So you are begging for your wedding?? How sad. Go to the courthouse if you really love someone. Yuck, begging from strangers? Nice.

Wow. We have had over 1,700 hits in 2 days. I want to thank everyone that has given us feedback both positive and negative. We understand that this is untraditional and many people may not like our idea. We appreciate your "kind" words of encouragement.

Now to address all the negative comments. We are not planning on having a lavish wedding. If you read the article you would realize the wedding is in the middle of the day and the budget is only $2,000. We are business owners and we understand that advertising and promotions are the key to branding your business. Every sponsor that has come aboard has shared in our excitment and understand the idea. In 2007 Star Jones,a celebrity, received invitations, tuxedos, bridesmaid gowns and airline flights in exchange for public mention on the View. Was she wrong for bartering for these services? Or is it better to have a wedding you cannot afford and create registries of $500 pots and pans, $1,000 worth of china, $300 worth of towels and picture frames that you never use and could not afford in the first place? The Wedding Industry grows more and more each year. We read magazines and planning guides that tell us we need save the date cards, gifts for our out of town guest, plated dinners of $45 per person or more, china and a ring that is 3 times the grooms paycheck. That is ridiculous. Weddings are about the bride and groom. It is a public celebration of their love joined by their family and friends. Again, thank you for your comments and we look forward to our big day!!!

Given that both of you were married before, it seems to me that a courthouse wedding with a small reception with family and close friends in the evening would have been the way to go. If I were a guest, i would be uncomfortable with this arrangement. But if you and your guests are ok with it, oh well. Congrats.

Vanessa,

Stay encouraged. Not everyone will like your untraditional idea. I learned this when it comes to my jewelry...not everyone is going to like it and yes some people have told me in a less than tackful way. To each his on I say. If I listened to the naysayers, I wouldn't have the thriving lines of jewelry that I have today. Besides, those that don't have anything good to say should learn not to say anything at all.

You are a very unique & creative individual. Stay focused on that instead of conforming to the norm. Much success to your idea. I even suggest that you launch it so others can use it. Ahhh, yet another business venture!

Can't wait until the big day. Oh! Please send me a pic of the final dress. I have to get started on that jewelry!

Remember.... You are to blessed to be stressed!

Well, we all know how the saying goes...opinions are like asses, we all have one. On a another note, thinking outside of the box is what makes this idea great! I'm totally supportive and onboard for this, because now that the "world" is watching this blog, and it gives the underdogs a chance to break into this caste system of only doing business with the a-listers and so on. What makes this project special is that it becomes a win-win for everyone involved and not just a me-me, suck-you-till-you're-dry business idea. Because the media has created a fuss, instead of capturing the whole project and it's intent, the evilness has found a way to show up and show out. I can't wait to style you and make you into the bride that you deserve to be!

Vanessa and Cole you are a awesome couple and we want to thank you for giving us an opportunity to showcase our business to your guest and now readers of this fabulous website. As you have stated advertising is the key to branding your business and we can't think of a better way than showing off our talents at work. Peachy Treats is a PROUD sponsor of www.dollarforawedding.com!

Heather

"Hey! I have an idea! There are tons of stupid people on the internet who will throw their money at us! Look at those fools on E-Bay!"

I can hear the conversation going between you two as you came up with what you figured was an elaborately great plan.

Shame on you both.

I'm sure you both want a nice wedding. Everyone does. But you cannot expect other people to pay for it. If you want a nice wedding then you need to save up your money and get it for yourself.

Just like everyone else has to do.

Sure, get some help from family and close friends if you wish. There is no shame in that part. But this website is a joke.

Who exactly do you think you are?

Who exactly do you expect to care about your wedding? Certainly not me, dears. Certainly not me.

You're business owners? You must be really terrible business owners, then. Not to sound offensive or anything, but you can't come up with the money for your own wedding? Are you that poor?

Or, would you rather just not have to bother spending the money and still have the nice wedding? You say all you ask for is $2000. Well two grand is quite a bit to most of us. Especially when I look at people like my own parents who got married on $20 in front of a justice of the peace and have been together for 30 years now.

Shame on you again.

Of course I wish you both the best of luck, but this ploy is pathetic. Maybe you will reel in some poor and unsuspecting fool, but I find it all rather laughable.

Brand this as a 'negative comment', don't allow it to be posted. Whatever. That is not my intent. My intent is to tell you both that this is absurd.

Get a life.

Save your money.

Pay for your own stuff.

Is that too much to ask these days? I guess it is.

What a wonderful idea! Wish we had thought of it when our daughter got married two years ago. Instead they received alot of crystal; china; picture frames etc. that they couldn't use. We're plain old country folks who live the farming life and that just wasn't the kind of stuff they needed. They did register at WalMart and Target but people didn't use the registries. Instead bought things for them they couldn't use.

I would much rather send my $25 gift or whatever....and have a couple be able to use it to help pay for their wedding rather then to give them something that gets stuck up in a closet or "regifted". And I think it would be a great feeling to be a guest and know that I helped my friends make their day a little more special. Tis much better to give than to receive!

Kudos to both of you!! Ignore the naysayers and move forward. I feel certain all your goals will be met!

Praying God's blessing on your marriage and sending congratulations.....

You should be embarrassed. "Invest in our celebration"? Why don't you just say it how it is... "We are two very cheap and shameless people and we want others to pay for our wedding." This is a perfect example of the handout epidemic that is sweeping America.

I think this is a good idea. It is no different than the Mexican tradition of having "padrinos" (sponsors) for a wedding.

Great Idea! Innovative, Creative and Untraditional! Nothing wrong with it at all... I'd be happy to make a monetary donation to a friend/family memebers wedding, instead of purchasing an expensive gift, that will not be used, end up being returned, or re-gifted...

To EndlessNameless... Please stay that way... endless and nameless! How cowardly of you to not put your name and stand behind what it was you were saying in your post. Your post was everything you said it wasn't suppose to be. If you and anyone else don't like Vanessa's idea then say it and move on without constantly trying to put Vanessa, Cole and their idea down. Get a life.

Good for you! If people want to give, great. If others don't, that's great too.

It's YOUR WEDDING, YOUR LIFE--so you choose to do what you want to do.

I probably wouldn't have chosen to do the same (even if I was creative enough to come up with the idea) but guess what. That was MY WEDDING, and MY LIFE, so I got to choose!!! What a novel idea!!!

To those who are absolutely appalled, settle down, seriously. They aren't hurting one single person. Find something else over which to get your panties in a wad.

Forget all the negative comments. I think it's a great idea and I don't see it as begging! I bet anyone who is close to you all, who are friends and family, wouldn't mind contributing! They are probably happy to do it! And, I don't see you forcing people to contribute. They most likely would buy you a gift anyways and I think it's great to have people contribute to your happy day! Congrats you too! You make a beautiful couple!

Time are hard and its not like this couple is asking for a 20K wedding. So instead of going out registering and asking for expensive gifts they are asking for their wedding instead.. GREAT IDEA.... When I got married .. YEs we did pay for our wedding but for presents we did ask for gift cards and money for our honeymoon... Its not like they r homeless bums people.. I wish you guys nothing but complete happiness... And good for the sponosrs helping out this lovely couple... Hope all goes well for everyone involved

I really feel like this is a great idea... Congratulations on putting a brand new idea out there... Me and my husband got married from the courts but hey we didn't have the money to do anything lavish!!! But I commend you on your creativity... Who would have thought!!! LOL... Good luck... Yall are awesome!!!

I got married in May of this year (my second marriage, his first). We already had a household full of stuff, so we didn't really need anything to "get started". We asked that if our guests wished to give us a gift, we preferred cash. While I know this may seem tacky to some, it did not to me. Guest are usually going to give a gift - why not give something that the couple actually needs? And, giving money is so much easier than having to go out to purchase a gift, wrap it, and haul it to the wedding!

Just read your article on yahoo....Bravo!!!!
I am a divorced farther of 2 and would like to get married again. Your idea is both excellent and innovative. How many coffee maker,TV remote hairdryers can one couple need anyway. You have merged two households, put what you don't need on a website that gives it away for free and enjoy your life together. your happiness is all that matters and those who would or gotten you a gift wont care and those who wouldn't don't have to give. besides you never asked anyone to come to your site that you don't know and those who did tough.
Enjoy you special day it sounds like it will be amazing!!!!!

dear endlessandnameless honey did not read the website, it is set up for family and friends. i did not read where they ask me personally for money? if i was a friend or family i would give in a heartbeat hey to not have to shop for a gift that you may or maynot like or need heck ya i would rather click a button and post you my $35.00 bucks. so to everyone that is saying they are shamed yucky weird tackey and what ever get a life, they are not asking for your money so dont worry about it. (unless your a friend or family member) then worry on and speak your mind..lol have a great wediing regaurdless..

Hmmmm, I'm not sure what to think of this. On the one hand I think it's fine if friends and family want to help you pay for your wedding. I guess I'm old fashioned. The way I was raised you didn't talk about how much you paid for something and you didn't beg strangers to pay for things for you. If you didn't have the money you either saved for what you wanted or you did without or scaled back.

I know you said that you aren't asking people to send money, or forcing them to donate. However the mere fact that the website has been opened up publicly is in essence begging others to contribute. You could have kept it private for your family and friends, yet you chose not to do so.

I think the thing that bothers me is that it seems you might not be holding true to the original plan for your wedding. I heard you talking on the radio today about still needing a limo and a baker. Was a limo in your original wedding budget? Or have the wants grown as the donations and sponsors have grown?

To me a wedding is about the person I'm marrying and my love for him, not about how we get to the ceremony or where it's held.

I hope you both remember what is the important part of the wedding. And I wish you well, I'm thinking you might just need all the luck you can get.

In response to EndlessNameless and many others. For you to say these two people are terrible business owners is just the opposite. I applaud them in today's difficult economic times in coming up with a way of raising money for whatever cause they want. Whether it be a wedding, help with paying bills or even a family vacation, kudos to these two BRILLIANT business owners. People do not have to donate, but they are brilliant for coming up with this idea? Why do I consider them brilliant? Because look at all of the media attention they are receiving, including your comments. It's difficult enough to own a business and keep it open during today's times, let alone successful. I wish this very intelligent couple the best of luck and I hope they raise over $10k with their creativity. I am a small business owner and I know how difficult it is to succeed. I've never heard of any business in my area (Akron/Canton/Cleveland Ohio) making national news with their creativity.
Best wishes,
www.akroncantonpetsitting.com