A newlywed couple from Chicago, Doug Simmons, 44, and Dedra McGee, 43, sparked a debate online after they sent a bill to their wedding guests who had confirmed their attendance but didn’t show up to the destination wedding at Royalton Negril Resort & Spa in Jamaica. The couple decided to send a message to their no-show guests by billing them $120 per seat, resulting in a $240 bill for couples who didn’t attend the wedding. They suggested that the guests pay via Zelle or PayPal.
The couple’s memo went viral after a photo of the invoice was posted on Twitter. The couple explained in the invoice 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 for your seat(s) in advance.”
Although it’s understandable that the couple would be upset to have spent $120 on someone who didn’t show up, the bold move was sure to damage any friendship, and it’s no surprise that it sparked disbelief and a heated discussion online. Some people were shocked to see a wedding reception invoice for the first time, while others were disgusted by the couple’s missive and didn’t mince words.
However, the newlyweds also received their fair share of support, with some people applauding their decision. Many people have had experiences with no-shows for events, including weddings, which can lead to a lot of wasted food and money. The couple’s decision to call out the bad behavior of their guests received mixed reactions, with some people believing it was tacky and others believing it was justified.
Doug, a small business owner, admitted that he got a “little petty,” but he’s “not some trifling person who is going to bill somebody.” He said that he wasn’t even stressed about the money since the wedding was pre-paid. The couple just wanted to send a message to the rude guests who left them feeling hurt and disrespected by their no-shows after realizing that not everyone who RSVP’d had kept their word.
Doug explained that they had asked their guests multiple times if they were available to come to the wedding, and they kept saying yes. The couple had to pay in advance for the destination wedding, and no one told them that they wouldn’t be able to make it. Doug said that he would have been understanding if someone had told him they couldn’t make it, but to tell him nothing and let him pay for them and their plus ones was disrespectful. He described how four people became eight people, which led to him feeling personally hurt.
No one wants to dish out $120 for nothing, but those who have had any kind of event where an RSVP is requested realize that no-shows are to be expected. However, that doesn’t make them any less rude. After all, there would be nothing to talk about here if the guests had kept their word or at least apologized. It’s hard to fault someone for calling out bad behavior, and it’s safe to say that Mr. & Mrs. Simmons made their point.
Leave a Comment