Actress AnnaLynne McCord and former professional rugby player Danny Cipriani married in an intimate backyard ceremony in Los Angeles on Aug. 22, 2023 [1, 2, 3, 4].
The event marks a rare instance of high-profile celebrities utilizing a crowd-funding model to finance a wedding, shifting the traditional expectation of celebrity luxury.
McCord, who was 39 at the time of the wedding, and Cipriani, then 38, opted to ask friends and fans for donations to cover their expenses [1]. The couple hosted 81 guests at their backyard venue in California [3].
According to reports, the funds raised through the campaign were sufficient to cover the costs of both the ceremony and the reception [5]. Some reports described the event as an "Elegant Bohemian" backyard wedding, while others focused on the intimate nature of the gathering [2, 4].
"I married the love of my life," McCord said.
Cipriani expressed gratitude toward those who contributed to the event. "We’re so grateful for everyone’s support and for helping us make our dream day happen," he said [2].
The couple chose the crowd-funded approach to manage the financial requirements of the day [5]. This method allowed them to execute their vision for the ceremony by relying on their community of supporters [4].
“"I married the love of my life."”
The use of crowd-funding for a celebrity wedding suggests a shift in how some public figures manage their finances and engage with their fan bases. By soliciting donations for a personal milestone, the couple blurred the line between professional brand support and personal financial needs, reflecting a broader trend of using digital platforms to monetize social capital for private expenses.
