A wedding guest was left in disbelief after being asked to pay for her meal at a reception by the bride and groom. The guest shared her shocking experience on Reddit’s AITA [Am I the A—–] forum, revealing that she was requested to pay $25 for food at the upcoming wedding reception. When she expressed that she couldn’t afford this cost, the couple labelled her as “crazy” for assuming that a meal would be provided free of charge.
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In her post, the guest explained that she doesn’t have a stable job and earns money by selling her art on the side. She disclosed that the soon-to-be newlyweds are also facing financial challenges and have been soliciting funds for their wedding expenses. The requests for money started early on in the planning process with requests for contributions towards moving out, decorations, and even a ‘party/potluck’ that turned out to be a guise for setting up decorations in their home.
Despite the couple’s insistence on guests contributing $25 each for their meal, the wedding guest couldn’t afford this amount. When she stood her ground and declined to pay, she was met with hostility and was even offered the option of bringing her own food for the day to circumvent the cost. However, the guest felt uncomfortable with this proposal as it would make her feel isolated among the other attendees.
Feeling conflicted about the situation, the guest expressed concerns that declining to pay and attend the wedding might strain her friendship with the couple. Nevertheless, she received support from other Redditors who unanimously agreed that the couple was in the wrong for expecting guests to foot the bill for their reception. Some commenters suggested that if the couple couldn’t afford to host their guests properly, they should opt for a simpler celebration within their means.
The debate ignited by the guest’s post also brought up discussions about the etiquette of asking guests to pay for their food at a wedding. While some acknowledged that it was a new low to impose such a request, others advised the guest to gracefully decline attending the wedding if she felt uncomfortable with the situation. The issue of wedding gifts was also raised, with the guest confirming that the couple did expect a gift on top of the requested contribution for the meal.
In response to the outpouring of support and advice from the online community, the guest expressed gratitude for the validation she received. She shared her intention to handle the situation respectfully and diplomatically to avoid any further tension with her friends. The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between wedding traditions, financial constraints, and social expectations when planning such milestone events.