Would you ask your GUESTS to pay to attend your wedding? Mother left aghast after receiving invite which requested £100 contribution for food and drinks amidst the cost-of-living crisis
- A British mother posted to Mumsnet asking ‘is this the new thing?’
- She was invited to two events where she was expected to shell out for food
- One person said it was ‘fair enough’ to ask people to pay for their own meal
A disgruntled wedding guest has revealed her surprise after she was asked to pay £100 to contribute towards food and drink at a friend’s wedding.
Posting on Mumsnet, the British mother said she had been surprised when the wedding invitation arrived with the request for money, saying: ‘Is this the new thing?’
She took umbrage at the hefty cost, which would see her and her husband shell out £200 for some buffet food as well as drinks and a cash contribution for the honeymoon.
Her post caused uproar on the site, with some suggesting she was within her right to say no to the invitation – while others said it was ‘fair enough’ amidst the cost-of-living crisis.
A wedding guest was asked to pay £200 for a buffet meal at a friend’s nuptials, and decided that the price was too high so won’t be going
The pair decided to decline on the invitation, but were then asked to buy their own pizza at a friend’s birthday party, which led them to wonder if this money saving tactic was becoming a trend.
The anonymous poster said: ‘Last week we received a wedding invitation for the end of January.
‘On the invite it’s asking us to pay for our food. £100 each. It’s worded as though they are doing us a favor as it’s only £200. Plus asking us for money for their honeymoon.
‘Then in the post this morning is an invite to a significant birthday for one of DH’s (darling husband) friends and this says there won’t be a buffet but there will be a van outside where we can BUY a pizza.
This wedding guest decided to pull out of going to a friend’s wedding after being asked to fund their own food and money for the honeymoon. She then asked if this was a ‘new thing’ after a birthday invite that says guests can buy their own pizza.
‘Both of these events we purchase our own drinks.’
The poster was met with mass agreement, with people agreeing the request was ‘strange’ and those who did agree with it said that £100 was ‘too much’ to pay for a wedding buffet.
Others said ‘if you can’t afford to feed your guests don’t have a wedding.’
With regards to the birthday party, the Mumsnet users were more forgiving, saying they could ‘understand’ that a little more.
Mumsnet users were just as shocked as the original poster was, calling the bride and groom ‘entitled’ but said they wouldn’t have so much of an issue with paying for pizza at a party
One user said: ‘Wow. I’ve never heard of this before. But I guess times are tough. If I couldn’t afford to feed my wedding guests.
‘I think I would just have a small wedding or save up a bit longer. Super cheeky to ask you to contribute!’
Another agreed saying: ‘I have never received an invitation like that, definitely normal to buy your own drinks from the bar though.
‘The last wedding we went to we had a glass of prosecco or juice on the terrace before the reception, one glass of wine and a glass of champagne with the meal.
‘I wouldn’t pay £200 on top of all the other costs of attending a wedding.’
One poster said it was fair enough, and paying for pizza was a ‘nice idea’ for a birthday event, however they did point out that £40 was a more realistic price limit
One person said that it was ‘fair enough’ and commented that it’s ‘ridiculous’ that the bride and groom should pay everything for their special day, adding: ‘I don’t have a problem with people paying for their own food at weddings. I think it’s fair enough and could be an arrangement instead of a gift.
‘But I wouldn’t expect this to surpass £40 and the cost of the wedding cake should not be factored in.
‘The purchase your own pizza thing is a nice idea. I would rather do this and go to three times as many birthday parties and weddings.
‘It’s just ridiculous that the bride and groom are expected to pay for everything. We’re in a day and age now where often financial help from the family is not available.’
Some wondered if the buffet would be ‘amazing’ for that price, saying: ‘Is it an amazing banquet for £100 each?
‘Totally out of order I can sort of understand the party, as so much food goes to waste and that way you can eat before you go. But it’s still a bit strange.’