Can guests be charged for their meals if they do not attend a wedding they already said they were going to?

Question

two guests RSVP'd to attend a wedding and cancel the day before the wedding. Can they be charged for the meals they will not be there to eat?

This isnt me doing the charging, I'm hte one being charged, thanks

Answer 1

Obviously the bridal couple were pretty pissed off at you... but no they can't send a bill, unfortunately! Unless you had a contagious disease or a death in the immediate family there's really no excuse for not showing up to a wedding that you've already RSVP'd yes to! You owe the bride and groom an apology for being no-shows, but.. they'd have had to have paid for your meal anyway and it's your loss that you weren't there to eat it. If they keep trying to push the issue, ask them if they packed up your meal for takeout! :)

At any rate it sounds like the friendship is over. You might want to consider what that is worth to you before you decide what to do... how about inviting THEM out for a meal as 'payment'? :)

Answer 2

Absolutely not! Think about some of the reasons why people may have to cancel at the last minute. If people are going through something rough or difficult in their lives, the last thing you should do is ask them to fork over some cash. I'm sure they feel bad enough that they won't be able to be there. Just call the caterer and tell them that these people have cancelled and see if they will give you any type of refund at all. even it if is just a % of the cost for the meals, that will help. OR if they won't give you any money back, ask them to prepare the meals and freeze them. Eat them for dinner someother time in the upcoming week or so. It will be great to have your wedding meal again, especially when you actually have the time to enjoy it. Just because guests may be cancelling at the last minute doesn't mean that you can't still reap the benefits that you are paying for.

Answer 3

Technically yes, but you'd need (1) a way to do it, and (2) a thick hide because it's about as tacky as it gets.

Yes, if you're on a tight budget, it's hard to pay for any more than you need to, but at the same time, you were going to pick up the cost if they did attend. Most people don't cancel at the last minute unless they need to. If they were in a car accident on the way over, would you send a bill?

I had a couple of no-shows at my wedding; it happens. Be an adult and accept it.

Answer 4

That is a funny. Pathetic, yet funny.

We had 23 no shows...23! Do the math for about $45 a person. We still had to pay that. It's one of the things you take on as a host honestly. I would be annoyed. Actually, I was & still am in some cases. But as long as someone had an actual reason for not showing & actually gave me a heads up I'd been much more understand. Still though, I'd never even consider charging people. I will, however, take it into consideration in the future & may not invite them to such events.

Answer 5

Of course not.It s the same with the ones that attend the wedding lunch or dinner and they dont eat their meals, some they simply dont like it , others may not feel hungry or maybe feel a bit sick.... You have to expect that many things may happen and bear in mind that once you ve paid the meals what the people is gonna do or not with it it s not your business at all.
It s something that you offer for free and what they do about it its out of your control. What you can do its take the leftovers and give them to the ones who would love to eat them the next days.

Answer 6

Thats the horrible thing about rsvp ing. Usually the hotel or venue says 72 hours before the date, they want the count. What count you give them is what you are charged. Since you are inviting the people, you are the host so it is your responsibility to pay. ( I hope some day those people have to do the same, pay for others who last minute cancel on them! and only then will they see the problem)

Answer 7

OK People read this a little more carefully.

SHE IS NOT THE BRIDE. SHE IS THE ONE BEING CHARGED!

Ok now to you, my dear. Why did you not go? If you had a valid reason then I think it's only fair to apologize to the couple but tell them in no uncertain terms that you were invited to this wedding, you were not a paying customer. You're terribly sorry you were unable to attend the joyous day, but it's not fair to put you in a situation like that.

Good luck! :-)

Answer 8

No. They cannot be charged for their meals.

Things like this happen all the time. At our wedding, meals were $20/person. Ten people didn't show. They didn't call. They didn't do anything.

We also had five people show up who said they wouldn't.

You can't just charge someone. You don't know what happened. Sorry it happened, but it's time to move on.

Answer 9

Wouldn't that be a novel idea? Send the errant guests a bill for the food you ordered in their stead but they couldn't be bothered to eat?

But to answer your question, no, unfortunately. That is just the nature of the beast. If everyone did what they said they'd do, this would be a much finer world. But as it stands, you're stuck with the extra food bill, and no guests to thank you for it.

Sorry.

Answer 10

no! would they be paying for the meal if they had turned up at the wedding? bet not! unfortunately things happen and maybe for unforeseen reasons they couldn't attend the wedding! a apology would be enough for me, if i couldn't attend a wedding after rsvp'in i would send a gift with my apology's i definitely wouldn't pay 4 the meal! i would be offended if anybody asked me to especially if the reason for not going was genuine!