Can't Afford Dream Wedding? Get a Sponsor

July 11, 2006 — -- Some enterprising couples have invited more than close friends and relatives to their weddings -- they've also welcomed corporate sponsors.

"We came up with a way to have our dream wedding and not spend $100,000, like it would have cost," said Dave Kerpen.

He and his wife traded vows at home plate at KeySpan Park in Brooklyn, N.Y., in front of 7,000 baseball fans, including 500 of their own guests. The price: $20,000.

They each work in sales and found sponsors who provided the dress, rings and flowers in exchange for the opportunity to advertise at their affair.

"It was attractive due to the fact that there were 7,000 people there," said Jennifer Caccavo of 800Flowers.com.

To secure the location, they contacted the stadium manager. Kerpen said when they asked if they could turn the entire game into a promotion, "he loved it."

"He said, 'We should do bobbleheads,'" said Kerpen.

From Star Jones to the World

The idea of sponsoring a wedding may have your head spinning, but it's growing in popularity.

The practice was first championed by controversial TV host Star Jones, and now couples across the country are bartering their big day.

One Akron, Ohio, bride told us she bartered her gown and received the dress she had desired since she was "a little girl."

She had invitations sponsored by the Paper Mill of Akron, after a lengthy search. "Probably in a two-month period I spent six to eight hours on the phone every day Monday through Friday," said bride Christina Crosier.

By the time she walked down the aisle, her $30,000 wedding carried a price tag of $5,000.

She and other brides and grooms may tell you this was their way of affording the wedding of their dreams, but etiquette experts argue a blessed event is being turned into a business deal.

"You should either cut your guest list and have a smaller wedding or have it be something that is very low key and relaxed," said Carley Roney, editor in chief of TheKnot.com. "Have hamburgers and hot dogs before you have a sponsored wedding."

The Kerpens say that idea is fine -- it's just not for them. They wanted to keep all of their cousins on the guest list, and allow them to bring dates to the party.