Weddings are often the ultimate celebration of love and joy, but the overwhelming expenses can quickly turn excitement into stress. This was the case for one New York dad who took to Reddit to share his frustration about his daughter’s lavish wedding plans, which left him in a tricky situation.
The father, who posted on the popular Reddit thread AITA (Am I The A*****e), explained how he had made a heartfelt promise to cover the costs of his daughter’s wedding. It’s a common gesture for parents to help their children as they start a new chapter in life. However, he didn’t expect the scale of her dream wedding.
Instead of a more traditional, local celebration, his daughter envisioned a luxurious destination wedding in the stunning landscapes of New Zealand. The guest list? Between 100 and 200 people! And the price tag? A whopping $200,000. This shocking figure left the father feeling torn—should he fulfill his daughter’s extravagant request or stand by his belief that such an expensive display of wealth was unnecessary?
In his post, the dad admitted he felt conflicted. He explained, “My wife feels I should do it because we can afford it, but I find it to be a pointless showing of wealth. Now my daughter is not talking to me, nor is my wife. Which got me thinking: should I bite the bullet and essentially burn money, alienating family members, just to make my daughter’s dream wedding a reality?”
The Reddit community quickly weighed in, offering strong opinions. One user commented, “If she can’t afford a destination wedding on her own, then she shouldn’t be having one. It seems harsh, but it’s true. Plus, there’s so much extra money involved—flights, hotels, everything. Is she expecting you to pay for all of that too, including her and her fiancé’s tickets?”
The commenter added, “Her reaction of not speaking to you shows she doesn’t deserve it. I’m a firm believer that children aren’t entitled to their parents’ money. I don’t expect anything from my dad, even in inheritance.”
Another Redditor proposed a compromise: the father could offer a set amount of money, leaving his daughter to plan the wedding within that budget. They suggested, “Establish the amount you’re willing to contribute and let her know anything above that is on her and her fiancé. Make sure it’s clear if that includes travel costs for the couple and close family. If she wants a huge wedding, she can pay for it.”
As of now, the father hasn’t shared any updates on the situation, other than mentioning that his daughter is still angry and refusing to speak with him. It’s a tough spot for any parent, but his predicament is a reminder of the delicate balance between being generous and staying practical—especially when it comes to big financial decisions like weddings.
