'The tables didn't even have tablecloths': Rich family skimps out on 3rd kid's wedding and the rest of the family cannot figure out why, fuels gossip for years

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Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Jun 15, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

When invited to a wedding, you usually have at least an idea of what to expect, and the things you are unsure about are usually stated on the invite or simple questions for the bride or groom. Now, imagine you have a rich uncle who has spared no expense for all of his sons weddings. He has three kids, and the first two weddings were extravagant ceremonies with lots of food, fun, and memories to be made. And now the third son is getting married! You must be excited for the wedding—since the last two were so exciting. 

 

And yet… You walk into a sterile-looking office building with unclothed tables, no decorations, and no meals. Just a cookie or ice cream. Like, wait, what? What happened?! You'd think if the kid was trying to make a point, it would be more clear. Right now it just appears like the uncle hates his youngest, even though nobody would ever think that of the kind man. So what's happening? 

 

Well, ask this guy, because that's exactly what went down in their family.  

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  • At least the cheap wedding fueled family and friends gossip for years to come. They have yet to figure out why this son of the rich uncle got skimped on the wedding while the others didn't. What could it be?!

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    via Unsplash+ (and Curated Lifestyle)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "Oh no, please, spare EVERY expense."

    The cheapest wedding I've ever been to was one of my cousins, who's dad (my uncle) was RICH RICH; has multiple vacation properties in exclusive areas, a McMansion, all the things people who come into
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  • money later in life have. Bought my mom a house in cash when she got divorced. When his oldest got married he paid for everything and they had a massive wedding, at least 300+ people came, and there
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  • was a large enough venue and food for everyone. It was beautiful. Point is, money is not an issue. When his third kid got married it was the exact opposite. The reception
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  • hall was in what looked like an upscale office building. I thought I had the wrong address until I saw other family go in. The tables didn't have tablecloths, there weren't even decorations, lights favors, nothing. It verged
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  • on feeling sterile. (There wasn't a ceremony to attend since they're mormon, so there was only the reception for everyone besides immediate family. Not mormon myself, so IDK the details.)
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  • Coming off of the older cousin's wedding, I expected at least some snacks, a simple buffet, so I skipped eating before arriving, as did the rest of my family. The only things on offer were "fancy" ice cream
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  • sandwiches and water bottles from Costco. (It was winter, btw) Like, pick your cookie, pick your ice cream, stay hydrated I guess. Nowhere on the invitation (which was sent over via
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  • Facebook only.) did it indicate that there wouldn't be any kind of meal or even finger foor It ended up being an awkward affair with everyone making passive-agressive comments about how
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  • cheap the whole thing was. They didn't even have a cake to cut and share (which is pretty standard where I live, even if it needs to be a couple extra sheet cakes.)
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  • I get wanting a smaller wedding, I did one myself for ~7k, but we still had more than enough food for everyone AND tablecloths.
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  • Cheezburger Image 10516757504
    via Unsplash+ (and wu yi)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This was about 8 years ago, so I've probably misremembered some details, but I've never forgotten the impression= it made, and it's still a topic of gossip in my family.
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  • Edit: the speculation in the comments made me realize I left out some info. Both of my cousins were men, nobody was pregnant, and as far as know, my aunt and uncle like all of their children and their partners. None
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  • of my cousins have had civil ceremonies, all went through the religious ceremony, and my uncle paid/offered to pay for at of them. He's a good guse he's even paid for another family member whole rehab and refused
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  • to be repaid. There's definitely some missing reasons why it was so cheap tho and that's why it's still gossip. There was also some other stuff that was really funny at that specific wedding but it would be potentially
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  • identifying info so I left out. And yes, that side of my family LOVES hush-hus tea. More than half of the time at family gatherings is one long session of,
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  • OMG, did you hear about so-and-so? Or rehashing old tea. Everyone is the subject at some point. It's entertaining and exhausting at the same. time.
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  • kodieb3ar It could have been a "you can have this much money for a big wedding or I could just give it to you" situation. My parents have money set aside and my brother chose to use it for his big wedding whereas I plan to have a very small wedding and keep the rest of the money for a house.
    via kodieb3ar

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bride marriage DIY wedding groom cringe friends wedding ceremony wealth cheapskate wedding small wedding uncle family invite only Reddit cheap Father
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