A wedding is usually a joyous occasion, but one couple’s big day has left a bitter taste in their guests’ mouths. In a story that has shocked many, a bride and groom in the UK asked their guests to cough up nearly £2,000 (2,682 in USD) to attend their wedding.
To add insult to injury, this shocking fee didn’t include food, drinks, or even a slice of wedding cake! And if that wasn’t enough, guests were also expected to leave a hefty tip for the venue. Naturally, this pushed some over the edge.
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A Shocking Discovery
One guest, Jack, shared his surprising discovery. When he first received the wedding invite, he assumed everything was business as usual. However, after confirming his RSVP, he received a follow-up email with a link asking him to “Click here for payment.”
Assuming this was for the honeymoon fund, Jack didn’t think much of it — until he clicked on the link and saw the fee.
Is This a Scam?
Taken aback by the £2,000 request, Jack initially thought it must be a scam. After all, who would charge guests for attending a wedding? He quickly called the venue to let them know.
But to his dismay, the venue staff informed him that it was not a mistake. “Sophie and Jeff thank you for your contribution to enable them to have their dream wedding,” the staff reportedly told him.
Saving for a Wedding – Not Your Own
Faced with the decision of backing out or attending the wedding, Jack felt obligated to go since he had already RSVP’d. Unfortunately, this meant emptying his savings to cover the unexpected attendance fee for him and his girlfriend.
But in hindsight, he realized his partner’s invitation was probably not as generous as he originally thought it was.
No Free Drinks Here
Jack arrived at the wedding hoping that the exorbitant fee might at least cover some perks, like a free bar. But to his dismay, there was no such luxury. Guests had to pay an additional £30 for food and drinks, leaving many feeling like they had paid a small fortune to attend and still had to shell out more.
Tipping Is Not the Norm
In an unexpected twist, Jack and other guests were also asked to pay a £200 “tip” to the venue. Jack was floored. Tipping the venue isn’t a custom in the UK, and it was particularly shocking given the high price of attendance. Jack, out of money after paying the attendance fee, had to negotiate a smaller tip with the venue.
A Free Wedding for the Bride and Groom?
After the event, Jack did some digging and realized the costs of the wedding had been spread among the guests, not the bride and groom. The couple had essentially pulled off a free wedding by passing the bill to their guests.
“I’ve never heard of anything so entitled in my life,” Jack’s friend later posted on Reddit, sharing the outrageous story with the world.
Reddit Reacts: Guests Were Scammed?
Unsurprisingly, the internet was outraged. Many commenters voiced their disgust, claiming the guests had been scammed. One user wrote, “These are not friends, just users. If you’re that cheap or broke, elope and save everyone the headache.”
Another added, “Your friend Jack and every other guest were absolute idiots for meekly going along with this scam.”
“Not a Thing in the UK, or Anywhere Else!”
The story prompted a wave of responses from people both in the UK and abroad, with most saying they had never heard of such a practice. One commenter confirmed, “This is not a thing in the US or the UK—it’s an entitled people thing.”
A Hard Lesson Learned
Many commenters agreed that Jack should have walked away once he saw the price tag. “I would never, ever empty my savings for a scam couple like that,” one wrote, while another said, “That’s enough for me to cut all contact with supposed ‘friends.’” Others argued that Jack and the other guests should have banded together and confronted the couple about their outrageous demands.
A Cautionary Tale for Future Guests
As this wedding fiasco spread across the internet, it served as a reminder that some people will go to extreme lengths to have their “dream” wedding — at the expense of others.
While it’s understandable to want a beautiful celebration, charging your guests an arm and a leg without upfront transparency is bound to backfire. Next time you RSVP, check twice for hidden fees — and maybe bring your own drinks!
