I blinked at the screen. Italy? Hadn’t they just said they were keeping it small because of money? Now, suddenly, they were flying across the world?

I sat there for a second, debating whether to say something. Maybe they had some kind of unexpected windfall? Maybe they won the lottery? Who was I to question it?

But then I kept reading.

The message wasn’t an invite. It was a fundraiser link.

They were asking friends and family to donate to help cover their wedding costs.

My jaw actually dropped.

I read the message over again, thinking maybe I misunderstood. But nope—it was exactly what it looked like. They wanted us to help them afford a luxury wedding in Italy.

I scrolled down the page. They had different “donation tiers,” like some kind of Kickstarter campaign:

• $50 = A handwritten thank-you card
• $100 = A personal shout-out in their wedding video
• $500 = A “special mention” in their vows (???)
• $1000+ = An invite to the wedding

Yeah. You read that right. If you wanted to attend their wedding, you had to pay for the privilege.

At first, I laughed. Like, there was no way they were serious. But then I saw people actually donating.

My aunt had already sent $200. My mom? $150. A couple of my cousins had chipped in, too.

I was floored.

I messaged my mom.

Me: You actually sent them money??
Mom: Well, I want to be supportive. Weddings are expensive!
Me: Yeah, but they literally just said they couldn’t afford a small wedding. Now they expect us to pay for their dream wedding?

Mom just replied with a shrug emoji.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m all for helping people when they need it. Emergencies, medical bills, unexpected hardships? Absolutely.

But a wedding in Italy? That was a choice.

And the part that really got me? They had the money for a small wedding. They just didn’t want a small wedding.

And instead of adjusting their expectations, they were asking everyone else to foot the bill.

I debated whether to respond to my cousin’s message. I didn’t want to be rude, but at the same time, I felt like someone needed to say something.

So, finally, I just replied:

“Hey, congrats again! Super happy for you guys. Just curious—how did you go from a small Vegas wedding to this? Did something change?”

It took her a while to reply. When she finally did, she said:

“Hey! Yeah, we just realized we really wanted something special, you know? Vegas felt too basic. We figured Italy is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing!”

I stared at my phone.

Okay. Sure. But why did that mean we had to pay for it?

I decided to just be honest.

“Totally get wanting something special! But I have to be real—I can’t justify donating to someone else’s wedding when I have my own expenses, you know? Wishing you guys the best though!”

I hit send.

Almost immediately, I saw the typing… bubble pop up.

Then it stopped.

Then it started again.

Then it stopped.

A few minutes later, I got a short reply:

“No worries! Just thought we’d give people the chance to be part of something amazing. Hope you’re doing well!”

Something about it felt… off. Like she was annoyed but trying not to show it.

And honestly? I didn’t care.

Fast forward a couple of months.

They did have the wedding in Italy.

And from what I saw on social media, it was extravagant. Like, professional videographers, designer outfits, a castle venue—the whole nine yards.

At first, I felt a little bad. Maybe I was too harsh? Maybe I should have just let it go?

But then, the aftermath happened.

Turns out, a lot of people who donated were expecting invites—even at the lower tiers.

My cousin? She only invited the people who gave over $1000.

Cue the drama.

My aunt (who donated $200) was furious she didn’t get an invite. Same with my mom. And a bunch of cousins.

People were posting about it.

Someone even commented on one of their wedding photos:

“Wow, amazing wedding! Wish I could’ve been there, but I guess my $200 wasn’t enough for a seat. Hope the thank-you card is nice though.”

Oof.

In the end?

My cousin and her husband came back from their honeymoon to complete chaos.

Half the family was mad at them. Friendships were ruined. And to top it all off?

They still ended up in debt.

Because even with all the donations, the wedding was way more expensive than they expected.

Now, they were asking for more help—this time, to “get back on their feet.”

At that point, even my mom was done.

She texted me:

“Guess you were right. Should’ve just let them do Vegas.”

I didn’t say “I told you so.”

But I did send her a shrug emoji back.

Lesson Learned?

If you can’t afford something, scale back your expectations—don’t expect other people to pay for your dreams.

And if you do ask for money, be honest about what people are getting in return.

Otherwise?

You might end up with a wedding in Italy… and no family left to celebrate with you.

Have you ever experienced something like this? Share your thoughts in the comments! And if you enjoyed the story, don’t forget to like and share! ❤️