Jessica Baker tells KARE 11 that she missed a wedding she RSVPed to after her babysitting plans fell through at the last minute, and she couldn't bring her uninvited children along to the adults-only reception. A few weeks later, the Golden Valley, Minnesota resident was flabbergasted to receive a $75.90 dinner invoice in the mail for the fish entrées she and her husband would have consumed at the couple's reception. And no, it wasn't a joke!
The note read: "This cost reflects the amount paid by the bride and groom for meals that were RSVP'd for, reimbursement and explanation for no show, card, call or text would be appreciated." Baker's etiquette dilemma became a national trending topic overnight when KARE 11 posted it to their Facebook page, and thousands of people wrote in with their opinions.
It's not uncommon for a few guests who RSVPed not to make it due to an emergency, whether it's an illness, death in the family, or even just getting the date mixed up. If you find yourself in a similar situation as Baker, and you're unable to reach the couple, try to get in touch with the mother of the bride to let them know you won't be attending. Although no-shows can be disappointing, the RSVP isn't a binding contract, and guests aren't obligated to pay for their dinner portion. Asking them to do so is not only in extremely poor taste but will also likely cost you whatever relationship you had!
That being said, there are rare instances where a significant number of guests may cancel — remember Hurricane Sandy? — so it doesn't hurt to add some cushioning to your budget to prevent any unforeseen mishaps.
Tell us: What would YOU do in this scenario?
—Stefania Sainato
- ssainato's blog
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