You Have All the Money—Why Are You Sponsoring Your Wedding?

This phenomenon of rich people not spending their money on weddings is pretty common, according to several experts. "The idea of a sponsored celebrity wedding is nothing new, and it’s an idea that continues to grow more popular among noncelebrity couples as well," AJ Adams, brand and social media strategist for Celebrity Lifestyle Brands, tells Glamour. "When you’re a world-famous celebrity, you’re in a position for brands to want to pay you to use their products. So why not?"

Wedding consultant Anne Chertoff says spon-con affairs are more common with influencers and reality stars than actual A-listers. "A sponsor for a wedding can help offset costs of the wedding. Just because someone has a lot of money doesn’t mean they can spend $5 million on their wedding," she says. "The sponsorships, so to speak, are a partnership where the celebrity gets the look they want, as well as money, and the brand gets the alignment with the celebrity and press."

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Brad Wilcox, Ph.D., director of the National Marriage Project, posits that some celebrities are aware they can make a profit from their personal life and have no issue cashing in. "Many of them see no dividing line between their career and their family life," he says. "All of life’s a stage, including the wedding and the marriage. They want to maximize attention and profit for their brand, which is partly about their relationships, including their marriage."

It makes sense, in a champagne-problems sort of way. No one wants to spend their money—not even the mega-wealthy—so if a brand is willing to cover some wedding costs, who wouldn't take advantage? "It’s not a matter of 'have to,' but rather 'get to,'" Adams says. Adds Chertoff, "Having a sponsor is not just about money you get but also about brand alignment."

In other words, of course celebrities are keen on closing their paychecks for weddings. They save on costs, gain exposure—if they're seeking it—and can potentially garner support from brands and causes that will boost their image. In that respect, I now 100 percent see why Chopra posted a probably-sponsored image of herself drinking a Havana Club cocktail during her bachelorette party (see above). She's literally receiving a check without having to write one herself. It's genius! The women of "Lady Marmalade" really did say it best: Why spend mine, when I can spend yours?