Weddings are not for the faint of heart. The event can run a pretty hefty bill. It seems this couple was not going to let the topic of no-shows go.
Keep reading to see what they decided to do with people who did not give them appropriate notice about being unable to attend…
A recently wedded couple felt deeply disappointed by the absence of guests who had confirmed their attendance for the wedding but failed to show up. In response, the couple took action by sending those guests a bill totaling $240 to cover the cost of their unoccupied seats.
The invoice quickly garnered attention when it was shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by a user named thweddat, who found the situation amusing. The due date for payment was listed as Aug. 18, a month after it was issued, and it appeared that the wedding, held at the Royalton Negril Resort & Spa in Jamaica, incurred expenses of $120 per person.
Although some doubted the authenticity of the invoice, the couple behind it, Doug Simmons and Dedra McGee from Chicago, confirmed its legitimacy. Speaking to the media, the groom expressed his disappointment with guests who confirmed attendance but failed to show up, admitting that it left him feeling disheartened.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a wedding reception invoice before lol pic.twitter.com/ZAYfGITkxP
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 24, 2021
Doug initially shared the invoice on Facebook, explaining that it was sent because guests had confirmed their attendance during the final headcount but then failed to provide notice of their absence. The couple emphasized that the invoice was not about the money but about the disrespect they felt from the no-shows.
“Four times we asked, ‘Are you available to come, can you make it?,’ and they kept saying ‘Yes,’ ” he clarified. “We had to pay in advance for Jamaica — this was a destination wedding,” he shared his frustration.
Responses to the couple’s action varied, with some sympathizing and others criticizing their approach. While one person admitted they wished they had done the same due to their own wedding experiences, another questioned the fairness of billing guests for not attending.
Despite admitting their actions may have been petty, Doug clarified that their intention was not to profit but to address the disregard shown by guests who failed to inform them of their absence. He highlighted the effort and expense involved in planning a destination wedding and expressed frustration at the lack of communication from absent guests.
“No one told me or texted me, ‘Hey, we can’t make it.’ That’s all I was asking. If you tell me you can’t make it, I would be understanding — but to tell me nothing, but then let me pay for you and your plus ones? Four people became eight people. I took that personally.”
The couple did not specify consequences for non-payment, but it’s clear that the incident has strained relationships. Opinions on the matter are divided, prompting discussions about the etiquette surrounding RSVPs and wedding attendance.
