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Couple Uses Facebook to Raise $31,740 for Wedding

by Terrence O'Brien on December 14, 2010 at 08:30 AM

Facebook Wedding
Weddings are expensive. According to the Wedding Report, a research firm run by We TV, the average American wedding costs $19,581. And things aren't any cheaper overseas. U.K. weddings are reported to clock in at an average of £11,000. So, it's no surprise that some couples struggle to afford traditional nuptial rituals. Emma Collins and Shaun Parsons, a British couple with three children, counted themselves among those who simply could not afford to get married. The two had been engaged for 14 years, and at one point even entered a contest held by a local radio station that would have paid for their wedding, but lost by a hair. On the advice of a friend, the couple decided to create a Facebook group to collect donations to help pay for their matrimonial ceremony.

On Saturday, the two finally became husband and wife -- thanks to roughly $31,740 (£20,000) in cash, gifts and services donated through Facebook. The donations came in the form of free floral arrangements, limos and DJ services, in addition to money. The couple's ability to pull off a roughly $30,000 wedding based entirely on Facebook donations speaks volumes about their incredibly supportive friends and family, but, after 14 years, this couple deserves the wedding of their dreams. Congratulations, Emma and Shaun.

Tags: facebook, SocialNetworking, top, Web, wedding

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