Danny Cipriani, 38, and his fiancée AnnaLynne McCord, 39, are facing backlash after setting up a Honeyfund asking wedding guests to contribute towards their nuptials. The former English rugby union player and the American actress have itemised expenses ranging from their marriage licence to photography, flowers, and the wedding cake, with suggested donations between £75 and £450. The total requested, excluding cash gifts, amounts to £10,660.
Public reaction and wedding industry trends
The internet has widely criticised the couple for what many perceive as an entitled cash grab. However, some argue that this behaviour is a natural extension of the modern wedding industry, which pressures couples to host increasingly lavish events. The average UK wedding now costs over £20,000, with London weddings even pricier. According to Bridebook's latest wedding report, couples spend an average of £278 per guest before outfits and accommodation.
One anonymous source told Metro: 'It's getting to the point where I have to tell people I really care about that I just can't afford it. Between traveling for Hen dos and destination weddings, this summer alone I've spent around £5,000 attending weddings.'
Guest financial strain
Sam from Dorset said he has had to decline several wedding invitations due to financial strain and would not attend a wedding where he was asked to help fund it. 'It already costs so much to attend a wedding, between transport, outfits, wedding gifts, and babysitters it's already an expensive night out if the wedding is in our city. If it's further away and requires paying for accommodation, that's just not possible for us right now.'
Cipriani and McCord's request feels tone-deaf because there is a difference between suggesting a contribution towards a honeymoon in lieu of a gift and itemising the wedding invoice for guests to pay off. The couple began dating after Cipriani split from his wife, Victoria Rose O'Callaghan, in November 2023.
Modern wedding culture
Critics argue that modern wedding culture normalises such behaviour, with couples under pressure to stage a day worthy of social media while guests bankroll increasing portions of it. If the couple cannot afford the wedding they want, a simpler solution is to scale back to fit their budget, just as most people do with other major purchases.
