Marriage isn’t for the faint-hearted. It can come with a hefty price tag. One couple was especially upset about guests who RSVP’d “yes” but didn’t show up.
Fed up, they decided to send a $240 bill to everyone who had said they would attend but didn’t.
The invoice went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter. A user named Thweddat posted a picture of the bill, writing, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a wedding reception invoice before lol.”
Despite some doubting its authenticity, the couple confirmed it was real. Doug Simmons and Dedra McGee from Chicago explained what happened.
When they spoke to the media, Doug said he would have felt “some kind of way” if guests confirmed their attendance but then didn’t show up.
Doug originally shared the bill on Facebook. The invoice notes read, “This invoice is being sent to you because you confirmed seat(s) at the wedding reception during the Final Headcount. This sum is what you owe us for paying for your seat(s) in advance because you did not call or give us prior notice that you would not be in attendance.
PayPal or Zelle can be used for payment. Please get in touch with us and let us know which payment option is most convenient for you. I’m grateful.”
The situation sparked a heated debate online.
One person wrote, “I wish I had considered it. One-third of our RSVPs didn’t show. Even though it cost much less than $120 a plate, we paid for a LOT of food that went to waste.”
But others disagreed. One commented, “You are so dear to us that we invited you to our wedding. But since you didn’t let us show you in person, we are going to break up that relationship for $240. However, you’ll receive an invitation to our baby shower eventually, so please bring a present or a collection of faces.”
Another Twitter user wondered how easy it would be to just mail the invoice back.
Doug acknowledged that things had gotten “a little petty,” but he added, “I am not some trifling person who is going to bill somebody.”
Doug, a small business owner in Chicago, emphasized that the issue wasn’t about money but about the disregard shown by those who promised to attend but didn’t. The couple had saved diligently for their large-guest wedding.
“They repeatedly responded ‘Yes’ when we asked four times, ‘Are you available to come, can you make it?’” Doug explained. Frustrated, he added, “This was a destination wedding—we had to pay in advance for Jamaica.”
After doing a final count, they realized some guests didn’t show. Doug said, “No one texted or told me, ‘Hey, we can’t make it.’ All I wanted was that. I would understand if you told me you couldn’t make it, but to keep me in the dark and then allow me to cover the cost of you and your companions? I took it personally.” Four people turned into eight no-shows.
The couple didn’t specify what they would do if the bills weren’t paid, but it was clear that many of their relationships might be at risk.
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