Wedding guests left stunned after couple asks them to pay for their meal at reception
'They're asking for $25 from each guest to pay for their food...'
An individual was shocked when they realized that attending their friends' wedding came with an unexpected expenditure. The reason? Well, it's because of the couple's weird expectations of all the guests. As shocking as it sounds, they actually wanted the wedding guests to pay for their meals, and the financially weak individual couldn't afford to spend that kind of money. They (u/erasermicnight) shared the bizarre story on October 21, 2025.
The couple getting married on Halloween had apparently been asking everyone for money for their wedding. Initially, the author was excited, but it changed when the demand for money grew serious. "I'm mentally disabled, and without getting into it, I've been failed by the system and can't get on government programs besides EBT to help out financially," they explained. The couple getting married was in a similar situation financially, the individual shared. So, in the past, they had asked their friends for money for moving out, decorations, and even a party.
"Now they're asking for $25 from each guest to pay for their food. I can't afford that," the author said. Moving on, they explained how they had a mutual friend cover for them at parties, but they don't want to ask him to cover again. "I'm not going to ask that of my partner, who barely knows them and so far has only been invited to the reception," they added. When the guest informed the couple about their situation, they called them "hostile" and "crazy." "If I did bring food, it would be with food stamps, and I'm almost up for the month. I feel like I'm making their wedding about me in a way since I'm not backing down and paying," they said.
Moreover, the author mentioned that the couple even wanted their guests to give them gifts — in addition to the cash. To avoid further expenses, the guest suggested that they paint them while taking their vows. "Part of me suspects that's why they won't back down and just let me not go because it means no painting," they wrote. Weddings today are expensive, and thus, couples now expect guests to help them with covering the costs. In fact, research from Investec Save found that nearly half (46%) of all couples planning a wedding in the next five years want to ask their guests to help with the costs. While the trend of expecting guests to pay for the wedding is fairly new, it often faces criticism. The study also found that men are much more likely to ask for financial help than women.
The post received an overwhelming response on Reddit, with the majority of people lashing out at the couple expecting wedding guests to pay for the meal. For example, u/traveler691 commented, "People who cannot afford to host should be going to the courthouse or having a simple service in the park under a tree or something. The entitlement has gotten crazy."
u/cellistok5452 said, "NTA. It is a stupid reason, but maybe they're stupid people. Your objections make sense; respectfully decline to attend and send your best wishes. They're not acting at all like friends." u/lareinenoir wrote, "NTA. These people are not your friends. It seems like they are using you and others to finance their wants. After all you’ve done for them, and with them knowing your financial situation, they can pay for your meal. If they won’t and you do go, charge them for the painting." u/stevieb85 said, "NTA. Food included is the base requirement for attending a wedding reception. If a couple cannot afford to feed the people they invite to the reception, they need to make some cuts or changes. Guests should never be required to pay for their meal."
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