Your wedding is supposed to be one of the greatest days of your life, but for many, it is also the most expensive and stressful. The average wedding in Georgia costs $26,000, according to a 2022 survey from The Knot. Another survey from Zola found that 40 percent of couples said wedding planning was “extremely stressful,” with 71 percent deeming it more nerve-wracking than other major life events, like finding a new job.
In the face of high price tags and cortisol levels, Marry We offers couples a new, less traditional approach.
In many ways, a Marry We wedding looks the same as any other wedding. For the cost of a wedding photographer, you get the entire day — ceremony, venue, décor, open bar, dinner, cake, photographer, entertainment, even a wedding gift — taken care of by Marry We. The only difference? You share it with 24 other couples.
Marry We’s mass weddings are not everybody’s cup of tea, as founder Crystal Love recognizes. But for those open to something new, sharing your special day with other couples is a magical experience.
“To have that much love circulating in one area is amazing,” Love told Georgia Voice. “For those who are open and willing to do something a little untraditional, I think we are a great option for them. They may have considered just going to the courthouse or eloping, but with us, we pull out all the stops for them. You get everything that you would normally get in a traditional wedding, you’re just sharing the experience and sharing the costs with other couples … Every single couple that I’ve spoken to has had zero regrets about it. They’re not in debt, they’re not stressed out, they’re starting their marriages off in peace.”
Instead of spending months or years planning their wedding, all Marry We’s couples have to handle is the marriage certificate — a process which Marry We streamlines and covers in the package cost — and their outfits. Then, they kick their feet up and enjoy their big day.
“We send [couples] instructions on parking and guest arrivals, we handle the décor,” Love said. “We handle the food and photography, all of the vendors, literally all they have to do is show up and say, ‘I do’ — or, as we like to say, say, ‘We do.’”
Each couple shares their day with six guests. They walk down the aisle individually before gathering at the altar to collectively say their vows and kiss their spouse. While sharing the love is special, Marry We tries to make every couple feel special; each couple gets their own photos taken and their personal wedding song played at the ceremony, along with other individual touches.
The untraditional nature of Marry We’s mass weddings allows some to look beyond what is expected of them and embrace their true selves on their special day.
“Last year, we had such a beautiful and diverse group of couples getting married,” Love said. “We had all different nationalities and sexual orientations. I had two brides both in wedding dresses. I had another lesbian couple, one was in a dress, one was in a suit. I had a bride get married in a red dress, I had a bride get married in a black dress … It allows them to be themselves.”
Marry We’s weddings are open to everybody, regardless of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity — if you can legally marry, you’re welcome.
“I’m a native of Atlanta, and I have heard this saying that Atlanta is a city too busy to hate,” Love said. “[Offering] the opportunity for all types of couples to be able to show up and express their love to each other was very important for us.”
This year’s Marry We wedding will be held on Valentine’s Day and will be officiated by Mayor Andre Dickens — and spots are still open! Packages range from $2,500 to $3,500, depending on the total number of guests. Can’t afford it right now? Marry We offers payment plans through PayPal and Affirm or you can wait until next Valentine’s Day.
To learn more and sign up, visit marryweevents.com.