Former England rugby player Danny Cipriani and his fiancée, Hollywood actress AnnaLynne McCord, have reportedly launched a crowdfunding campaign asking their wedding guests to contribute financially to their upcoming nuptials. The couple is seeking to raise approximately £10,000 to cover various wedding expenses, including the marriage license, venue, reception, meals, flowers, and photography.

The fundraising appeal, hosted through the crowdfunding platform Honeyfund on the couple’s official website, encourages invitees to donate amounts ranging from £75 to £450 toward specific aspects of the event. Guests who prefer may also contribute without designating a particular purpose. This move has generated criticism, particularly from Cipriani’s ex-wife Victoria, who has publicly expressed disapproval of the couple’s request for financial assistance.

Victoria Cipriani, a neuroscience practitioner who was married to Danny Cipriani from 2021 until their separation in early 2024, described the appeal as “plain tacky” and questioned why the couple, both of whom have earning capacities, would ask for money for their wedding. She suggested that they downscale the event, proposing something more intimate and modest instead of an extravagant reception. While she acknowledged donations for a honeymoon might be more understandable, she took issue with seeking contributions toward the marriage license and other costs.

Victoria also offered strong opinions about the couple’s financial situation. She stated her belief that Cipriani, 38, currently has limited financial resources despite his previous rugby career, and that the crowdfunding initiative likely originated from McCord, not Cipriani. She emphasized Cipriani’s history of financial mismanagement and recklessness, contrasting it with his generosity and pride. She noted that while he would be reluctant to ask others for money, McCord’s involvement might have led to the current fundraising effort.

The couple’s recent engagement sparked further commentary. McCord, 39, who gained fame through roles in television series such as “Nip/Tuck” and “90210,” has been seen wearing a large engagement ring reportedly estimated to cost £250,000. Victoria expressed skepticism regarding the ring’s authenticity and suggested that, if genuine, selling the ring could help fund the wedding.

Victoria also revealed that when Cipriani left their shared life in January 2024 and moved to the United States, he took only a few personal items, leaving behind a significant collection of rugby memorabilia, designer clothes, heirlooms, and other belongings stored at her residence and in paid storage. Some of these items have been sold by Victoria to cover storage costs, although the majority remain in her care. She questioned why Cipriani has not retrieved or sold these possessions to support his current wedding expenses.

Reflecting on their marriage, Victoria described it as marked by complex dynamics, including Cipriani’s struggles with substance use that he publicly acknowledged in his 2023 autobiography. She also recounted their low-key wedding ceremony in 2021, which took place in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions and fell far short of Cipriani’s earlier grand plans for a beachside celebration in Tobago, the homeland of his father, Jay. Victoria speculated that McCord may receive the lavish wedding Cipriani had originally envisioned for her.

The couple met through the dating app Raya and have been noted for their shared interest in therapeutic retreats, which Victoria referenced in her comments about their emotional and spiritual involvement.

As the crowdfunding campaign continues, observers and critics alike are weighing the appropriateness of soliciting contributions from wedding guests, especially given the couple’s public profiles and past financial circumstances.