Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, married for three decades, are urging couples to reconsider large, expensive weddings in favor of more cost-effective micro-ceremonies. The couple, who eloped to Las Vegas in 1996 for under $200, believe that 2026 will usher in a trend of "cost-effective weddings" with smaller ceremonies and larger parties.
"Tiny. A quirky cake. No big ceremony. Candles over flowers. Cost-effectiveness. This is the year of the cost-effective wedding," Ripa stated in a prerecorded segment. She noted that buffets are returning to wedding venues for financial reasons, and brides are increasingly opting for secondhand dresses. The trend also includes a move towards a single, significant ring rather than separate engagement and wedding bands.
Ripa and Consuelos' own wedding experience has informed their advice. Their $179 elopement, which included airfare, has been a point of fond reflection for the couple. Ripa recently expressed a minor regret: not purchasing flowers for the occasion, as she feels certain photographs of her hands appear awkward without them.
Consuelos echoed Ripa's sentiment, questioning the financial sense of extravagant wedding spending on parties, flowers, and rings. He recalled that the idea of a large wedding "never made sense" to him, leading to their decision to elope.
Forbes has predicted that a potential wedding between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce could lead to a significant increase in global wedding spending, potentially reaching $2.2 billion over two years, a phenomenon dubbed the 'Swiftification of Weddings.' This forecast, discussed on panels like "The Five," highlights the broader cultural and economic discussions surrounding modern weddings, including marriage, prenuptial agreements, and overall costs. Ripa suggested that the money saved on large weddings could instead be invested in a down payment on a house or other financial security measures.