the big moment. Benny posted that he married “a real-life Disney princess,” while Selena dropped photos and videos showing off the celebration.

And yes, the guest list was as A-list as it gets. Taylor Swift was there, naturally, along with Selena’s Only Murders in the Building co-stars Martin Short and Steve Martin, plus Paul Rudd. Zoe Saldana, Ed Sheeran, SZA, Camila Cabello, Cara Delevingne, Paris Hilton, Eric Andre, Finneas, and even members of her old Wizards of Waverly Place family joined the festivities.

According to reports, Sheeran and Swift gave heartfelt speeches during the reception, while Short and Martin teamed up to deliver a joint toast at the rehearsal dinner.

One of the sweetest surprises was who walked Selena down the aisle. Instead of her dad Ricardo Gomez, she chose her grandfather, David Cornett. While some outlets hinted that her mom, Mandy Teefey, was upset about the decision, Mandy set the record straight on Instagram. She called it “heartwarming” to watch her dad give Selena away, shutting down any rumors of family drama.

Adding another twist, the couple reportedly hired the same wedding planner that Justin and Hailey Bieber used, a detail fans couldn’t help but point out given Selena’s history with Justin.

Selena and Benny’s love story has been a long time coming. They first met about a decade ago in the music world, but their relationship turned romantic more recently. They got engaged last December, and now they’ve made it official.

Wedding Trend: Credit Card Machines to Collect Gifts

If you’ve paid for a wedding lately, you know booze isn’t cheap. 57% of couples spring for an open bar, but the average cost of alcohol at a wedding is around $2,400.

So that might help explain this new trend: credit card machines at the bar.

One couple in the U.K. went all in, using card readers like the ones you see at restaurants to help pay for their honeymoon. They also had QR codes posted with the message: “Don’t be tight, pay for our flight!” Then they funneled the money into their honeymoon in Mexico. (So yes, you were technically buying them margaritas before they even left the country.)

They didn’t share how much they made, but they said their guests “absolutely loved it.” (Which might be true… after the third gin and tonic.)

To be fair, they did this instead of accepting wedding gifts. The couple had been together for 14 years, already had a home and appliances, and didn’t really need another air fryer. They just figured it’d be more fun, and more practical, to let people swipe for their shots instead of wrapping up a blender.

The credit card company said they’re hoping this catches on at other weddings. Because nothing says romance like tapping your AmEx while the DJ plays “Shout.”

And honestly, what’s next? Venmo requests from the bride during the bouquet toss? A QR code on the cake that says, “Chip in for the frosting?” Maybe the best man will pass around a contactless reader during his speech… like a church collection plate, but with more tequila shots.

You Can Reduce the Cost of Your Wedding… By Selling Tickets?

The average wedding now costs $33,000, which works out to about $284 per guest. That’s a lot of money to feed Aunt Carol, who will still complain that the chicken was “a little dry.” And it’s really hard to find ways to save a meaningful amount of money.

But now, there’s a new French app called Invitin that basically lets you sell tickets to your wedding.

Before you clutch your pearls, it’s not about charging your friends and family admission (although, let’s be honest, a few relatives would deserve it). This is for strangers… actual paying wedding crashers. You pick how many tickets to sell, price them anywhere from $100 to $200 (or more if your venue is fancy), and then let randos come eat your food, dance to your playlist, and cry during your vows like they’ve known you since kindergarten.

It’s not a total free-for-all, though.

Couples can “approve” ticket buyers after seeing their profiles first, and guests must follow a strict code: dress nice, show up on time, drink like an adult, and keep their phone in their pocket unless they have permission to post.

So, basically, they have to act better than some actual family members.

There are some obvious logistics to figure out. The wedding planner has to seat these people somewhere (maybe “Table 9: The Misfits”), and alert the photographer so you don’t end up with an album full of, “Wait, who’s that?”

Right now, Invitin is just a small French startup, but if it takes off, you can bet it’ll hit the U.S., or inspire something similar. Give it a couple years and you’ll be RSVPing “Yes” to a wedding you found on Eventbrite, showing up with a gift card, and telling the bride, “I loved your ceremony. By the way, what’s your name again?”

MrBeast, the Billionaire, Is Borrowing Money from His Mom to Pay for His Wedding

Some people are too proud to ask their parents for help—MrBeast is not one of them. The 27-year-old YouTube sensation, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, recently revealed that he’s borrowing money from his mom to pay for his upcoming wedding. Yes, the same MrBeast who’s reportedly worth $1 billion.

The surprising confession came in response to a social media post praising him as the only billionaire under 30 who didn’t inherit his fortune. MrBeast replied with his usual mix of transparency and dry humor:

“I personally have very little money because I reinvest everything (I think this year we’ll spend around a quarter of a billion on content).

Ironically I’m actually borrowing [money] from my mom to pay for my upcoming wedding lol. But sure, on paper the businesses I own are worth a lot.”

It’s a classic MrBeast moment—disarming honesty with a wink. While his personal bank account might not reflect it, the empire he’s built certainly does. Between his viral YouTube videos, Feastables snack line, Beast Burger brand, and philanthropy-fueled content machine, he’s turned giving things away into a billion-dollar business model.

But that model also means funneling most of the profits right back into production.

According to Donaldson, his team will spend roughly $250 million on content this year alone—a staggering number that puts him in the realm of small studios and streaming services. That reinvestment-first strategy might make him cash-light in the moment, but it’s also what’s propelled him to the top of the creator economy.

Still, the idea of a billionaire borrowing from his mom to cover wedding expenses is odd—and people online are perplexed.

Some fans are applauding his humility, while others are marveling at just how expensive content (and weddings) have become. But a lot of people think he’s just using his mom as a tax haven, so people can’t sue him.

Whether he’s dead serious or exaggerating for effect, the message is clear: MrBeast isn’t hoarding wealth—he’s putting it to work. But when it comes to walking down the aisle, even the most successful internet mogul might still lean on Mom.