141 | In France, you can sell tickets to your wedding. C'est... chic?

It's like buying a ticket to a real-life rom com. A startup in France is helping couples sell strangers invitations to their wedding. If you pay for a ticket, do you also need to bring a gift? 'As if we're real guests': the startup selling strangers invitations to weddings (Angelique Chrisafis, The Guardian, Aug 2, 2025) French startup lets strangers buy entrance to someone else's wedding (Trend-watching Daily, Aug 4, 2025) The Incredibly True Story of Renting a Friend in Tokyo (Chris Colin, Afar, Feb 19, 2016) I paid $47 an hour for someone to be my friend (Jean-Luc Bouchard, Vox, Jul 1, 2019) I Rented a Friend to See if I Could Cure My Loneliness (Annie Lord, Vice, Feb 8, 2019) Belly Dancing for the Dead: a Day with China's Top Mourner (Louisa Lim, Morning Edition / NPR, Jun 26, 2013) Professional Mourners: An Ancient Tradition (Marilyn A. Mendoza, Psychology Today, Feb 15, 2018) Arlington Ladies (Arlington National Cemetery, accessed Aug 17, 2025) Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast [email protected]