Kelly Ripa: Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are sharing marriage advice after 30 years together.
Their message is simple. Couples should think twice before planning an extravagant wedding.
The comment came during a prerecorded segment of "Live with Kelly and Mark." It aired Thursday, according to People magazine.
The talk show is currently on its summer break. Live episodes will resume after Labor Day.
Ripa pointed to a shift in wedding trends for 2026. She said small, budget-friendly celebrations are replacing lavish affairs.
"Tiny. A quirky cake. No big ceremony," she said. Candles are also replacing flowers as a cost-saving swap.
According to Ripa, couples are increasingly separating the ceremony from the celebration.
Many are opting for a small ceremony followed by a larger party. Buffets are also making a comeback at receptions.
Ripa said they offer both affordability and crowd appeal.
Secondhand wedding dresses are gaining popularity too, Ripa noted.
She joked that wedding dresses often go unworn after the big day. She added that her own gown now serves as a beach cover-up.
Ripa also pointed to another emerging trend. Some couples are forgoing separate engagement and wedding rings.
Instead, they are choosing a single ring to mark the occasion.
The hosts’ own wedding history informed their perspective. Ripa and Consuelos eloped in Las Vegas in May 1996.
Their total wedding cost came in under $200. Ripa recalled the experience fondly. Consuelos echoed her sentiment. He noted the final cost was $179, airfare included.
The couple then floated a business idea. Ripa suggested they launch a "wedding service."
The concept would counsel couples away from big spending. Consuelos embraced the pitch. He said they could steer engaged couples toward eloping instead.
Ripa argued the money saved could go toward something more lasting.
She suggested couples redirect wedding funds toward a house down payment. That path, she said, builds long-term equity.
Consuelos shared similar views on wedding costs. He said spending on parties, flowers, rings and dresses never made financial sense to him.
He said that mindset is part of why the couple eloped in the first place.
Ripa has voiced one regret about their budget wedding, however. She raised it during a June 12 episode of the show, according to E! News.
She said she skipped floral arrangements to save money. She said the decision has left her self-conscious in wedding photos.
Ripa, 55, said she avoids sharing one particular photo from the day.
She said her hands appear awkward in it without flowers to hold. She called the image "very awkward."
The couple often jokes about their relationship on air. Earlier this month, Consuelos made a lighthearted comment about the couple's dog, Lena.
He said he would rather stay in an unhappy marriage than risk losing the dog in a divorce.
He added that he would worry about her whereabouts if they ever separated.
Ripa joked in response, suggesting he feared another man might be looking after their pet.
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