This couple sold 'entrance tickets' to their wedding guests, but they raised P7 million for a good cause
We've all heard about unique wedding requests and "bridezilla" demands, but this couple's is one for the books—and it's all for a good cause.
Meet Marley and Steve Larsen, an entrepreneurial American couple and podcasters. Instead of gifts, they encouraged their guests to "buy tickets" to their wedding. It was a success—they were able to raise more than $130,000, or over P7.4 million, for charity.
Fed up with exorbitant wedding costs, including a $650 cake-cutting fee, they turned to social media and were flooded with similar "wedding markup horror stories" from other couples. When they jokingly suggested that couples should just sell tickets to their weddings, the response was a resounding 'yes.'
"For us, it was never about making money. We weren't asking for gifts; we just said, 'Cover your meal, come party with us.' It made the experience collaborative instead of transactional," the couple told PhilSTAR L!fe.
They hoped that by inviting people to contribute, they would not only create a meaningful experience for them but also inspire other couples to find similar ways to fund their own shared goals—be it a honeymoon, a new home, or a cause as meaningful as theirs.
'A perfect storm of love, generosity, faith, and community'
A basic ticket to their wedding at Honalee Farm in Eagle, Idaho costs $57 (or P3,253), and it included the full wedding day experience: the ceremony, dinner, dancing, and live entertainment, featuring performances by viral trombonist Jonathan Arons, world-class DJs, and musicians like Team Ragoza, featuring three-time DMC champion Brandon Ragoza and a top guitarist from Cirque du Soleil, Desiree Ragoza.
They also received cake from Michelle Sohan, smoked salted caramel ice cream from Stella's Ice Cream, and cookies from Mama's Secrets.
An "upgraded" ticket, which costs $997 for two, includes access to the rehearsal dinner and The BioCharger, PEMF mats, red light therapy, brain optimization gear, and breathwork sessions.
Additional perks for VIP guests include priority reserved seating and a spotlight on their brand profile in the wedding programs.
Communicating this unique request wasn't easy. While close friends and family received traditional invitations, the couple sold tickets to a wider circle of friends and online supporters.
The couple noted that there was "no sense of obligation" from the guests, which created a "completely different" energy at the wedding: A venue filled with people who were excited to celebrate with them for a good cause.
The couple initially gained $96,200 (P5,487,969) through their "silent" auction, swag sales during the wedding. Some of the guests even volunteered to fund the entire classroom and committed on the spot to join them in Kenya.
When they posted about it on Facebook, they closed it at $100,000 (P5,706,199). And by the end of the weekend, they had raised $132,550 or more than P7.5 million.
"It was overwhelming in the best way. A perfect storm of love, generosity, faith, and community," the couple told L!fe.
Wedding for a cause
Instead of using the ticket sales for themselves, the couple decided to donate the money to Village Impact, a charity they have a personal connection to. The non-profit empowers Kenyan youth through education, which resonated with Marley after her battle with cervical cancer in 2022. This experience deepened her passion for Village Impact's mission to fight period poverty by providing clean water and menstrual products to girls.
She said: "I first heard about Village Impact back in 2019, and I remember instantly being drawn to their mission. But it wasn't until 2023 that [Steve] and I actually traveled to Kenya with them to help build a school, and that trip changed everything."
"We saw firsthand how sustainable and community-led their model is. They don't just drop in and build structures; they co-create with the local people, so the schools are owned, run, and sustained by the community. That level of integrity really stayed with us," she added.
According to them, they will return to Kenya in 2026 to help build the school they funded alongside a group of wedding guests who volunteered.
"So every ticket sold, every donation, every moment… it all added up to something way bigger than just a wedding," Marley said.
A wedding that 'brings the right people together'
While some online critics and even one friend challenged their idea, seeing it as "turning something sacred into a circus," the couple stood by their decision.
"If I believed in this idea, I had to be willing to stand behind it. And honestly, the conversation was amazing. It turned out thoughtful and respectful. And in the comments, like 90% of people were supportive. Some even said, 'I wish I did this at my wedding,' or 'I'd absolutely buy a ticket to something like this," Marley said.
Ultimately, for other couples planning their own weddings, Marley and Steve emphasized that while weddings are sacred, any decisions that deal with it must not come "out of obligations" in terms of outfit, guest list, location, theme, and dinner menu.
"Weddings are sacred. But too often, they turn into performances. You end up hosting a party for everyone else while quietly resenting how much it costs you financially, emotionally, energetically."
"If the decision isn't coming from love, excitement, or intentionality, don't make it," the couple concluded.
Marley said that "there’s no such thing as a 'perfect' wedding," instead it's "one that reflects you and brings the right people together and honors your values and vision." (with reports from Camille Santiago)
