Asking Wedding Guests to Pay for Their Own Food

As long as the guests are told before arriving and the approximate cost then I suppose it’s acceptable but I wouldn’t do it. Sorry SamGoodship.

Each to their own but I don't think so - people may already be paying for a present, outfit, attending hen/stag do, travel, accommodation etc. I would fold the food cost into my wedding budget and only invite as many people as I can comfortably pay for

In my opinion no. They are guests at your wedding and if gifts are received then I don’t think they should pay for food. If no gifts or money received as long as agreed with notice well beforehand then maybe in some circumstances.

I wouldn't ask my guests to pay, they are guess I wouldn't expect them to pay, my party, my bill

I had a low key wedding with about 30 people but I did feed everyone and have a free bar and entertainment.My stepson gave the church some money as well.

Its not tradition for the guests to pay for their own food, so no. Asking for them to pay Is mean In my opinion.

No you don't ask your guests to pay for their own food. We had a small wedding as that's what we could afford. I would never dream of asking my guests to pay for their own food. We paid for a certain number of drinks too but if they wanted more then they paid for those themselves, which has been the norm at the weddings I've been too.

No I couldn’t do that or even think about it but at end of the day it’s each to their own I suppose. I always thought as a guest at a wedding the price of your gift was to be roughly what your wedding meal would cost so if the meal was to cost roughly £50 & 2 of us went your gift should cost roughly £80-£120 or gift that amount of money. Being a guest at wedding is expensive enough, new outfit, woman maybe getting her hair and makeup done, button hole for man, corsage for woman etc and then a gift. Everyone loves a good wedding but I think if I was expected to pay for my own meal as well as above I think I’d decline unless it was very close friend r immediate family member

I wouldn’t dream of asking them to do this I would rather not do food than do that

No, it is not fair to ask guests to pay is just like asking them over for a cuppa and then asking them to pay for it

I think it's perfectly acceptable IF it's family, AND they are aware beforehand and have accepted the site/location and potential costs.

I wouldn't do it myself - I'd save up and buy the meal, over something else I am happy to forego (e.g.: a honeymoon or an expensive dress I'd only wear once), but I also understand that everyone's circumstances, priorities and thinking are different.

People should have the wedding they afford. Too many brides (I've never heard of a groomzilla demanding expensive nonsense, but I suppose it's possible) think they are entitled to the wedding of their dreams instead, and expect the cost to be met by others because they 'deserve' it. Similarly the American tradition of baby/bridal showers, which are just excuses to receive more presents, and gender reveals, that are pointless and tacky.

Are you a guest or a participant at the wedding in question?

Personally inviting guests should be at your expense I think

Ofc it is. Its also appropriate for them to ask you to buy your own wedding gift/s

No, I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t bother having a wedding with guests if I can’t afford the food. I’d rather elope and have strangers

Personally I don't think that's acceptable, the guests would have had to spend money beforehand on new outfits, travel and even accommodation, as well as a gift so to have to pay for your food on top is a no-no.

So, you blow thousands on a big wedding and honeymoon then expect guests to give you presents AND pay for their own food? NO

We went registry office then buffet with disco. Fortunately, we had some family sort out the buffet as their gift to us and another family member did the disco using my equipment - but I'd also put in a lot of extra hours doing work on the side to earn extra to pay for everything. At the time, I was a member of NALGO and they had a social club which I was able to hire, I also asked them to knock 30% off their drinks (which were cheap anyway) and I made up the difference (by way of a gift for everyone).

And 35 years later, we're still married whereas some friends went large, had a church do and fancy meals, got themselves up to their eyeballs in debt have now parted ways

My partner, daughter & I once went to a Wedding Reception in a Community Hall. The Bride & Groom were middle aged & friends of partner's brother through their church,I think they had been married before, she was high up at the NGH Hospital in Sheffield.

The children at the Thursday Stomp group made all the decorations & all the guests brought some food & we all shared it..

My partner said it was the most BORING Wedding he had been too in his life because it had hardly any Music.!

I would be happy enough to ask the guests to help out by paying for their food instead of buying wedding presents. Provide guests with a menu and prices beforehand and then they can choose to attend or not. Weddings can be stupidly expensive now.

It sounds rude asking guests to pay for the wedding dinner, as they are invitees and sharing your happiness. Accept the gift money with thanks whatever they give the bride and groom as cash in envelope.

We were invited to a wedding, although it was just the evening part and we were expected to pay for overnight accommodation unless we wanted to drive over two hours to get back home plus they were asking for money towards the alcohol and we were given a wedding gift list. Guess what? We didn’t go.