Woman opts out of best friend’s wedding after she charges her a $350 ‘wedding fee’: ‘I wish I was joking’
The extent of capitalism
Attending your best friend’s wedding should be one of the most exciting moments of your life, but for Hunter (.hunter0327), things were a bit different. In a TikTok video that has now garnered more than a million views, Hunter alleged that her best friend tried to charge her for her wedding celebrations. “I won’t be attending my best friend’s wedding after she sent me a Venmo request for $350. And I wish I was joking,” Hunter said at the opening of her video.
Hunter then clarified that her friend wasn’t having a destination wedding, and that she wasn’t asking only the bridesmaids to pay, but everyone attending. Recounting what she thought at the time and her conversation with her friend, Hunter said, “I thought that it was a mistake at first, so I wrote her, and I’m like, ‘hey, what is this request for?’ And she said, ‘That’s your wedding fee.’ And I said, ‘My wedding fee?’”
Hunter said she asked her friend to clarify the “fee,” highlighting the expenses she was already incurring because she was attending the wedding. “I’ve already bought my shoes. I’m paying for hair and makeup. I’ve taken time off work. I have a hotel. What do you mean, my wedding fee?” Hunter said, recounting.
In response to Hunter’s question, the friend reportedly said, “Well, things are just getting really out of hand, so that’s your share for the decorations, the food, the venue, the band.” Hunter mentioned she then asked her if she thought it was “too much” to request money from guests. The friend allegedly redirected the conversation to Hunter and suggested that her attendance was a deliberate choice that involved a mandatory payment. The friend also apparently asked Hunter not to buy her a wedding present and instead consider the payment as one.
“That’s selling tickets to a wedding”
People in the comments on Hunter’s post understandably had strong opinions about her case because instances like this are mostly unheard of. Some commenters said they wouldn’t go to such a wedding, while raising other concerns. One person wrote, “That’s not an invite. That’s selling tickets to a wedding.” Another person said, “Absolutely NOT. It’s their choice to get married, you should never expect your guests to help pay for your wedding. Scale back if you can’t afford it.”
A few people considered Hunter’s friend’s behavior normal and validated it. One user commented, saying, “You aren’t a best friend. I would pay anything my best friend wanted.” Another remarked, “you need some correction for your perspective. you should go regardless of what shes asking for. wedding doesn’t happen often. money comes and go.”
Some people, on the other hand, had pressing questions about the marriage, particularly about what would happen if it ended in divorce. One user noted, “Ask her if she’s willing to sign an agreement that she will refund. Everyone’s $350 fee when the marriage ends in divorce. i mean, at least with that comment. She will be equally offended, so you both get something out of it.” Another said, “Are you going to get refunded if they get divorced?”
Hunter’s video highlights an often overlooked issue: the pressure to have a socially acceptable marriage. Today, many save throughout their lives for their dream wedding. While this desire may be partly driven by personal fulfillment, opinions of others heavily influence these choices. Questions like “What will people say?” and “Will they like it?” or “Dislike it?” frequently trouble brides and grooms during planning, creating significant pressure.
Hunter’s friend likely attempted to address the pressure by charging guests a fee, aiming to stay true to her wedding vision. However, how much this was appreciated is uncertain, and Hunter certainly did not appreciate it. Maybe her friend should have considered scaling down her wedding, similar to what this bride did.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
