The etiquette of failing to attend a wedding is up for debate after a Minnesota bride and groom sent a no-show invoice to one of their guests.
Jessica Baker was charged $75.90 (service and tax included) for the two “herb crusted walleye” she and her husband would have dined on.
“This cost reflects the amount paid by bride and groom for meals that were RSVPed for,” reads the invoice she shared with a Minnesota station.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said she thought when she saw it.
Baker, who threw the bill away, is reportedly related to one of the newlyweds. Her reason for the last-minute no-show was that the babysitter (her mom) cancelled at the last minute, and the invite stipulated that kids were not welcome at the reception.
Based on the invoice, she may not have passed on that message to the couple (who, in her defense, was probably a little busy).
Ottawa-based etiquette expert, Julie Blais Comeau, said that while you should alert someone as soon as possible in a situation like this, what the newlyweds did was a major faux-pas.
“Never, ever, ever should there be a bill coming out when somebody cannot show up or honour the commitment to an invitation.”
She stressed that an invitation should not be viewed as an exchange, and comes with the expectation that the person doing the inviting is going to be paying.
“Your guests are not there to fund your wedding.”
Having said that — even if you don’t attend a wedding you’re invited to — Comeau believes you should still offer a gift.
This isn’t the first time a no-show has been billed. Earlier this year in England, the parents of a five-year-old boy received a $24.00 bill when he failed to attend a birthday party.
READ MORE: Dad gets ‘no-show’ bill after son, 5, misses birthday party
They were also allegedly threatened with small claims court.
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