When Claire said yes to being a bridesmaid, she expected to celebrate her friend’s love—not to foot the bill for it.
The first warning sign was the $750 Vera Wang dress. Then came the custom shoes, the flights, and the spa day. But nothing prepared Claire for the moment she was stopped at the venue entrance and told she owed $5,000 to attend.
“I’m a bridesmaid,” Claire insisted, laughing nervously. The woman at the door didn’t blink. “Non-covered wedding party members are responsible for their share of the venue costs,” she replied. “We take Venmo.”
When Claire confronted the bride, Tessa acted like this was perfectly normal. “Jason and I decided the wedding party would contribute,” she said, as if Claire had somehow missed this in the months of planning.
Feeling betrayed, Claire did what any millennial would: she took a selfie at the vineyard and blasted the story online. Within minutes, guests were leaving. Vendors started packing up. And by the time Claire left in an Uber—still wearing the expensive dress she’d never wear again—Tessa’s wedding was already unraveling.
The fallout was brutal. Tessa left angry voicemails, but Claire stood her ground. “Financial ambush isn’t friendship,” she said. And as the story went viral, thousands of people agreed.
