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Reemo and Nova Styles. (Image credit: Nova Styles)

NEW YORK – A New York couple explains why they charged their guests $333 to attend their wedding after their story went viral and sparked debate.

Nova and Reemo Styles, both 30, married last year at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in June 2023.

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The couple said they originally planned a traditional wedding and wanted to invite 350 guests, but they were worried that not everyone would get the attention.

Instead, they opted for a non-traditional wedding with a smaller circle of family and friends.

“Instead of thinking about everyone else, we said, ‘What do we want? What do we want to do?'” Nova told FOX Television Stations.

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The couple planned their wedding day as an evening together. Instead of a single ceremony in a church, they planned to take their guests to various sentimental sites in New York City, such as the courthouse, Hudson Yards, a local movie theater, and One World Trade Center.

However, the bus only had 60 seats.

Why did the couple charge $333 per guest?

The Styles said it was difficult to reduce the guest list from 350 to 60 people.

Instead of telling people who was and wasn’t invited, the couple turned the tables and wanted family and friends to decide how much they wanted to come – hence the $333 fee.

“That’s how the idea of ​​tickets came about, because we said we couldn’t choose anyone,” Nova continued. “How can we choose one aunt over another? That’s impossible.”

How did the couple arrive at the $333 fee?

Reemo said the number 333 was not chosen arbitrarily but had a meaning and described it as an “angel number”.

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“The number three, three, three represents change, growth and strength,” said Reemo. “We wanted to do it that way, for my personal pleasure. It’s a number that’s not too easy, but not too difficult either.”

“We thought you really have to dig deep and ask yourself, ‘You know what? Do I really want to go?'” he continued. “We really wanted people who really wanted to go for us.”

Contrary to public opinion, the couple stated that the proceeds from ticket sales were not used to finance their wedding (which cost more than $70,000), their honeymoon, or a down payment.

Instead, the couple said, proceeds from ticket sales went to a foundation that helps couples struggling with infertility.

How did your guests react to the $333 fee?

Nova said she first told her family and wedding guests about the $333 fee and then told more and more people.

As expected, there was some resistance to the couple. Some were initially unwilling to pay, but then changed their minds. The couple even said that the wedding reception was sold out and they had to turn down requests from people who wanted to attend.

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However, the Styles said that charging people money to attend their wedding helped them realize what friendship really means.

“It opened our eyes to how people view us, their value to our relationship and so much more,” Nova added.

The couple said they don’t believe they have lost friends, just that their friendships have become more distinct and clear.

“It was one of the best days of our lives”

The Styles said that now that more than a year has passed, they do not regret asking their wedding guests for money.

“It was one of the best days of our lives,” Nova said. “It was like we were with our closest friends and family celebrating our love, and that’s exactly what we wanted.”

The couple also has advice for other couples who want to get married.

“Do what is best for you and your partner,” Reemo said.