A bride asked her bridal party to pay up $300 each for her bridal shower, leaving people debating what's acceptable for weddings.
According to a recent Reddit post, a bridesmaid who happens to be the bride's cousin received a link to RSVP for the upcoming shower venue. When she followed the link, it asked her to pay a whopping $300 fee.
"She said everyone's got to chip in," the bridesmaid complained, calling the demand "straight-up classless."
The bridesmaid said she felt obligated to attend since she's in the bridal party. But she was upset about spending money on a winery event when she's not even a wine drinker.
"Essentially, I'm shelling out for something I can't even enjoy. Saying I'm ticked is an understatement," she said in the post.
The bridesmaid had already spent a significant amount on the wedding, like $1,000 for the bachelorette party and her bridesmaid outfit. She felt her cousin was continually requesting more financial contributions.
"I feel like she keeps piling on more things that I have to shell out money for," the bridesmaid wrote.
The post garnered over 100 comments. Many respondents sided with the bridesmaid, asserting that requesting guests pay for a bridal shower crosses an etiquette line.
"It's rude to expect people to fork over this kind of money for a shower," one commenter said. Another wrote, "When you invite, you pay. When you plan a group outing together, everyone pays."
Some criticized the extravagance of hosting a bridal shower at an expensive venue, contrasting it with traditional at-home celebrations. "When did we start booking expensive venues for a shower???" a user remarked.
While many urged the bridesmaid not to attend, she eventually revealed her decision to skip the event while still sending a gift.
"I don't want to spend that much money for an event that is centered around a wine tasting when I don't drink, and I also feel that it's just beyond rude to expect anyone to spend that much money," she explained.