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A woman has expressed her anger after booking her flight and hotel for a destination wedding, only to discover she was not invited to the event.
In a recent post shared on the popular Reddit forum “Wedding Shaming,” the woman shared that her husband’s niece, whom she referred to as Jennifer, announced her engagement about 14 months before the wedding was scheduled. The wedding guest then shared some details about the event and the planning she and her husband had to do months beforehand.
“It was supposed to be a destination wedding and guests were advised to make all reservations in advance as the hotels on site would fill up quickly,” she wrote. “So we booked our hotel room, bought plane tickets, etc.”
She explained that “about seven months before the planned wedding date,” she and her husband received the “Save The Date” card. The note “reiterated the importance” of booking hotels and flights as soon as possible, something that these two wedding guests had already done.
However, a month before the wedding date, the Reddit user learned that the event had already taken place. She also acknowledged that neither she nor her husband were invited to that particular wedding.
“The bride’s father mentioned, VERY casually, that Jennifer had gotten married the weekend before, albeit at a new destination and with a very small number of guests in attendance,” she continued. “Up until that point, we had never been informed of any updates or any changes to the original plans! No card, no email, NOTHING!”
She said that since she and her husband found out about the wedding after it had taken place, “it was too late” to cancel their flight and hotel reservation. As a result, they “lost quite a bit of money.”
According to the Reddit user, she wasn't necessarily upset about the fact that she was essentially uninvited to the wedding, which occurred on a different date than initially planned.
“The thing is, I understand that life happens and sometimes plans change. In this case, Jennifer and her boyfriend had a valid reason (long story) for doing what they did,” she wrote, though she did not specify what that reason was.
However, she was upset by the fact that no one told her and her husband that the destination wedding they were planning would not be taking place.
“But I DON’T understand why we weren’t informed about the change of plans before the new wedding took place. I think even letting us and the others who weren’t invited know via a mass email would have been better than NOT receiving any communication at all,” she concluded. “A breach of etiquette, a lack of consideration and, yes, in bad taste!”
The Reddit post quickly went viral, receiving over 3,100 upvotes. In the comments, several people criticized the bride and groom for not notifying the Reddit user that their wedding plans had been changed.
“That is absurd. They should compensate their guests. I can’t imagine doing something so incredibly rude and selfish,” one wrote.
“Is it possible that the original wedding is still on? How are they going to explain this to people who show up? I’m so baffled how someone can be so rude!” wrote another. “I would try to get credits instead of a refund and see if I can book a holiday when I would have been at the wedding, then post pictures and tag them telling them my holiday is their gift.”
“That was incredibly inconsiderate! Wow. It’s okay that the wedding had to happen early; life happens and people are understanding,” a third agreed. “But telling people more than once that this was the destination/date, and encouraging the booking of plane tickets and accommodation, and not immediately“For example, the day it was decided that a particular wedding would not take place and not sending out a mass email immediately… was a dereliction of duty.”
Others encouraged the Reddit user and her husband to go ahead with the trip and enjoy it, since the hotel and flights are non-refundable.
“You should go, connect with the other guests who were tricked, post all the fun you’re having together on social media and not once mention the bride, groom or the wedding. Just a bunch of people having a great time,” one wrote.
“Since the trip is non-refundable, you might as well go on vacation. It will probably be more fun without the wedding nonsense,” another agreed.
