A woman shared on a now-deleted Reddit post that she was invited to a friend’s destination wedding at a remote resort, where guests were expected to pay $300 per night for accommodation, according to Bored Panda.
The post reportedly claimed that the resort had no on-site restaurant, meaning guests would need to cook their own meals for the entire three-night stay. The original post has since been deleted, but details from the poster’s comments remain available.
The woman claimed the couple also expected guests to help prepare the food for the wedding itself, on top of cooking for themselves throughout the stay. According to her comments, the resort was about a four-hour drive away, with no town within an hour of the location. She added that the resort required a three-night minimum, putting the accommodation cost alone at around $900 per person.
Guests were expected to cover accommodation, groceries, and cooking labor for the entire wedding weekend
When she asked whether the couple would at least arrange a food truck for the wedding ceremony, the groom reportedly said it was too expensive to bring one out to the location. She said she told the couple she would not be attending, adding in one comment: “I’d rather pay my mortgage or go on my own vacation to someplace I want to go.”
The poster said the couple had between 40 and 60 guests on their invite list. In the comments, she noted that the trip would also require guests to take time off work, as the stay would span a Friday or Monday. She mentioned that she has two children and suggested the arrangement would also be difficult for other guests with kids, who would need to arrange childcare for three nights.
When she raised her concerns with the couple, she claimed the bride’s response was that guests who were not willing to make the arrangements did not “deserve” to be at the wedding. The poster said she ended the conversation by telling them: “I hope you and the friends who can afford/make the trip have a wonderful time together.”
Wedding planning gone wrong is not always limited to guest expectations, as one Philly woman faced a string of wedding disasters, including a car crash and a lost marriage certificate, and is now suing over the experience.
Reddit commenters were critical of the couple’s expectations. One user wrote: “If I’m paying 300+ a night I ain’t cooking for a crowd. No thank you!” Another said, “If they can’t provide everything, lodging and catering, they shouldn’t have a wedding out in the middle of nowhere.” Several others said they would simply decline the invitation.
Wedding expert Jhona Yellin, editor at Bespoke Bride, explained: “Not everyone has the same budget, so a pricey resort could alienate guests who might already be stretching their wallets just to attend. If a single accommodation option is a must, it’s considerate for the couple to either chip in to cover costs or, at the very least, offer a range of affordable alternatives nearby.”
On asking wedding guests to help cook, Yellin said: “It may sound endearing, but it’s a plan with potential for serious chaos. Between timing, dietary needs, and the reality of preparing meals for a large group, things can quickly go from charming to stressful.”
She suggested alternatives such as food trucks or specialized vendors, saying: “This way, guests can enjoy memorable bites without anyone burning out (or burning dinner).” She also noted that couples on tight budgets have workable options, stating: “Buffet-style meals, food trucks, or family-style sharing platters are affordable and create a communal feel.”
For context, the average cost of attending a wedding in the United States in 2024 was around $610 per guest, according to a survey conducted by The Knot. That figure typically covers travel, accommodation, a gift, and an outfit, before any additional expectations like cooking are factored in. Some couples have drawn attention for pushing financial expectations even further, such as those who set up honeymoon funds, asking guests for tips.
Published: Jun 12, 2026 02:40 pm