Wedding Tickets: French Startup Sells Invitations to Strangers

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A new French startup, Invitin, lets couples partially cover wedding costs by selling tickets to strangers. The first users were actress Jennifer and her fiancé Paulo, who are tying the knot in late August at a countryside estate east of Paris, reports The Guardian.

For the couple, the presence of unfamiliar guests was a creative way to diversify the celebration. Along with 80 friends, relatives, and 15 children from France, England, Germany, and Portugal, five guests will attend via the app. These include single men and a couple approved by the bride and groom after reviewing their profiles. The entry fee: €150 per person.

Paid guests get full access to the wedding day — from vows in the garden and cocktails with live music on the lawn, to dinner and dancing. Evening options include fish or vegetarian dishes — no meat, since the bride is vegetarian. Dress code: "chic and elegant."

Jennifer says the initiative also served a social purpose: many of her friends are single, and male guests help balance the gender ratio. The couple met during the pandemic on a dating app and are now raising their 18-month-old son.

One guest, 29-year-old Lauren, a toy maker from a Paris suburb, says she and her husband bought tickets to enjoy a real wedding atmosphere. With a small family herself, she appreciated the chance to experience someone else’s traditions:
"We’re taking it seriously — we’ll dress up and bring a gift. Everyone’s in a good mood, it’s a rare and joyful experience."

A Business Born from a Child’s Question

The idea for Invitin came from former model Katia Lekarski, inspired when her five-year-old daughter asked why they were never invited to weddings. She also looked to India’s Join My Wedding, which offers tourists access to traditional ceremonies as cultural experiences.

"Why not add weddings to the list of apps where people meet for dinners, tours, or dates?" says Lekarski. "It’s just another form of connection." Invitin takes a commission on each purchase, with ticket prices ranging from €100–€150, and higher for premium venues.

Guests must follow strict rules: dress code, punctuality, moderate drinking, and no photos without consent.

The project is still in its early stages: so far, six couples — mostly from Île-de-France — have agreed to participate. Most interested users are between 25–35, though one application came from an elderly couple. Typically, 5–10 spots are sold per wedding, and newlyweds aren’t required to interact with strangers.
"Weddings have a natural social flow; guests find people to talk to," says Lekarski.

Global Wedding Experiments

Similar concepts exist in other countries. In the U.S., entrepreneurs Marley Jaxx and Steve Larsen hosted a paid-entry wedding with ticket tiers from $57 to $997. The ceremony took place at Honeysuckle Farm in Idaho, and proceeds went to charity. Basic tickets gave access to the main event, while VIP packages included a rehearsal dinner, premium seating, and a Sunday “recovery brunch.”
They sold about 130 tickets, and donated $132,550 to Village Impact, which supports schools in Kenya.

In Sydney, wedding planners Adam Sini and Dane Tucker launched ShotGin Weddings — a one-day, six-wedding event inside a craft gin distillery. Couples choose a time slot and celebrate among copper stills, with pro photography and cocktail hour — all in a minimalistic, industrial setting that saves tens of thousands of dollars.

In another American twist, Hellmann’s mayonnaise sponsored an entire wedding in exchange for product placement. The celebration included branded photo zones, a figure skater in a mayo costume, and even a mayonnaise-based cake.

Wellness Weddings and Viral Trends

Couples are also turning to wellness-themed weddings — alcohol-free weekends with plant-based meals, matcha bars, and nature rituals. In Italy, three-day villa ceremonies with yoga, saunas, and holistic experiences are trending. Organizers say the lack of alcohol doesn’t reduce joy but increases inclusivity.

And some weddings go viral by accident. At one U.S. ceremony, rapper Kash Doll made headlines by throwing $20,000 in cash over the bride and groom. Though the money was returned, the spectacle grabbed attention and wasn’t even pre-planned.