Full Breakdown
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Counsel Couples to Skip Extravagant Weddings
8/21/2026, 10:42:33 PM
Core Advice: Embrace Micro, Cost-Effective Ceremonies
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, celebrating three decades of marriage, have urged prospective brides and grooms to forgo large weddings in favor of smaller, budget-friendly gatherings. They describe the current climate as favoring “tiny” celebrations with “a quirky cake,” candles instead of floral arrangements, and a focus on cost-effectiveness rather than elaborate ceremonies.
Background: Their Own 1996 Las Vegas Elopement
The couple’s personal experience informs their counsel. In May 1996, Ripa and Consuelos eloped in Las Vegas, spending under $200 on the entire event. Ripa recalled that the wedding cost $179, including airfare, a figure she highlighted while reflecting on the simplicity of their own vows.
Data & Statistics: Numbers Behind the Recommendation
- Wedding cost: $179 total (Ripa’s statement).
- Trend year: 2026, identified by Ripa as the “year of the cost-effective wedding.”
These figures illustrate the stark contrast between their modest expenditure and the multi-thousand-dollar budgets typical of many contemporary ceremonies.
Official Statements & Responses
Ripa framed her perspective during a prerecorded segment that aired on a Thursday episode of *Live with Kelly and Mark*. Consuelos echoed this sentiment, noting that the money spent on “flowers, rings, dresses” “just doesn’t make sense” and that their own elopement “never made sense” to them as a larger affair.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Weddings are having a micro trend in 2026,” — Kelly Ripa
- “Tiny. A quirky cake. No big ceremony. Candles over flowers. Cost-effectiveness. This is the year of the cost-effective wedding. Ceremonies are out, parties are in,” — Kelly Ripa
These remarks capture the duo’s central message: modern couples can celebrate love without the financial strain of traditional, large-scale weddings.
