Weddings. Supposed to be a celebration of love but often turn into a financial horror story for parents everywhere. This was exactly the conundrum one dad faced when his daughter dropped the Mother of All Bombs: a $200k destination wedding in scenic New Zealand.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. How did we get here? This dad, from the hustle and bustle of New York, had made what seemed like a sweet, heartfelt promise to cover his daughter’s wedding. Yes, that’s a commitment many parents happily make, thinking it’s all about nice tuxedos, fancy cakes, and some lovely flowers. But wait, there’s more.
Because our bride-to-be didn’t envision just any ordinary ceremony; she wanted the Rolls Royce of weddings, kilometers away in the picturesque landscapes of New Zealand. And with 100 to 200 guests. That’s right; it’s like wrapping up a lavish Broadway show, and shipping it across the globe for an audience that might not even want to go in the first place.
There he was, scrolling through his checks, feeling confident until the bill smacked him across the face—$200,000. Yes, that’s the price tag on his daughter’s dreamy wedding. Suddenly, dad was stuck between a rock and a very expensive place.
To make matters juicier, he took to Reddit to share his predicament on the ever-opinionated AITA (Am I The A*****e) thread. You can imagine the range of responses, but let’s get to the meat and potatoes.
He wrote: “My wife feels I should do it because we can afford it, but I find it to be a pointless showing of wealth. Now my daughter is not talking to me, nor is my wife. Which got me thinking should I bite the bullet and essentially burn money, and alienate family members to make my daughter’s dream wedding a reality?”
To no one’s surprise, Reddit was ablaze. One blunt commentator didn’t mince words: “If she can’t pay for a destination wedding on her own, then she shouldn’t be having a destination wedding. It seems cruel but it’s true. Not to mention there’s so much more money involved with the flights and the hotels and stuff. Is she going to be paying for her own ticket or are you expected to fork out for them too? And her fiancé’s ticket.”
Ouch, right? Yet brutally honest. Another added some tough love: “Not to mention the fact that she’s thrown a strop and isn’t talking to you tells me she doesn’t deserve it. I’m a believer of we are not entitled to our parents’ money. I don’t expect any inheritance off of my dad if he ever passes.”
However, it wasn’t all about bursting bubbles. One thoughtful Redditor offered a more diplomatic solution: “Establish the amount of $$ you are willing to provide and give her the budget. Tell her anything above that is on her and her fiance. Make sure to tell her if that includes travel, etc for the bridal couple and family members. If she wants a blow out wedding, she can pay for it.”
Seems pretty reasonable, right? Let’s just say that Reddit often has, well, better outcomes than real life. So far, the dad hasn’t provided an update, but he made it clear that his daughter is currently calling him a jerk and giving him the silent treatment. How charmingly ungrateful!
What’s the moral of this saga? Parenting is like walking a tightrope—balancing the desire to give your kids the world with the practical reality of not bankrupting yourself in the process. It’s about knowing when to be Santa Claus and when to channel your inner Scrooge.
So, should he cave in and bankroll a wedding that makes the Oscars blush? Or should he stand his ground and teach his daughter a valuable lesson in finance and humility? Ah, the trials and tribulations of modern parenthood.
Well, here’s my two cents. I say to the dad: “Stick to your guns. Raise a metaphorical toast to sensibility, and let your daughter discover that real love isn’t measured by the zeroes in a budget but by the moments that don’t cost a thing.”
