Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Sis Learns Only Bride’s Side Of Family Has To Pay For Their Destination Wedding, Decides To Skip It
Sis Learns Only Bride’s Side Of Family Has To Pay For Their Destination Wedding, Decides To Skip It

Sis Learns Only Bride’s Side Of Family Has To Pay For Their Destination Wedding, Decides To Skip It

34

ADVERTISEMENT

When planning a wedding, newlyweds often adhere to two main opposite concepts—either a very modest cozy wedding with a minimum of guests, or a pompous and luxurious event with hundreds of invitees, quite comparable in scale to the triumphs of the Roman emperors. And in terms of budget, too.

The story we’re going to tell you today is just one of the second category of weddings. The bride and groom planned a destination wedding in Dubai, but made several mistakes in the budgeting process—and the whole wedding was literally on the verge of failure a week before the ceremony. And what else would we call the situation when the MOH, who is also the bride’s sister, refuses to attend the event?

More info: Reddit

RELATED:

    The author of the post has a younger sister who is going to marry soon and plans a destination wedding in Dubai

    Beach destination wedding setup with guests seated and floral decorations.

    Image credits: Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    Needless to say, the event is going to be very pompous and the author and all her relatives are going to pay for the flight and accommodations themselves

    Text discussing the unfair payment expectations for a destination wedding.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text detailing a bride's expectation for family to fund groom’s side at a destination wedding.

    Text image about groom's family staying in a hotel for a destination wedding.

    Image credits: One_Change4503

    Counting money for a destination wedding expense in an office setting.

    Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Recently, the newlyweds-to-be asked the author to lend them $17K for the wedding—and the couple, together with her parents, helped them

    Text about a bride expecting family to pay for a destination wedding, mentioning loans for a venue.

    Text discussing family disagreement over paying for a destination wedding.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text discussing family's disappointment over payment request for a destination wedding.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text image expressing discontent over wedding expenses for groom’s family, choosing not to attend.

    Text questioning whether to attend the wedding despite feelings of discomfort.

    Image credits: One_Change4503

    Two women on a sofa; one upset, the other pleading about family and destination wedding issues.

    Image credits: EmilyStock / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The author got incredibly livid after finding out that this money was actually spent to pay for the groom’s parents and relatives

    Text edit about destination wedding comments and responses.

    Text detailing a repayment plan for wedding costs, including a contract and timeframe of 12 months.

    Text screenshot discussing wedding payment frustrations.

    Text message discussing the financial status of the groom's family for a destination wedding.

    Text discussing the financial background of Chris and his family in the context of a wedding.

    Text discussing the issue of a bride expecting family to fund the groom's family's trip to a destination wedding.

    Image credits: One_Change4503

    The author just refused to attend the wedding at all and it caused a major threat because she was also the MOH

    So, the Original Poster (OP) has a younger sister who is getting ready to tie the knot soon. And she and her fiance planned a destination wedding in Dubai. Seven dozen guests, a transcontinental flight, a luxury hotel—everything is as if it’s in some Hollywood romantic movie. And, after some time, it turned out that the genre of this movie was actually a tragicomedy.

    The groom earns well, and the author’s sis also earns decent money, so the OP and her husband were very surprised when the newlyweds-to-be once came to them with a request to lend them $17K to organize a wedding. Well, they were surprised—but they decided to help. The author and her spouse gave $7K, and their parents added another ten thousand.

    And now, imagine the surprise and indignation of our heroine when, literally a few weeks before the wedding, it turned out that this money would actually go to pay for accommodation and a flight for the groom’s parents and their numerous relatives!

    Needless to say, should the original poster, her husband, and her entire side pay for everything themselves? As our heroine also found out, the groom simply grew up in poverty, and although he now earns well, his family cannot afford such expenses.

    Be that as it may, the OP was outraged that she and her husband had been lied to, and she said that she refused to fly to Dubai at all. And, considering that she was also supposed to be the maid of honor, the problem for the bride grew to alarming proportions. No amount of persuasion from the sister and her future BIL had any effect on the author. However, she still decided to seek support and some kind of advice online.

    Bride in a lace wedding dress, looking emotional at a destination wedding ceremony.

    Image credits: freepic.diller / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    Well, organizing a destination wedding really does change the scale of the event’s expenses. For example, The Knot calculated that the overall average wedding cost nowadays is $33,000, with this amount fluctuating between $32K for a hometown event and $39K for a destination wedding. But these calculations obviously didn’t take into account the fact that the wedding would be held in Dubai.

    For example, this dedicated article on Vocal Media claims that tying the knot in one of the most expensive cities in the world costs between $40K and $135K. Considering the original poster notes that the flight and accommodations for guests will cost around £2,900 (~$3.7K) each, the budget is closer to the second number. So, it’s not surprising that the groom’s parents couldn’t afford it.

    However, this should have been thought through long before the bride and groom started booking a venue and hotels in Dubai. And people in the comments also reasonably noted this. Well, many responders believe that an attempt to deceive her and her parents is well worth refusing to attend the wedding. Although, of course, in this case, the relationship between the sisters will be ruined for a long time—if not forever.

    And the author also admits that she’s conflicted here. On the one hand, she wants to teach her sister a lesson for this lie, but on the other—she doesn’t want a major scandal and a break in their relationship. However, some responders recommend the OP simply tell her sis off once more—and still go to Dubai. For some reason, it seems that she will do just that… And what do you think?

    People in the comments were quite divided but some folks just urged the woman to attend the event anyway

    Reddit discussion about bride expecting family to cover costs for groom's family at destination wedding.

    A Reddit exchange discussing a $7k loan for a wedding expense involving a bride's expectations.

    Reddit discussion about paying for an elaborate wedding and unexpected venue fees.

    Reddit conversation about family drama over destination wedding costs.

    Reddit thread discussing destination weddings and family payment expectations.

    Reddit comments discussing repayment plan for funding wedding expenses.

    Reddit discussion about family expectations for a destination wedding, focusing on financial disagreements.

    Poll Question

    Total votes ·

    Thanks! Check out the results:

    Total votes ·
    Share on Facebook

    Explore more of these tags

    Oleg Tarasenko

    Oleg Tarasenko

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

    Read less »
    Oleg Tarasenko

    Oleg Tarasenko

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

    What do you think ?
    Pferdchen
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unless your family is from the Emirates, I have a more compelling reason not to attend: it's in the United Arab Emirates. If this makes no sense to you, read up on their record regarding women, LGBT people and foreign labor.

    Boo
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One of the reasons why I wouldn't step a toe in that s**t-hole!

    Load More Replies...
    Sarah
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A tricky situation all around and likely upsetting all involved for different reasons. Did groom’s parents know where the funds were coming from? Why choose Dubai if money may be an issue? However, They have promised to pay it back.. in which case I wouldn’t let it destroy family and the wedding. It’s not worth it long term. The stress/upset/hurt/ once one member refuses to attend a significant family event then it’s just a slippery slope for others to now not attend the next events ( out of spite/ revenge/ hurt feelings) . They have promised to pay it back. This is family..

    marcelo D.
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    - Did groom’s parents know where the funds were coming from? That has zero to do with the situation - Why choose Dubai if money may be an issue? some people love to live outside their means and make it other people problem by demanding they spend outrageous amount of money or "you don't love me cause you don't come to my wedding". -They have promised to pay it back : They still charging her full price to attend, while funding others, which tells you she is not as important as the others, since its a principle thing it could be solved by paying for her. - It’s not worth it long term: that depends on what else has happened in the past. this is an isolated case presented, but it might not be an isolated case. - The stress/upset/hurt/ once one member refuses to attend a significant family event then it’s just a slippery slope for others to now not attend the next event. well that's why you don't discriminate against family if you want them there, and you don't make a destination wedding.

    Load More Replies...
    Earonn -
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe, just maybe ask the people you really want around at your wedding if they are okay with the arrangements, esp if it's a destination wedding?

    Load More Comments
    Pferdchen
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unless your family is from the Emirates, I have a more compelling reason not to attend: it's in the United Arab Emirates. If this makes no sense to you, read up on their record regarding women, LGBT people and foreign labor.

    Boo
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One of the reasons why I wouldn't step a toe in that s**t-hole!

    Load More Replies...
    Sarah
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A tricky situation all around and likely upsetting all involved for different reasons. Did groom’s parents know where the funds were coming from? Why choose Dubai if money may be an issue? However, They have promised to pay it back.. in which case I wouldn’t let it destroy family and the wedding. It’s not worth it long term. The stress/upset/hurt/ once one member refuses to attend a significant family event then it’s just a slippery slope for others to now not attend the next events ( out of spite/ revenge/ hurt feelings) . They have promised to pay it back. This is family..

    marcelo D.
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    - Did groom’s parents know where the funds were coming from? That has zero to do with the situation - Why choose Dubai if money may be an issue? some people love to live outside their means and make it other people problem by demanding they spend outrageous amount of money or "you don't love me cause you don't come to my wedding". -They have promised to pay it back : They still charging her full price to attend, while funding others, which tells you she is not as important as the others, since its a principle thing it could be solved by paying for her. - It’s not worth it long term: that depends on what else has happened in the past. this is an isolated case presented, but it might not be an isolated case. - The stress/upset/hurt/ once one member refuses to attend a significant family event then it’s just a slippery slope for others to now not attend the next event. well that's why you don't discriminate against family if you want them there, and you don't make a destination wedding.

    Load More Replies...
    Earonn -
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe, just maybe ask the people you really want around at your wedding if they are okay with the arrangements, esp if it's a destination wedding?

    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT