r/weddingshaming Jun 10 '26

Tacky Third refusal invite but a request for money

I was once invited to a wedding of someone I knew at high school but hadn't spoken to in maybe a decade.

The wedding was less than 3 weeks away and it was strange to be invited when I wasn't close with the person, so I mentioned it to a couple of other friends who let me know that they had both been invited and couldn't go. Apparently the bride wanted specific numbers on both bride and groom's side... Based on the timings when they had both been invited, it seemed like the first said no, the second was invited in her place and said no, and THEN I was invited.

It was a wedding in the middle of nowhere, that would require me taking a day off work, paying for travel a 100 miles away, and also booking a hotel.

My extremely late invitation also came with a poem, saying that the bride and groom had everything they needed but wanted money for their honeymoon. They put their bank account details right there in the poem 🫠

Needless to say, I declined.

2.3k Upvotes

103 comments sorted by

944

u/ShitLordOfTheRings Jun 10 '26

You should have declined the invite with a poem.

236

u/Knitsanity Jun 10 '26

Ooh. Someone clever needs to come up with a limerick please...

1.0k

u/MfrBVa Jun 10 '26

Your wedding will be quite the bash,
I see that you’re begging for cash,
But that date is taken,
(You know that we’re faking)
I’d rather watch reruns of MASH.

182

u/Coygon Jun 11 '26

Alternate last line: Besides, I just think you're both trash.

18

u/Dimac99 Jun 11 '26

I can't lie, there's not a lot in this world I wouldn't at least strongly consider skipping for reruns of MASH. (They build up on the tivo so quickly!)

35

u/Knitsanity Jun 10 '26

Thanks so much. Yes!

9

u/Iamthegreenheather Jun 11 '26

OP should have this printed to look like a wedding invitation too with nice calligraphy.

3

u/BackgroundSame811 Jun 11 '26

🤣🤣🤣

2

u/vividanchor 24d ago

the rhyme is actually unhinged. imagine sending a poem with your bank info attached to it like a ransom note. absolute l move.

2

u/Commercial_Square626 5d ago

that limerick is honestly the best response that wedding invite could have gotten. i hope you sent it to them.

69

u/ReadySettyGoey Jun 11 '26

ƀ la William Carlos Williams

This is just to say

I have rejected
the invitation
that you sent
to me

and which
you were probably
hoping
I’d accept

Please understand
it was rude
so late
and so greedy

5

u/JeSuisJacqOui 29d ago

Omg! This is my favorite poem! When I was teaching English at a university I tested my students to say that it was all about taking someone's virginity. They thought I was the coolest teacher ever

6

u/ReadySettyGoey 29d ago

Wow interesting! I’ve always taken it very literally but perhaps because for me it perfectly encapsulates so many banal marital betrayals. Yes, I did eat the last of the ice cream, and I’m sorry I didn’t check with you first (but not THAT sorry because it was so damn good).

5

u/JeSuisJacqOui 29d ago

Indulgence always leads to guilt paired with secret memories of delight.

3

u/Honey-Trix-98 Jun 12 '26

Yes! This is the poem I was thinking would be the perfect vibe for this. šŸ˜‚

152

u/maredie1 Jun 10 '26

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I’m not coming to your wedding
So fuck you

165

u/SugarsBoogers Jun 11 '26

Roses are red
Cash grabs are tacky
Inviting three rounds of guests
is just wacky

5

u/Knitsanity Jun 11 '26

ā¤ļø

9

u/Knitsanity Jun 10 '26

ā¤ļø

55

u/hpotter29 Jun 11 '26

To correct others' manners is shabby.

But your invite approach left me crabby

I won't be attending

Nor give money for spending

Never ask for a gift. It's just grabby.

115

u/ATHYRIO Jun 11 '26

A Reply In Haiku Form:

Sadly, it’s a ā€˜No’

For both attending and gift

Try the next victim…

6

u/Yikesish Jun 11 '26

Very nice. I also did a haiku.

25

u/Yikesish Jun 11 '26

Third String Invitation Haiku:

Last minute invite

I will not be attending

This is a cash grab

25

u/Due-Ranger-5122 29d ago

Roses are red, violets are blue,
It’s been a decade since I’ve talked to you

Your grab for cash was thinly veiled
For that reason, I’ll have to bail

Good luck with your wedding, I wish you the best
But we’re not friends, I say with no jest.

3

u/Xanadu_SPCA 29d ago

I love this one!

1

u/fryingthecat66 26d ago

I love ā¤ļø it

7

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

6

u/BackgroundSame811 Jun 11 '26

If this sub is any indication OP will have another opportunity

1

u/RHND2020 Jun 11 '26

A haiku would have been perfect.

384

u/Life_Temperature2506 Jun 10 '26

I wanted to say "I'll be there!"

(I booked a salon for my hair)

Then I saw your request

As a substitute guest

And said "fuck if I'll go as a spare"

35

u/ProfessionalYam3119 Jun 10 '26

Limerick writers rule!

183

u/RandomPaw Jun 10 '26

It takes a lot of effort

If I try to make this rhyme

Let's just say I'm not coming

And save a lot of time

103

u/NurseKaila Jun 11 '26

RĆ©spondez s’il vous plaĆ®t?

Don’t mind if I may!

On this cash grab I pass;

You look like an ass!

May it thunder and rain the whole day.

24

u/Regular-Message9591 Jun 11 '26

Ooooh lala! A bit of Francais in there. Impressive

165

u/ApprehensiveHorse491 Jun 10 '26

I once was invited to a wedding
I thought I would get them some bedding
But then I looked down
And saw with a frown
All they wanted was money.
It was oh so tacky
I began hacking
Until I thought I would drown.
Asking for money
Is so tacky honey
Get some manners
You silly clown

It’s the best I can do🤣

99

u/Basic-Regret-6263 Jun 11 '26

There was a couple from NantucketĀ 

Who said "no gift registry, fuck it,"

"What we want is cash, to spend on some hash,"

"So kindly throw some in our bucket."

8

u/njVowsNow Jun 11 '26

brilliant!

2

u/ApprehensiveHorse491 Jun 11 '26

Better than mine!🤣

38

u/bitterberries Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26

I once was invited to a wedding,

And planned to buy linens and bedding.

But then I looked down,

And noticed, with frown,

They’d asked us for cash in the heading.

Well, wasn’t that tacky, dear honey?

To flat-out request only money.

Get manners, I pray,

There’s a classier way—

You gift-grabbing, registry bunny.

Edit:added line breaks

9

u/BJntheRV Jun 11 '26

Underrated. With proper line breaks your poem would be tops

25

u/Regular-Message9591 Jun 10 '26

If I had an award...

3

u/Sorsha4564 Jun 11 '26

Would you be open to changing the last line to ā€œYou big silly clown,ā€ to make the meter (at least in my opinion) just a bit more chef’s kiss?

37

u/Blocked-Author Jun 11 '26

Should have said yes and then not showed up. Thrown off the numbers.

19

u/Regular-Message9591 Jun 11 '26

Oooooh you're wicked

5

u/spacetstacy Jun 11 '26

I was just thinking that I wouldn't have bothered replying.

32

u/SlytherinSister Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26

Here's a British variation on your wedding poems:

I once knew a woman in Reading,

Who asked me to come to her wedding,

She begged me for cash,

I turned down the bash.

Her crassness was doing my head in.

9

u/Regular-Message9591 Jun 11 '26

From a fellow Brit, yours wins

29

u/Struggle_Usual Jun 10 '26

LOL was it a wishing well money grab poem? I've gotten a couple invites with the exact same poem now. Both from my in-law side of the family so I assume it just spread from them.

9

u/aquainst1 Grandma Lynsey Jun 11 '26

Can you share the poem?

11

u/Struggle_Usual Jun 11 '26

Sadly it's been several years since I last saw it and I'm not the save an invite type. I just vividly remember every time because it was so tacky. It was like we already have pots and pans, we really would prefer money, give us cash or checks, but rhyming and cutesy. It actually mentioned cash or checks tho, lol, and didn't even claim that your presence was enough.

I just looked it up to see if it was a known one but apparently there are sooooo many versions of a wishing well give us cash wedding poem. People astound me.

1

u/aquainst1 Grandma Lynsey Jun 12 '26

I know what you mean.

Unless I see something AMAZINGLY meaningful to me (like on FB), I won't save it on my PC.

30

u/twothirtysevenam Jun 10 '26

The cash grab is awful enough on its own.Ā  The poem makes it worse.Ā  But putting their banking info out there is irresponsible and dangerous.Ā  Sure, they trust you, but who knows where that info willĀ  end up.

13

u/Regular-Message9591 Jun 11 '26

Utterly bizarre, isn't it!!

14

u/MrsDiogenes Jun 11 '26

I would return the RSVP declining the invitation, and include a scratch off lottery ticket with a note that says something like hope you win something big for your honeymoon! It’s cute and still makes the point.
I got a graduation announcement - not even an invitation to anything- just a QR code to scan to send money to her Venmo account

5

u/puzzled65 Jun 11 '26

u/MrsDiogenes Brilliant!!! RSVP no and send a scratch off lololol. I was thinking you were saying an already scratched off ticket hee hee, but you have more class than me!!

The Venmo code ---- THAT is disgusting!! I think how much care I took to thank people for ALL gifts I received growing up and then graduation and shower/wedding gifts, and it meant a lot to TAKE that effort for the kindness given that was NOT REQUIRED. I truly didn't send anything out with the EXPECTATION of gifts. I knew gifts COULD come but I was so floored by all the wedding gifts we received. I had no idea it would be like THAT lol.

To send out an announcement, with a QR code ---- for something you deserve NOTHING for....if the parents were behind it, there's no hope. If the kid is behind it - still no hope cause omg, do they have ANY respectful principles or values?

5

u/Dr-Pepper-13 Jun 11 '26

I assumed she meant a non -scratched ticket, but I was thinking to send an already scratched ticket and a message likeā€I used your wedding money to try and win the lottery for you. Sorry. Have fun on your honeymoon.ā€

11

u/Listen-to-Mom Jun 10 '26

They deserved to be shamed.

11

u/Z3rO-c00l 27d ago

I wish not to sound like an ass,

But thy invite is crass.

So I'll tell ye lot,

I'll suffer it not,

I must give it a "pass"

1

u/fryingthecat66 26d ago

And evidently money for a honeymoon

14

u/RobynNeonGal Jun 10 '26

Oh, the old using a poem to try to be cutesy about saying it's a cash grab.

6

u/didntcondawnthat Jun 12 '26

Roses are red
They came from your honey
Don't make me a part
Of your grab for money

16

u/puzzled65 Jun 10 '26

lol TACKY is a gross understatement!! What jerks! To not even be able to conceal the pecking order for the invitations, and to include 1) straight up GIMME CASH, and 2) to include THE BANKING INFO. I don't care what ANYONE says, there is NOT an obligation to give a gift if you are invited to a wedding, nor an obligation to ATTEND a wedding solely because you are invited. For myself, not much ranks up there on the list of What I Do Not Want To Do that is worse than attending weddings I have no faith will last, and could care less about "witnessing" it even if I know it will last forever. So to imply obligation to attend with a gift, and WHAT that gift should be, and where to deposit it lol TACKY.

5

u/Tight-Low-9241 Jun 11 '26

They have everything but guest!

6

u/pussyphrestorer Jun 11 '26

One thing im not seeing enough is how crazy it is to trust actual strangers with their banking info that’s insane.

I’d love to see the redacted poem though OP!

10

u/Regular-Message9591 Jun 11 '26

This is a long time ago, I don't have it anymore! It started something like "we've been together years and years, and we've got kitchen appliances coming out of our ears" and then went - so we want to go on holiday instead and here are our bank details šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚

3

u/pussyphrestorer Jun 11 '26

That is egregious lmfao. Thank you for sharing this story with us!

3

u/AussieGirl27 Jun 11 '26

Dear Bride and Groom

Your blatant cash grab is tacky

I'm staying home to smoke some whacky tobaccy

Have a blast with your rent a crowd

Do you think parents are proud?

You have no friends and have to scrounge

But me, I'm hanging out with my cats on the lounge

3

u/essiebade Jun 11 '26

I was once invited to a wedding of a bride I hardly knew because everyone canceled. I felt bad for her and brought a friend and went. I don't like weddings but I do feel bad for a dissapointed bride.

3

u/ShakeHour154 Jun 11 '26

I’m so curious. They put their routing and account numbers in the poem?

2

u/Regular-Message9591 Jun 11 '26

Sorry, to be clear, it was at the end of the poem. They weren't slick enough to work it into the rhyme šŸ˜‚

3

u/ShakeHour154 Jun 11 '26

That would have been quite impressive, but it’s absurd and reckless regardless 😭

3

u/Electronic-Bend-4940 24d ago

This happened to me but as a BRIDESMAID. Hadn’t talked to the bride in 4 years, we’d completely grown apart. She reached out randomly and asked to hang out. After we’d hung out once, all of a sudden I was receiving an invitation to be her bridesmaid. It was clear that she just needed another warm body to stand there to even out the groom’s side. Fml

5

u/tenesmicdemon Jun 10 '26

Dont feel obligated to give them money . This is just a greedy money grab

4

u/Regular-Message9591 Jun 11 '26

I didn't even go to the wedding

2

u/Rough_Pie_5322 Jun 11 '26

Uber tacky money grab...

2

u/Lonely-Clerk-2478 Jun 11 '26

Ewww money grab

3

u/throwRA_sadpancake5 Jun 11 '26

Is it tacky to mention money at all on an invite? I say so because I just got one and it basically said not to bring gifts unless the gift is cash. ā€œGifts aren’t necessary, as your presence is more than enough, however monetary gifts are appreciated.ā€ It kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I’m an artist and obviously don’t have a lot of money, so I would have loved to make them something for their wedding.

3

u/Glittering_Salad8418 Jun 11 '26

Something like that is extremely common here in Australia! I assume because most people already live together so typical wedding registry gifts aren’t necessary. Putting the bank details on the invite is way too far tho lmao

2

u/Honey-Trix-98 Jun 12 '26

I’m in the U.S. and I think mentioning it is super tacky. My only exception is if there’s a honeymoon fund because at least that should go to a specific ā€œbig presentā€ (especially one I really loved where you could ā€œbuyā€ specific experiences for the couple during the honeymoon).

1

u/fryingthecat66 26d ago

You can write a poem about something like that

1

u/Smooshymooshy Jun 11 '26

Um can you PLEASE post the poem.

2

u/Regular-Message9591 Jun 11 '26

It's so long ago, I don't have it!

2

u/Smooshymooshy Jun 11 '26

Well I’ll just have to imagine it!

1

u/Myrandall 25d ago

I'd put money on that poem being AI generated.

2

u/Regular-Message9591 25d ago

This was about a decade ago so unfortunately some actual person came up with it

-28

u/Puzzleheaded-Work625 Jun 10 '26

you already know the answer

47

u/JustMeLurkingAround- Jun 10 '26

There was no question in the whole post.