Cash-Strapped Millennials Are Crowdfunding Their Weddings

Asking a stranger to pay for your wedding might sound a little out there, but crowdfunded weddings are actually a rising trend among cash-strapped millennials. Using sites like GoFundMe, Indiegogo, Crowdtilt and Kickstarter, couples are asking friends, family members, and strangers on the Internet to help fund their big-day dreams. It's certainly an unusual way to pay for your wedding, and it can come off as both genuine and uncouth depending on your approach. Here are the pros and cons of the crowdfunded wedding.

Photo by Jeremy Wong on Unsplash In Defense of Crowdfunding... - The idea that a wedding is a party you throw for your guests -- as opposed to a community affair where many people help or participate in some way -- is a relatively modern concept. Community-centric weddings (think: a potluck wedding or a barn raising) have been around for years. So while inviting people to contribute might seem distasteful to some, it might be totally fine within your community. - If your families don't approve of your marriage and refuse to help you out financially, you need to fly to another state where your marriage will be legal, or you lost your job in the middle of wedding planning and can't afford to pay for the rest of your fete, crowdfunding websites can help you let friends know about your situation and show their support by contributing to the cost of your wedding. - Crowdfunding websites offer the opportunity to ask guests to give a contribution toward the cost of your wedding in lieu of a gift. It's more elegant -- and simpler -- than asking for cash on your wedding website. Photo by Zivile& Arunas on Unsplash The Problems with Crowdfunding... - No one is entitled to a big wedding, so asking people to help pay for anything more than a marriage license and a cab to City Hall is likely to irritate most guests. Why not cut your budget instead of asking your friends to foot the bill? - There are less icky ways to ask people to help with your celebration. You could ask a friend who's good with a camera to take your photos, or ask your pals to help bake your cake in lieu of buying new bridesmaids dresses. Many people are more comfortable giving time than money. - It's still considered uncouth to ask for cash. According to etiquette expert Lizzie Post of The Emily Post Institute, "many a wedding has been thrown by a bunch of people pooling together resources." But, she adds, "I'm not yet convinced that the general population is ready to receive a link about crowdfunding a wedding they are invited to." - Crowdfunding websites skim off a percentage of the money you raise, so, unlike receiving a check in a wedding card, you'll lose a small amount (from 2 percent up) of your funds. - Giving a wedding gift is not a requirement, so asking your guests to help pay for the wedding can become touchy if they're not able -- or don't want! -- to give a present. You're sure to find yourself having some majorly awkward conversations if you crowdfund your wedding. - Asking for cash in lieu of a gift can make it feel like you're charging admission to your wedding. If that's your only option, you could have a small, intimate ceremony and then invite guests to a restaurant to celebrate with you afterward, letting them know that you won't be able to pick up the tab. ("It'll be $25 per person so we completely understand if you can't be there!")

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