An invoice sent from a newlywed bride and groom to no-show guests has Twitter users fiercely divided over wedding etiquette. While countless people have called the move "petty," others argued the bill was a valid tactic for handling the situation.
The post has gone viral on the app, racking up over 7,900 likes and 3,800 replies in a matter of days.
The now-viral image is the latest instance of social media users taking impassioned stances on the dos and don'ts of wedding ceremonies: earlier this week, for example, a bridesmaid claimed that she was kicked out of a wedding after cutting her hair, sparking widespread conversation on Reddit.
In this particular instance, however, the conversation started when Philip Lewis, senior front page editor at the Huffington Post, tweeted an image of the invoice, which can be viewed here.
It details the event in question (a "Wedding Reception" at the Royalton Negril, a resort in Negril, Jamaica) as well as stating the reason for the bill: "No Call, No Show Guest." It goes on to list a "Unit Price" of $120 per wedding reception dinner and, since there were two guests, a total feel of $240. Sent on August 18, it gives the guests a one-month deadline to pay the amount.
The invoice also includes the following note:
"This invoice is being sent to you because you confirmed seat(s) at the wedding reception during the Final Headcount. The amount above is the cost of your individual seats. Because you didn't call or give us proper notice that you wouldn't be in attendance, this amount is what you owe us for paying your seat(s) in advance. You can pay via Zelle or PayPal. Please reach out to us and let us know which method of payment works for you. Thank you!"
While Lewis posted the image, it remains unclear who the bill was actually sent to—as he clarified in the replies, he was not the recipient of the invoice. He wrote: "This isn't mine lol. I'm in a groupme discussing it with friends."
Regardless, the image ignited a fiery debate on the app.
Many, for example, empathized with the bride and groom, arguing that the no-show guest was in the wrong for not providing notice. "Legit! (Outside of an emergency)," wrote radio personality Scotty Kay.
ABC7 Eyewitness News Anchor Jory Rand made a similar point: "Fully behind this! Barring an emergency, how do you bail on a friend/family member's wedding without telling them?"
"Awfully tacky, but worse to RSVP and then not show up," echoed writer Helen Kennedy.
Others, however, were not as generous towards the newlywed hosts, leading to many humorous remarks. "The gall, just have a smaller wedding you freaks," tweeted writer and performer Jay K. Cagatay.
"You don't bill someone who no shows your wedding reception," tweeted writer and performer Sam Haft. "You just silently resent them and never speak again."
Author Frederick Joseph, meanwhile, called it "easily one of the tackiest things [he's] ever seen."
Despite the controversy, most could agree on one thing—the invoice would likely bring the friendship to an end. Tweeted co-founder of the Eldritch Foundry Matan Gilat: "Looks like you can either pay or not, but this 'friendship' is at an end. Also, don't pay."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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