The following four Reddit stories show what can go wrong within families to cause the people paying for weddings to change their minds. One father revealed his daughter, the bride, left her homosexual brothers out of her wedding despite treating them like equals in other spaces.
Stepdad Pays for Stepdaughter’s Wedding but Gets Cut out of the Event
On June 2, 2013, a man turned to Reddit's "Off My Chest" forum to share a story that had weighed heavily on his mind as his stepdaughter's wedding day approached. The original poster (OP) mentioned that his stepdaughter was set to marry on August 3.
An older man hugs a younger woman | Source: Shutterstock
The Reddit user noted how the wedding planning consumed the bride-to-be and her mother over the past six months. He clarified the status of his relationship with his daughter's mother by saying:
"I say her mother because we aren't married, though we've lived together for 10 years."
An older man reaching out to hug his daughter who's seated on a couch | Source: Pexels
OP then revealed the substantial financial support he gave his stepdaughter, including covering the cost of her college education, which came to $40,000, despite her attending a state school. Additionally, he bought a car to ease her commute to and from college.
What bothered him more than anything was how his stepdaughter treated him differently compared to her biological father. OP explained that, at times, his stepdaughter's biological parent would reappear and disappear in her life, but she still showed him deep affection.
An older man and younger woman pictured laughing together while watching TV and eating popcorn | Source: Shutterstock
As the wedding day drew close, OP's frustration grew when he discovered that the wedding venue had a strict capacity of 250 people. He'd provided a list of 20 people he wished to invite, considering his substantial financial contribution to the occasion.
A couple seated together discussing something while a laptop sits on the woman's lap | Source: Shutterstock
OP revealed that he was informed it wouldn't be a problem and would be taken care of, so he told his guests about their invites and urged them to save the date. However, during a chance encounter at the golf course, one of his friends on the guest list said he hadn't received an actual invitation.
An older man looks worried and confused | Source: Shutterstock
He was startled to discover that none of the people from his list made the final guest list because of space constraints. "250 people is very tight," was his girlfriend's explanation that failed to satiate his anger. OP felt helpless, as the damage had already been done, and the important people in his life were left offended.
The tension escalated further when, during a Sunday dinner with the future in-laws, his stepdaughter announced a surprise guest: her "Real Dad." She joyfully shared that the parent would be attending the wedding to give her away.
A group of friends and family pictured raising their glasses for a toast at a party | Source: Shutterstock
Fueled by anger and feeling disrespected, OP took a moment to collect his thoughts and once he regained his composure, he rose from his chair and expressed his desire to propose a toast. He noted his ten-year presence within the family and how recent events - through the bride and groom - led him to realization.
The stepfather explained that the couple had shown him that his role within the family wasn't as he had once perceived. He mentioned how he used to see himself as commanding respect, a figure of authority, and being required for assistance during times of need.
A happy older man raises a toast at an event | Source: Shutterstock
He then toasted the happy couple and the path they chose. Tantrums and murmurs among the guests were heard, but no one approached OP. A heated argument ensued with his girlfriend who accused him of being selfish and he spent the night in his home office.
A stressed older man sitting with his hand on his temple while holding a pen and looking at his laptop | Source: Pexels
The Redditor transferred the money for the wedding out of his shared joint account with his girlfriend that same night. In the morning he called the vendors and asked for refunds. He happened to flip through the bride's wedding planner, discovering that the father/daughter dance section was catered to the biological dad's taste.
A woman holding a bag before leaving a house | Source: Pexels
He said the wedding plans were scaled back with the couple trying to involve the groom's parents. However, his girlfriend tried to write a check for herself from their joint account not long after the incident, further burning bridges with him. Despite everything, he felt a sense of closure and thanked everyone for their support.
Father of the Bride Pulls Out of Paying for Wedding after Daughter Sidelines Her Gay Brothers
An older man with other adults | Source: Pexels
Besides Casey, he is also a father to sons Alex, 31, and Tom, 34, including an older and the youngest daughter. With Casey's wedding coming up, the responsibility of paying for expenses fell on him. OP revealed that the groom's family lives in another country and the currency exchange rate prevented them from being able to afford to pay for the wedding and travel to attend simultaneously.
The Redditor had no problem footing the bill for the ceremony because he only wanted his daughter to be happy. However, when Tom, Alex, and their families visited him while Casey was away, that's when he learned the shocking details surrounding the wedding.
An older man comforting a young woman | Source: Shutterstock
While discussing wedding invitations OP was shocked to discover that his sons had not received theirs. He made nothing of it, thinking Casey had not sent out the rest of the invitations to the family yet.
It was not until his oldest and youngest daughters informed him that they received their invitations that he started to sense something was wrong. He called his sister, who also confirmed that she and her entire family got their invitations, adding that hers came a while back.
A bride crying on her wedding day | Source: Shutterstock
Oddly enough, the parent revealed none of it made sense because "Casey has always been close to them and supported them when they came out as non-binary and gay, respectively." Disturbed by the revelations, OP called her, demanding an explanation, writing:
"My daughter said that Max and his family don't feel comfortable with couples that are not traditional and it goes against their culture, and that she hopes for my understanding."
A couple smiling while touching noses and foreheads | Source: Pexels
OP told her he would no longer pay for the wedding if that's how she felt and would pull out also from walking her down the aisle. He insisted that Alex and Tom did nothing wrong and weren't deserving of exclusion. The Reddit user told Casey that if she decided to act based on her future in-laws' opinions and place them before her own family, they should cover her wedding.
A resolute looking older man sitting with his hands clasped together | Source: Flickr
The father still struggles to understand what Casey did and why she placed Max's family on a pedestal instead of looking out for her family first. He noted that she was the one who helped her brothers to come out to him and explained everything.
A young woman and an older one sitting with their backs turned against each other | Source: Shutterstock
Father of the Groom Gives Son an Ultimatum, Threatening Not to Pay For His Wedding
A man opened up in Reddit's "AITA" forum on July 2, 2023, after he found himself stuck in an unusual situation. Before jumping to the main story, OP shared a bit about his family. He said he was an ex-military officer who had served his country for around five years.
A man in a military uniform hugging a child | Source: Shutterstock
His son, Karter, was only five when OP joined the forces, but he and his wife had parted ways by then. However, despite being divorced, the Redditor didn't fail to build a relationship with his son, with him recalling:
"I always made every effort to be a good dad and spend time with him while on leave."
An older man bumping his fist with a younger man | Source: Shutterstock
After his service ended, the parent never missed any opportunity to spend time with Karter. As a result, the boy grew up having a close bond with his father. However, things didn't turn out as the man had expected. Soon after his divorce, his ex-wife remarried a man named Steven, who became close to Karter.
Steven treated his stepson well, ultimately leading to an issue between Karter and his father. Nothing bothered OP until his son turned 23 and decided to marry his fiancé Clark. Since Karter's mother and stepfather did not have enough money, the young man turned to his biological father to fund his wedding.
A man giving a high five to a young boy | Source: Shutterstock
OP didn't mind paying for his son's wedding, but what happened next did not sit well with him. He said, "Come to find out yesterday that Karter wants both me and Steven to walk him down the aisle." Learning about his son's plans hurt him because he thought he deserved to walk his son down the aisle alone. Since he was paying for the wedding and was always there for Karter, he felt it was his right to walk with his son, stating:
"We got into a huge fight about this morning, and I told him that I wouldn't pay for the wedding if Steven walks him down the aisle."
A couple walking while holding hands | Source: Shutterstock
The long-standing feud between him and his 48-year-old brother started when he was 20 years old.
An unhappy older man sitting facing away from a younger one | Source: Shutterstock
After witnessing how his family reacted, OP felt confused and wrote a Reddit post asking other users if he was at fault. Some people sided with the man's ex-wife and thought he was at fault for refusing to pay for his son's wedding, while others thought his decision was correct.
Father of the Bride Pulls Out from Paying for Wedding after His Daughter’s Betrayal
An older man holding his phone in one hand and a bank card in the other | Source: Pexels
However, after his daughter revealed she would be inviting his brother, whom he had a long-standing rivalry with, he felt his boundaries were being crossed. Not only did he find out that his daughter wanted to have his brother at her wedding, but she had also been hanging out with him and his wife for the past four years.
His daughter also asked for her cousin to be the flower girl. As soon as the father heard his daughter's words, he got angry. He felt that she was not considerate of his feelings and boundaries. So, OP decided to put his foot down and told her that he would not be paying for the wedding or even be a part of it.
An older man having a heated discussion with a younger woman | Source: Shutterstock
She became angry and claimed he was making her wedding about himself. OP's daughter told him to let the past go, but he was unwilling to compromise and made her choose between him and her uncle. The whole family turned against him.
His ex-wife called him, screaming at him for hurting their daughter's feelings. OP's parents also called, asking him to reconsider disappointing his daughter, but he ended up ignoring their calls. His girlfriend also tried to calm him down and get him to rethink his decision. She even made him aware that he risked damaging his relationship with his daughter if he backed out of the wedding.
A stressed old man holding his glasses in one hand while pressing his fingers against the top of his nose | Source: Shutterstock
His girlfriend at the time cheated on him with his brother, and they ended up getting married. After being heartbroken, he decided he would never be in the same space as his brother again. He also asked his family to help him keep his distance, but they never cut him off.
Two men having a discussion while one holds a phone | Source: Pexels
That meant if his parents ever wanted to have both him and his brother over, he would automatically eliminate himself from the plans. As much as OP's family turned against him, many people understood where he came from. Commenters believed there was no need for his daughter to have contacted his brother, knowing how her father felt.
An older man and a younger woman fighting | Source: Shutterstock
