Bride imposes heft 'wedding tax' on guests to fund lavish ceremony — and it backfired

Marriage is meant to be a celebration of love, respect, and commitment, but some modern trends have turned weddings into extravagant spectacles. In a particularly unusual twist, one bride decided to impose a “wedding tax” on her family and friends. Her sibling, who goes by u/HeavyWolverine8706 on Reddit, shared how the plan backfired in unexpected ways.

In a viral Reddit post, the sibling shared their frustration over their younger sister Emily’s wedding plans. “I'm super happy for her; there’s been some drama over the whole wedding planning process,” they wrote, adding that their sister, along with her soon-to-be brother-in-law, decided to impose a “wedding tax” on their “small wedding.” The couple expects the family to contribute to the expenses like the venue, decor and catering.

To top it off, the sibling wrote, “The family of her sister’s fiancé is also chipping in to make the whole thing feel less like a celebration and more like a business deal.” Out of sheer concern, the sibling raised the issue in front of Emily to express that it felt unfair to ask the family to cover the costs, including the gift. They shared, “I suggested maybe doing a more budget-friendly wedding so that everyone could enjoy it, but she brushed aside my suggestions.”

The discussion escalated into a "huge argument," with the sibling insisting that weddings should focus on love, not financial obligations. This resulted in a bitter family feud, as they stopped talking and the sibling’s number got temporarily blocked by her sister. In the aftermath of the weeks-long rivalry, they received an invitation to the wedding with a note saying that if “I wasn’t ‘chipped in,’ I shouldn’t bother coming.”

The sibling felt torn about whether to attend after receiving conflicting advice. Their parents urged them to keep the peace and go, while friends suggested skipping the event altogether. “My sister did not make me a bridesmaid, but I'm okay with that. However, she's having her wedding at a really expensive hotel and asking everyone for money,” the sibling wrote, seeking advice from the online community.

“I would be hard-pressed to attend a wedding that feels like ‘blackmail.’ Is this for real? When did weddings start requiring the wedding party and guests to bear exorbitant costs just to attend?” u/Opinionated6319 asked. “My sister couldn’t even afford a gift at the time of my wedding. She had just moved across the country and had a ton of medical bills. I was just so happy she was there. I paid for her dress, accessories, hair/makeup, and had her spend the night with me at the Airbnb,” u/WarmAuntieHugs shared.

“I would absolutely not attend. Your sister doesn’t want your support; she wants your money,” u/Toogroovyto added. Meanwhile, in an update, the sibling shared how their sister’s wedding turned into a disaster, with the guests demanding a refund. The family, however, decided to blame the sibling for causing the divide within the house. The bride did apologize to her sibling for her actions but was ironically headed for an instant divorce after the wedding.