Guess Paying For Dinner

It`s probably a trend among the greedy, rude and uninformed.....it`s certainly not trend with anyone else. I really thought I`d heard it all when it comes to wedding greed, but that`s a new one! (lol) It sounds like this couple wants a wedding that they can`t afford; so, they want the guests to pay for the reception.

Somepeople are doing that but it is beyond rude. As a bride and groom they are to pay for the reception as a thank you to all their guests who came to support them. And just to let you know....that isn`t the worst thing that i have seen. I got invited to a wedding and it was potluck style. We were all asked to bring a dish to pass......for 120 people.!!!!!! totally unbelieveable!!!! i just laughed!!!

I think if a bride and groom have a potluck party because they can`t afford anything else, and they want to celebrate with their familes and friends - that they should have that right. If I cared about the person who was getting married, and I knew they could not afford a reception, I`d bring a dish without question or without laughing. The thing that bothers me about most people`s perception of weddings (and I am in the business!) is that so many people lose sight of the love and family togetherness aspect because of all the materialism involved. It`s almost like if you cant have a big expensive bash, that you don`t have any business getting married or having some semblance of a wedding - which is so very sad.

I see your point, Esmeralda, but there is a proper way to do things. I`ve been to several low budget weddings and they were done nicely and everyone had a good time. I think it`s perfectly fine if the bride and groom`s close friends and family provide the food and beverages. However, that should be done before the guests arrive. Pot luck dinners are fun, but a wedding reception (in my opinion anyway) is special and unique and not just a regular party. As a bride, I wouldn`t be comfortable asking my guests to bring their own food. There`s nothing wrong with sandwiches, punch and wedding cake. How you treat your guests is much more important than what you feed them.

Oh good Lord! Does it get much worse? Do these people not understand that their wedding reception is an event that they are HOSTING and that GUESTS do not pay?

It`s Ash Wednesday, let`s all pray for these fools!!! You must wonder if people like that ate paint chips as children.

What`s next, asking your guests to spring for your veil and flowers? Having a bouncer at the door to be sure everyone brings a gift?

The purpose of a reception is to receive your guests. Reception/Receive - the noun and verb of the same word. To have your guests pay for their meals or bring potluck dishes to feed your party is not a reception. By definition of "invited guest", a guest doesn`t fund the affair to which they are invited, nor do they do the work to provide the food and hospitality.

Esmerelda, it`s one thing for immediate family or very close friends to volunteer making food or decorations etc. It`s another thing entirely to demand these things on an invitation. You are throwing a party and inviting your guests to join you. You are not inviting your guests to throw you a party.

I agree, if you were invited as a guest, then that means your spot is paid for. If it were talked about first and agreed upon, then that would make you a host and not a guest.

Here`s the thing...
Geting married and having a wedding are two DIFFERENT things.
The point of a "wedding" is a celebration of your marriage an event hosted by the bride and groom and their families.
A "marriage" on the other hand is a contract between two people to lover each other until death do them part.
Now you can certainly have a marriage without a wedding. People who can`t afford to have a wedding do this very often, they go to the JP or sometimes they have a preacher marry them in a church.
The point is if you can`t afford a wedding, don`t have one! It`s not required!! If you can`t afford to feed the people you`re inviting to your wedding/reception forgo the affair and get married privately or with minimal guest. But don`t dare ask your guests to foot the bill, that`s completely RUDE!
Live within your means!