You are cordially invited to attend the wedding of Marley Jaxx and Steve Larsen. Please pay $1,000 if you'd like to attend.
I have yet to receive a wedding invitation that looks anything like this, but those invited to the Jaxx and Larsen wedding actually received something similar to it.
The unique and creative enterprise was put together by two, savvy, social-media entrepreneurs and the newlyweds have burst onto the news cycle with this outrageous idea. First, because people were upset at them making money from their wedding, and, second, because some changed their tune after learning this wedding couple raised an additional $132,000 for a donation.
Wedding couple and celebration.Image via Canva - Photo by Bogdan Kurylo
Who are these happy newlyweds?
Marley Jaxx is a content marketer, entrepreneur, and YouTube creator. She writes on her YouTube page, "If you're ready to turn your videos into profit powerhouses for your business click below to grab the 'I can't believe she gave this away for free' game plan." Marley Jaxx marketing guru, check.
Steve Larsen is a digital marketing expert with a background in funnel strategies. He's been on many podcasts and, having teamed up with Jaxx, showcases a very impressive ability for raising funds. So impressive, that the two were able to donate the $132,000 dollars raised at their wedding for Village Impact, an organization building schools, equipping classrooms, and nurturing children in Africa.
A wedding reception area.Image via Canva - Photo by Dbytro Botvinovskyy's Images
The wedding comes together
In a story published in the New York Post, Jaxx and Larsen describe their remarkable story. When planning their Boise, Idaho wedding, they found the price to put it all together was extremely expensive. Instead of going out of pocket, they reached out to their 192,000 Instagram and YouTube followers and invited them to attend, for a price. Larsen said, "Our social media audiences actually came up with the $1,000 price point."
Guests and fans unable to pay the $1,000, all-access fee were able to purchase more budget friendly packages: $57 to attend the Friday afternoon ceremony and reception, or $97 to attend both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.
Friends and family received the full VIP treatment, but literally unknown fans came to the wedding in support of the couple. The money raised allowed them to have some interesting events: live performances from dancing trombonist Jonathan Arons and music by DJ Dynamix and Team Ragoza gave way to confections from Michelle Sohan and Mama's Secrets Cookies. But the money raised for the wedding went farther than that.
Fundraiser becomes a philanthropic adventure
"It costs $15,000 to build a classroom with Village Impact," Jaxx explained. "As we shared that at our wedding reception, several people donated the full $15,000."
The movie, UP. media2.giphy.com
What at first look seems as a clever way to skirt some of the cost to have an elaborate wedding, actually turned into an incredible philanthropic adventure. According to Jaxx, "They came to the wedding as strangers, left as friends and now we're all going on this life-changing trip to Africa next year." The couple has planned a trip to Kenya for July 2026 where they'll help build those classrooms for kids with the money they helped raise at the wedding.
You can watch an interview with the newlywed couple on Idaho Today below:
- YouTube youtu.be
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21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.