“Bride Invites Me To Wedding And Expects Me To Pay For Venue”: Woman Shares How She Got A Wedding Invitation That Came With A $550 Fee
Recently, a Redditor who wished to remain thoroughly anonymous turned to the Wedding Shaming community to share an incident she had with a former friend from her university days.
“So this friend I made in university and I were once close, until she got engaged 2 years ago and cut off all her single friends cause she’s ‘too good for single friends and can only now have engaged or married friends’ according to her,” the author explained. Turns out, they haven’t spoken for two years and the author has since gotten over it.
Fast forward to today, and Shades0fcool has an email pop up in her inbox that looks like spam. The Redditor opens it and realizes it’s a wedding invitation with a “little” catch.
A woman was left in disbelief after a former friend she hasn’t spoken to for two years sent her an invitation to her wedding for which the guests will have to pay themselves

Image credits: Craig Adderley (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Polina Zimmerman (not the actual photo)
Bored Panda reached out to the author of this story who said that they have never received this kind of a wedding invitation where a bride expects guests to pay for the meal and the venue.
The author confirmed that initially, she thought it was a spam message that dropped into her inbox. “I didn’t recognize the name since it had been so long and it was just weird to attach a receipt at the bottom of an invitation,” the Redditor explained.
When asked whether there’s the tiniest chance that the bride genuinely wanted to see the author at her wedding since they used to be friends a while ago, the author said: “Not really… I think she just needed to achieve her minimum guest list.”
The author then added an update about this whole situation
Bored Panda reached out to the author of this story who said that they have never received this kind of a wedding invitation where a bride expects guests to pay for the meal and the venue.
The author confirmed that initially, she thought it was a spam message that dropped into her inbox. “I didn’t recognize the name since it had been so long and it was just weird to attach a receipt at the bottom of an invitation,” the Redditor explained.
When asked whether there’s the tiniest chance that the bride genuinely wanted to see the author at her wedding since they used to be friends a while ago, the author said: “Not really… I think she just needed to achieve her minimum guest list.”
The Redditor later shared more details in response to the comments
I wonder if her woman’s fiancé is abusive and the reason she stopped seeing her former friends and mostly only associate with his friends. It’s typical for an abuser to remove his victim from their support group. Nobody has even met him?
The OP keeps bringing up the that the bride cut her off 2 yrs ago. It really wouldn't matter to me if I was in contact and a close friend to the bride. There is NO WAY, even if I had the spare $550, I would attend this wedding. It's not a performance event.
Exactly. I can understand if the couple informs that they dont need presents but would appreciate the possible present being money that will be used to pay for the wedding and/or honeymoon trip.
Load More Replies...Imagine being so delusional that you believe people you haven't spoken to for years would pay to attend your wedding.
Or anyone. I'm not paying to attend your wedding....
Load More Replies...This may not be relevant. Just thot I'd share. In Chinese culture, especially in Asian countries, guests generally try to cover the cost of the wedding by giving the couple a hong bao (a red envelope containing cash). In normal circumstances, the hong bao would contain enough to cover the cost of the wedding plus maybe a little more as a gift. This is strictly optional. However, not giving is frowned upon unless you have extenuating circumstances. Also, the hong baos received are recorded. But getting billed a fixed amount sounds very Machiavellian. I would probably sidestep such an invitation and give a $8 hong bao (8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture).
Thank you for sharing a bit of info on Asian culture. Very interesting. I think there are similar customs in other cultures as well.
Load More Replies...If you can't afford your venue/catering, then go with different places/businesses. It's appalling to think someone would actually ghost their "friends" (regardless of the reasons), then expect them to foot the bill. Yes, her situation may suck or be abusive, but it's up to her to reach out for help and leave that situation.
If you can't afford the party, don't have it. Period. We recently got invited to an anniversary party and another note with the invite said no gifts but you could make a donation to the cost of the event. And specified the donation should be $25 per person. I have never before in my life been asked to pay to attend a party. Donation boxes I have seen, but not an actual requested amount. This is tough, bc I really love the people the party is for, but their relative who is arranging stuff has crossed a line with this, I think. What do you all think?
It sounds like you like them and want to go. It’s weird of their relative, but I bet the couple will be happy if you attend, especially since other people will be put off.
Load More Replies...That coordinator needs a lesson on using BCC for mass emails. At least the bride was up front about wanting OP to pay. Makes it an easy no. I could see a young couple asking guests to chip in for their wedding, BUT I'd hope they were trying to be as frugal as possible in their choices. This couple clearly wasn't frugal.
In India, the families pay for everything from venue to food. If this is even thought about in the mind, consider getting yourself and your family boycotted. At least, now both the parties pay for everything in many cases. Earlier, the bride's family had to do all the arrangements. It was a huge headache and some took out loans and all. Social shame is huge in India. sad thing. And then we have idiotic relatives and attendees who b***h about things... but the above story is something else. wow
I wonder if her woman’s fiancé is abusive and the reason she stopped seeing her former friends and mostly only associate with his friends. It’s typical for an abuser to remove his victim from their support group. Nobody has even met him?
The OP keeps bringing up the that the bride cut her off 2 yrs ago. It really wouldn't matter to me if I was in contact and a close friend to the bride. There is NO WAY, even if I had the spare $550, I would attend this wedding. It's not a performance event.
Exactly. I can understand if the couple informs that they dont need presents but would appreciate the possible present being money that will be used to pay for the wedding and/or honeymoon trip.
Load More Replies...Imagine being so delusional that you believe people you haven't spoken to for years would pay to attend your wedding.
Or anyone. I'm not paying to attend your wedding....
Load More Replies...This may not be relevant. Just thot I'd share. In Chinese culture, especially in Asian countries, guests generally try to cover the cost of the wedding by giving the couple a hong bao (a red envelope containing cash). In normal circumstances, the hong bao would contain enough to cover the cost of the wedding plus maybe a little more as a gift. This is strictly optional. However, not giving is frowned upon unless you have extenuating circumstances. Also, the hong baos received are recorded. But getting billed a fixed amount sounds very Machiavellian. I would probably sidestep such an invitation and give a $8 hong bao (8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture).
Thank you for sharing a bit of info on Asian culture. Very interesting. I think there are similar customs in other cultures as well.
Load More Replies...If you can't afford your venue/catering, then go with different places/businesses. It's appalling to think someone would actually ghost their "friends" (regardless of the reasons), then expect them to foot the bill. Yes, her situation may suck or be abusive, but it's up to her to reach out for help and leave that situation.
If you can't afford the party, don't have it. Period. We recently got invited to an anniversary party and another note with the invite said no gifts but you could make a donation to the cost of the event. And specified the donation should be $25 per person. I have never before in my life been asked to pay to attend a party. Donation boxes I have seen, but not an actual requested amount. This is tough, bc I really love the people the party is for, but their relative who is arranging stuff has crossed a line with this, I think. What do you all think?
It sounds like you like them and want to go. It’s weird of their relative, but I bet the couple will be happy if you attend, especially since other people will be put off.
Load More Replies...That coordinator needs a lesson on using BCC for mass emails. At least the bride was up front about wanting OP to pay. Makes it an easy no. I could see a young couple asking guests to chip in for their wedding, BUT I'd hope they were trying to be as frugal as possible in their choices. This couple clearly wasn't frugal.
In India, the families pay for everything from venue to food. If this is even thought about in the mind, consider getting yourself and your family boycotted. At least, now both the parties pay for everything in many cases. Earlier, the bride's family had to do all the arrangements. It was a huge headache and some took out loans and all. Social shame is huge in India. sad thing. And then we have idiotic relatives and attendees who b***h about things... but the above story is something else. wow



























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