Unbelievable. But I guess if you're stupid enough to give a random girl "donations", then good for you (and her). I can't believe this girl doesn't even have ads on her blog. Doesn't she realize that with some blogging sites you can include ads and actually make money when people just look at your page?

Baffling! I almost want a "both" button. I mean, if people are ridiculous enough to actually give her the money she's brilliant! She's shameless, but it is free money!

Whatever happened to "if I can't have a huge wedding I'll have a small one"? To show the people you love your commitment to your partner you don't need to spend a huge amount of cash. Living way over our means is what get us in credit card debt and the like. Ridiculous.

That's so tacky.

I think it's a great idea! Famous people get "donations" all the time. Clothing, shoes, services (and they happen to be able to afford it)...why not a layperson? Kudos to her!

If I were her fiancé, I'd be getting the message that if she doesn't get enough $$, she might not want to marry me (hence the lack of planning). Why not make a budget or wait till they can afford it themselves? Tacky.

i think it smacks of entitlement, but if people are willing to actually send her money, then that's their choice.

i would be more inclined to say "brilliant" if she were financially struggling to have any kind of wedding, and not just fixated on having a dream wedding with her "every indulgence." i can't have my every wish at my wedding, but prioritizing and adjusting your expectations is part of being an adult. so while i think she should grow up, no one's forcing anyone to donate.

I agree with Calimie. If you are not able to save for some lavish event, perhaps it is a good opportunity to rethink what is really important to you about the wedding. Is it all for the party and pretty flowers, or is it because you want your friends and family to share in the commitment you are making to your significant other? Because fancy favors and whatever else constitutes your "every indulgence" isn't really as important in the long run.

I guess if people are willing to donate money to this woman, that's their prerogative. It reminds me a lot of the guy who raised $10,000 a few years ago by saying he wouldn't eat the rabbit in his backyard unless he reached the donation goal.

I agree with everyone else. If you can't afford a big, lavish wedding don't have one.

That is so trashy, tacky, etc. I thought it was kind of neat how the guy paid for his college education through penny donations from strangers (a few years back), but paying for an overly indulgent wedding is ridiculous.

I don't like the sound of her blog. she writes, "I said I would make a list. I really will. Wedding research is just kind of boring. And does anyone agree that bridal magazines are a little useless? "

Uhhh if you're begging for money, shouldn't you know why and what you need the money on. I'm sorry, but many brides, actually love the planning stuff (esp. ones who want lavish weddings). If she hasn't planned anything, how does she know how much it will cost?!

Great Concept . . . however, when you start creating blogs and begging random people for money. It takes away from what a wedding/marriage should be and makes it into a circus. If you have no funds to have a big or small wedding you can ALWAYS go to City Hall.

I just came here after reading posts about the recent passing of babies Maddie and Thalon (children of 2 mommy bloggers). Hundreds (if not thousands) of generous blog readers have contributed money to the March of Dimes and their families for funeral arrangements. Currently they have raised about 26K for March of Dimes alone.

Seeing that kind of selfless generosity and then the greed of someone starting a website to raise money for their WEDDING is disgusting to me. Hopefully she'll never have any REAL problems to worry about (a death in the family, the loss of a job)...when she'll actually need every penny she can get.

This chick has balls of steel.

I love the talk in the FAQs about wanting to have the wedding she's imagined in her head, but she's having a hard time starting the planning process as a whole.

I cannot stand people with these holier than thou attitudes and not wanting to get married at the "City Dump" or where people go to get divorced or go to jail.

I'd like to know what her fiancee thinks about her begging for money on the internet.

wow... seriously? she's socially retarded. and she has way too much time on her hands. maybe she could use this time to get a second job and pay for her wedding HERSELF? i feel bad for this idiot she fooled into marrying her..

I agree -- she lacks dignity and character. Also, she's greedy -- wanting something she can't afford. The kicker is that there's someone who wants to marry this woman. What a fine choice of wife she is!

Not to sound arrogant, but it's no wonder married women like myself (and some of my friends) STILL get offers from men (which we promptly discourage). If this woman is any indication of what single, available women are like, it's slim pickings out there. Sorry, just my honest opinion.

I sincerely hope the people who donated money are friends or relatives. If they're random strangers, then I hope even more they're donating millions to charity. Real charity.

Well, it's a brilliant idea, but it's baffling as to why any strangers would donate money. I can see some friends and family throwing in a few bucks (though I wouldn't- is she gonna return the favor?), but if I'm donating my money to a stranger, it's going to be for a good cause- not cause she can't afford a pretty cake.

I don't understand this. For it to be a brilliant concept, she would involve those donating in the planning - obviously come up with a budget, but also let people vote on colors, themes, food, etc. How she's doing it now is just silly. Beyond that, I have all sorts of negative personal feelings about people who throw lavish ceremonies they can't afford. Or lavish ceremonies in general. When I get married, the smaller the better - either elopement, or if we invite people, only those who have been a part of our relationship growth and lives.

wow, im surprised that she has received donations for this! i mean, seriously, do a destination wedding or a small affair if you cant afford it! and i would expect the people that donated to like, get invited or at least have some say in the plans!

Ridiculous. You can plan a simple wedding for a reasonable amount of money that would be easy to save up yourself.

Tacky and completely inappropriate. A big, fancy, lavish wedding is NOT a privilege; it's a luxury. If you want to get married and don't have a lot of money, go to the courthouse and get a license and get married by the JP. Seriously, people have a lot of cajones these days to just set up websites to ask people for money. Whatever happened to working hard and paying for things yourself?

*not a NEED (not a privilege). Sorry about that

This is basically the same thing as standing on a street corner with a cup.

I am appalled anyone would marry someone of such poor character.

I think it's pretty savvy, and while I think it's tacky to ask anyone other than family and friends to pitch in, I see it as a really good way to throw a great wedding.

Personally, I'd never do it. But that's more pride than anything. And that's not necessarily a good thing.

I'm planning on paying for my wedding myself, and while it is going to be an EXTREMELY small and inexpensive event (I am nowhere near like some of the bridezilla's out there), I still plan to make the most of my money, and throw one hell of a party.

Like I said, I think asking random strangers is tacky, but if it were going around friends and family only, I think it'd be kind of cool. Just not for me. I was raised to stand on my own.

One commenter, who supports the blog website, writes: "I think that all woman deserve a wedding."

Weddings are just as much about the men they're going to marry. It's rather disgusting for women to be so shortsighted and immature.

And, geez, wow, apparently my husband and I married in a "city dump". I guess we could have spent much of our savings to afford a $30k wedding, too. Damn, I'm so ashamed for marrying where people get divorce and go to jail. Not.

Gross. It seems like many people are having a hard enough time paying their bills, which is actually important.. and someone else wants donations for a wedding. A nice wedding is a want, not a need.

Geez people if you don't want to donate then DON'T...she's not "begging" for money. If you want to then do if not then don't. I love how people loveeeee to talk badly about others, always so quick to judge. I'm sure all of you are soooo perfect and donate alll of your extra income to Charities. I bet you NEVER drink that unnecessary starbucks or go to the movies! You are ALL saints aren't you?!

I think its a great and creative idea especially in light of this economy. I'm lucky my fiance and I are able to afford our dream wedding. I think every girl does so thats why I donated money and have sent to all my bridesmaids to donate to as well!

Geez people if you don't want to donate then DON'T...she's not "begging" for money. If you want to then do if not then don't. I love how people loveeeee to talk badly about others, always so quick to judge. I'm sure all of you are soooo perfect and donate alll of your extra income to Charities. I bet you NEVER drink that unnecessary starbucks or go to the movies! You are ALL saints aren't you?!

I think its a great and creative idea especially in light of this economy. I'm lucky my fiance and I are able to afford our dream wedding. I think every girl does so thats why I donated money and have sent to all my bridesmaids to donate to as well!

"I bet you NEVER drink that unnecessary starbucks or go to the movies! You are ALL saints aren't you?!"

What does drinking starbucks have to do with anything?

And why are you chastising us for having opinions that are different than yours?

For the record, this is the exact same concept as standing on the street corner with a cup.

I challenge you to explain to me how it's different.

The people on the street are just asking for donations, right?

A little of both for sure.

I bring up those things because people keep saying that people should donate to other things, this insinuating that they aren't already donating to charities as well. So for all on their soap boxes I am simply pointing out that I bet you dont give every last dime to charity of your income. And its TOTALLY different than standing on the street lol you DON'T have to go to her site duh, you can avoid it altogether. The person on the street is right in your face, she's not in your face you have to go to her to see her blog where she simply states donate or not!

You're right, it is totally different. Someone on the street might have a little dignity left.

The woman who built the website clearly does not.

Wow everyone is soooo catty on here and wicked judgemental.

Not digging the vibe at all. I don't know but I think its tacky to talk badly about people. Ever heard of if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all? You guys should really try that.

I think it is a little of both. i haven't gone to the website yet but how is it far to ask people to donate to your wedding and you don't have a budget. Planning is boring but soliciting donations and setting up a website to do it is soo much more entertaining?

Where are her priorities? First figure out what you can work with and move from there. You want roses but can only afford daisies; ask people to help with that, not just in general. Besides the time she spends maintaining her site could be used for bargain hunting.

Samantha, I'd be more inclined to listen to your sage advice if you hadn't just called us catty, tacky, and wickedly judgmental.

Pot, meet kettle.

This reminds me of that Save Karin thing some years back where she wanted people to help her get out of debt.

I feel like there's got to be something she can offer in return for donations... but that's just me.

http://helpmakecents.blogspot.com

Hi Kettle, nice to meet you

what I find funny is the fact that people get their panties in a bunch over this chick. to each her own!

A girl want to get married, and she dosn't have a lot of money. So good for her, at least she is trying to raise it. Even if she dosn't have the skills to create a budget, or update the information....at least she is trying to do something for herself.
people are way too cynical. What I find sick is the style of this article...
"According to the Help Me Pay For My Wedding! website, the engaged girl is a "career woman" and she "works really hard."

why even put those things in quotes. maybe she wants to try to work hard. maybe she is a career woman.
It's kind of sexist too. I know that if guys try to raise money for a wedding, it is scene as romantic.

If a donater has a problem, it is their responsibility to state where the money is going, or how it should be used.
Maybe, those sort of questions didn't cross that person's mind. Even, established non-profit companies and for profit companies, have trouble making budgets and making information transparent.
Why don't you make an article about those companies,...you know the ones that pollute, and charge hidden fees, and put people in debt, or cheat/lie/ steal for real.

Not that's a gorgeous ring.

Oh and begging for wedding money is worst than begging for crack at a soup kitchen. *by the way*

ah crap... the dreaded edit post... I meant *Now... *sigh*

to each their own, right?

i certainly wouldn't go that route - we are pulling together a wedding for around $10K, including our honeymoon - and we are pretty proud of ourselves

very interesting idea. i had heard about one site a man helped women raise funds for plastic surgery. like many of the comments, i applaud her for devising a way to collect free money. i personally would like to try to decide on a reasonable budget and start saving and planning (at least a little). what's waiting another year if you're planning on spending the rest of your life with someone? but yes, to each her own

im a broke bride to be i dont even have the money to buy a dress thats only 250. and its a really pritty dress. i only want a small wedding too but i prolly wont get it. im tring my hardest right now to put everything together but whan u dont have the money its really hard.

I am not judgemental I believe some where in our minds those that couldnt afford thought of asking for help. I am thinking about it now. Lol! If someone is willing to help and wants to attend i say "you go girl" and give a shout out at the reception. A stupid question is a question never asked. They can say yes or no.