A Reddit user became popular online after explaining why she didn’t want to pay for her best friend’s expensive honeymoon. Her post, shared by u/plastic-slide-775, got over 9,000 upvotes and more than 3,400 comments.
The 26-year-old woman was thrilled to be chosen as the maid of honor for her best friend Lisa, who is 28. Everything was going well until Lisa and her fiancé revealed they were struggling to afford their dream trip to Bora Bora in French Polynesia. The woman offered to contribute a significant amount to help.
But things turned sour when Lisa and her fiancé opted for a luxury resort, driving up the costs. “The expenses were astronomical, much more than I expected,” the woman wrote. “When Lisa sent me the breakdown of the costs and my share, I was shocked. It was more than double what I had planned.”
Bethany Skorik, founder of The Charming Diplomat, an etiquette consulting firm, told Newsweek, “Offering to fund the honeymoon was very generous, beyond what’s expected from a maid of honor or family member. The bride was wrong in making extensive demands.
Lisa was upset when her friend couldn’t cover the increased cost of the dream honeymoon. “Lisa got angry and said I was ruining her dream trip,” the woman said. “I explained I couldn’t afford it and offered the original amount I had planned.”
“She argued that as her best friend and maid of honor, I should make sacrifices for her big day. I feel awful because I don’t want to disappoint my friend,” she added.
The disagreement caused tension between them, with Lisa considering replacing her as maid of honor. Their mutual friends are split on the issue: some support the woman’s decision, while others think she should meet Lisa’s financial expectations.
Despite the mixed reactions from their social circle, most Reddit users sided with the woman and criticized her friend. “Let the trash take itself out,” one user commented. Another said, “It’s unbelievable how people expect their friends to risk their financial security for YOUR honeymoon. If you can’t afford it, save until you can, like any responsible adult.”
“Who are these friends siding with the bride? They should chip in for the honeymoon,” a third user suggested.
Skorik advised the woman to clearly state what she can afford and suggest creative ways to bridge the gap. She recommended involving their friends to share the costs more fairly, perhaps funding specific honeymoon activities as wedding gifts.
