Wedding Guest Billed for Last-Minute No-Show; Etiquette Experts Irked

A wedding guest who couldn't make the ceremony got billed for her no-show by the bride and groom, who asked for $75 to cover the woman's plate.

Jessica Baker, of Andover, Minnesota, posted her story on Facebook this week and it quickly took off. She claims she received the bill after a child-care snafu prevented her and her husband from attending a relative's recent nuptials. The bill was for $75.90 for two $30 herb-crusted walleye entrees plus service and tax charge, according to ABC News.

"I just was shocked," Baker, 33, said of the bill, which reportedly included a note that read, "This cost reflects the amount paid by the bride and groom for meals that were RSVPed for, reimbursement and explanation for no show, card, call or text would be appreciated."

Baker said she decided to send the bill to KARE-TV after getting so many responses on her on Facebook page and the story soon went viral, sparking conversations nationwide.



"Under no circumstances should you choose to follow up after the fact, questioning why they couldn't attend or much less sending a bill," Minnesota Bride editor Sarah Baumann Rogers told Woman's Day.

Anya Winnika, director of TheKnot.com, agreed, telling "Inside Edition" that billing a no-show is often a "big no-no."

"I have never heard of a bride or groom reaching out to one of their no-show guests and have them actually pay for the meal," Winnika said. "It is a huge bummer when one of your guests who says they are coming doesn't actually show up to the wedding."

"It means a lot. It means you have an empty space at the table. It means you are not going to get that money back. It is certainly not appropriate to reach out and ask them for compensation," she continued.

Baker told ABC News that she may follow the advice of one Facebook user and donate the cost of the meal to charity, making sure to send the receipt to the bride and groom.