Florist aunt agrees on $800 fee to arrange flowers for niece's wedding, gets offended when she won't pay an extra $300 gratuity: 'It all seems fishy'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Sep 12, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

The average wedding doesn't come cheap, and part of the reason for that is that there are a whole host of industries and small businesses out there that are dependent on all those Big Days to help them make a profit. From venues to cake decorators, people planning the perfect nuptials are often their most valuable clients. 

While it is to be expected for anybody planning a wedding any fancier than the courthouse that there are going to be significant expenses, it also isn't fair for those providing goods and services for it to surprise them with hidden costs. Any wedding planner will tell you that the process of creating the perfect day is stressful enough without being hit by any unexpected expenses. Sometimes, a helpful way to bring down the budget is to get family involved, but even this can prove to be a mistake when it comes to how much money is being spent.

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  • a woman smiles while arranging pink and white flowers
    via Waldemar Brandt

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • One bride had the misfortune of finding this out after her aunt, who had been in charge of the floral arrangements for her wedding, demanded an extra $300 on top of the $800 that had already been spent on her floristry skills. She claimed that it was an extra gratuity to cover herself, the venue, and the food.

    After it was confirmed with the venue that this was not expected from them, the aunt directed an angry outburst at her niece. The recent bride thought her behavior was suspicious, but her grandma thought she should pay the extra money.

  • Am I overreacting? Aunt wants $300 after we paid her $800

    So, I got married and had our reception 9/6. My aunt is a florist, and wedding planner so I paid her $800 for her services and flowers. She got me the venue, and I paid $1700 for the venue / food. Everything turned out great, however, 2 days later my aunt calls my grandma that I need to pay $300 extra for "gratuity". I texted her asking for clarification,
    via Bike-Consistent
  • close up of cream and white wedding flowers
    via Anita Austvika (Unsplash+)
  • and she ignored me. So, I text the owner of the venue. She has noooo idea what she's talking about. Even the head chef had no idea, they said my money I paid involved gratuity. Then, my aunt yells at me that I involved the venue without talking to her. Well, I tried to lol. I ask her who's asking for gratuity? Because the
    via Bike-Consistent
  • owner and chef have no idea what you're talking about. She then says forget it I'll just go without the $300 since she "does too much business with them". Am I overreacting to not pay her lol? It all seems fishy she can't even come up with a name on who asked for gratuity, 2 days later. But my grandma wants to pay her back bc "she'd never do that".
    via Bike-Consistent
  • close up of cream and white bridal bouquet
    via Karolina Grabowska (Unsplash+)

  • Commenters agreed that the aunt was likely being unreasonable.

    No-Sport-7184 Shady af, maybe she feels she should have been "tipped" for getting all of these services at cost. As some as suggested, she may have gotten low prices at the expense of a finders fee normally involved in booking this venue. Either way, the $300 was for her. Otherwise she would have presented you with an invoice showing all rates, amounts paid, and
    via No-Sport-7184
  • amounts due instead of going through grandma. Who she may have expected to pay the balance without even informing you.
    via No-Sport-7184
  • DrSnoopRob The gratuity is for her. Duh. Pay it if you feel like it, but I doubt she's out any real money.
    via DrSnoopRob
  • Professional Yam3119 She was planning to get a kickback or "bird dog fee" from the venue, and you foiled her plans by dealing directly with the venue. With the amounts that you mentioned, it could not possibly have been $300, anyway. She's not a nice person.
    via ProfessionalYam3119
  • nylonvest NOR. "I'll just go without the $300" sure sounds like your aunt is the one expecting a gratuity from you here. And it's... kind of a lot. Plus florists and wedding planners don't normally expect a gratuity.
    via nylonvest
  • Short_Ad_9383 Your aunt was trying to get a $300 tip from you and you didn't fall for it. She just wanted extra money so no you're not overreacting.
    via Short_Ad_9383
  • LdiJ46 Here is my guess. The venue normally gives your aunt a kickback for referring a client to them. The venue gave you a deal because you are related to your aunt, therefore did not expect to give her a kickback this time, because they gave you a discounted price. Your aunt was disappointed that she wasn't getting the kickback and tried to get it from you as "gratuitites". You blew her plan and embarrassed her by talking directly to the venue about it.
    via LdiJ46
  • EDJardin NOR, no one in your family should ever do "business" with your aunt again. Ever. If she felt she was shorted, she should contact you directly, not go through your grandmother. The fact that she didn't, and your comment that your grandmother wanted to just pay it, tells me that she was hoping for exactly that. The fact that the venue/chef have no idea what she's talking about tells me that she the gratuity was for her.
    via EDJardin
  • And sorry, but she's really not even a good scammer because if she wanted the extra money, she could have said something much more plausible, like the flowers cost much more than expected (inflation), an employee quit so she was shorthanded (needed to pay overtime), someone in the party was exceptionally difficult to work with that took her away from other clients (missed additional work), or literally anything else.
    via EDJardin
  • Savings_Year_4708 You're not overreacting. If the venue confirmed gratuity was included, there's no reason to pay extra. It sounds like your aunt is trying to get money without clear justification. Trust your instincts and don't let family pressure push you into paying for something that's not legit.
    via Savings_Year_4708
  • Personal-Heart-1227 Your Aunt is scamming you, plain & simple. Don't you dare pay her 1 thin dime, either. She got caught red handed by you, that's why she's soooo pissy about that!
    via Personal-Heart-1227
  • I can't believe your own Aunt thought it would be quite acceptable to steal an extra 300$ from you even though you already paid in full for your wedding & wedding services, through her. Did she think she would not get caught (duh on her part), and/or how this would effect your relationship with her, if you ever found about that?
    via Personal-Heart-1227
  • I guess that extra 300 bucks was far more valuable to her, which is really quite sad to hear your own blød relative doing that to you. Never mind that she's also a truly sleazy & immoral person, too. Please go NC with her as your relationship is now over, then try to move on. NOR
    via Personal-Heart-1227
  • rexmaster2 It was such a smart move to contact the venue and chef to confirm. Now, they know she would even swindle her own family member for extra cash.
    via rexmaster2
  • Beautiful_Sweet_8686 Look I have a really dysfunctional family but WTA F what family member demands a gratuity for helping with a member's event. Especially a florist/wedding planner. That is some absolute cheek right there Imao NOR
    via Beautiful_Sweet_8686

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wedding family family drama florist niece tipping aio aunt reddit thread payment Reddit money tipping culture entitled people
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