Bride and Groom Ask Guests to Pay £2,000 to Attend Wedding

A couple has faced backlash online for requiring guests to pay nearly £2,000 to attend their wedding in the UK. Surprisingly, food and drinks were not included in this fee. Guests received an email of thanks for their RSVP, followed by a prompt at the end requesting them to "Click here for payment." This is prepared by SSP.

One guest, named Jack*, initially assumed the link pointed to a honeymoon fund. Later, curiosity led him to click on it, revealing a payment page expecting just under £2,000 for his attendance. Thinking it was a scam, he contacted the wedding venue. However, staff confirmed that "Sophie* and Jeff* appreciate your contribution to making their dream wedding possible."

Jack only learned of this payment requirement after confirming his attendance. Despite being taken aback by the cost, he emptied his savings to join the celebration. On the wedding day, he planned to mitigate the expense with drinks from the free bar. His plan failed when he discovered food and drink were not part of the package, resulting in another £30 out of pocket, plus an additional £200 charge labeled a "tip for the venue."

According to Jack's friend, the venue informed him that the bride and groom mandated all guests to pay that tip. It’s important to note that, in the UK, it’s not common practice to tip wedding venues or charge guests for attending. Jack found himself negotiating a lower tip, having already spent his savings.

After the event, Jack checked the venue costs and realized that expenditures had been distributed among the guests, sparing the couple from any payments. He felt the bride and groom essentially had a free wedding at the guests' expense. Not only did they forecast exorbitant costs onto attendees following their RSVPs, but they also imposed a tip charge upon checkout without prior notification.

Many commenters expressed disbelief at the couple's actions. Some labeled it a form of scamming guests. One commenter stated, "I would have canceled my RSVP upon seeing the payment screen; providing such pricey events should not be the guests' responsibility." Another remarked, "These individuals seem selfish, and if funding their wedding is a strain, they should have eloped instead." A third comment read: "Jack and other guests were foolish for complying blindly with this setup."

As reactions circulated, the original poster returned to clarify that this practice is neither common in the UK nor the US, identifying it as an example of entitled behavior.

*Names changed for anonymity.