Ever heard the saying, “The more, the merrier”? Well, this may be true if you’re talking about friends who bring you gifts for your birthday or wedding guests who give you cash on your big day. But more is definitely not merrier when it means having 50 strangers crash your reception and eat all your food, leaving nothing but crumbs for you and your family. And not leaving any cash on the table, of course.

Nope, this is not the plot in a horror movie, it was real-life for one bride when her wedding reception turned into a feeding frenzy for strangers. Lucky for us, the OP (original poster), took to the internet to share the story of how her family was left hungry at her sister’s wedding.

More info: Reddit

Couple is left without food at their own wedding, as 50 strangers eat the entire buffet after being invited by the pastor

Image credits: Pavel Danilyuk (not the actual photo) 

Being on a tight budget, the couple wanted a small wedding and opted for a buffet dinner, only to be left hungry at their own event

Image credits: TranStudios Photography & Video (not the actual photo) 

The couple planned on having the ceremony in their small-town church, unaware of the weird “tradition” of inviting the entire congregation to the wedding

Image credits: Dawn McDonald (not the actual photo) 

The Sunday before the event, the pastor invited all the people attending the service to the wedding and even mentioned the location of the reception

Image credits: u/Riviera_Sunset

The bride, groom and their families are left hungry at the wedding, after the 50 uninvited guests clear out the buffet before any of the family members arrive at the venue

It all started as a classic romance: girl meets boy, girl marries boy, girl has no food at her own wedding. Sounds about right.

As a thrifty college student, the bride and her then-fiancé decided to tie the knot. They were both deeply involved in their quaint little church and opted for a budget-friendly ceremony there. The church was anything but the epitome of opulence, but it fit the bill, literally.

They poured their limited funds into booking a hotel ballroom in a nearby city for the reception, imagining a cozy gathering of close friends and family. The menu? A delectable array of heavy appetizers like fried mozzarella cheese sticks, boneless wings, and spinach artichoke dip. Nothing fancy, but hey, if it fills the belly, we’ll take it.

Here’s where the plot thickens. The couple was not aware that their charming church had a “tradition” of inviting the entire congregation to any wedding held within its walls. Yes, you read that right—everyone. So, the Sunday before the wedding, the pastor, without giving it a second thought, invited everyone during the service. He even spilled the beans about the reception venue.

We’re guessing this bride was screaming on the inside as she couldn’t even move or say anything.  At least she could have stood up and yelled, “Just kidding! You’re not really invited!” So, she held on to a shred of hope that common sense would prevail, and the uninvited guests would only attend the ceremony. But boy, was she wrong.

Just imagine your carefully planned, intimate ceremony disrupted by a wave of 50 uninvited guests, many dressed as if they’d just come from a day of working the field—jeans, overalls, you name it. It was a fashion show gone wrong. As the wedding party stayed behind to take some photos, the overly-punctual wedding crashers made a beeline for the hotel ballroom.

By the time the OP and her husband rolled in—thankfully armed with sandwiches and soup from a last-minute restaurant run—the damage was done. The uninvited masses had cleaned out the buffet like a swarm of locusts in a crop field, leaving nothing but empty trays and a lot of hangry family members. Even the poor grandparents were left nibbling on crumbs.

Image credits: fu zhicha (not the actual photo) 

The weird thing is that this bride and her husband somehow maintained their composure and their relationship with the pastor. While most of us, let’s be honest, would have probably flipped a table or two.

Weddings are already stressful enough, but having to deal with 50 uninvited guests…that just takes wedding anxiety to a whole new level. Wedding-day anxiety is a pretty common experience, and it often comes from the pressure of wanting to make everything perfect for the big day. To manage this stress, experts recommend delegating tasks to trusted friends or family members, so you’re not overwhelmed with last-minute details.

Also, practicing mindfulness techniques on the morning of your wedding, such as deep breathing or meditation, can help you stay grounded and present. And always keep a flexible mindset and be prepared for some things to not go exactly as planned, and that’s okay.

The comments on this tale of wedding woe ranged from empathetic horror stories to ingenious what-would-I-have-done scenarios. One commenter mentioned their coworker facing a similar fate, with a meddling in-law insisting on a congregation-sized guest list. Another suggested a potluck-style picnic announcement on the spot—bold, but effective.

If you ask us, having a secret stash of emergency snacks for your big day is not a bad idea. You never know what hungry guests are capable of. We bet this bride is thinking the same. After all, all she ever wanted was to have a beautiful wedding, on a low budget.

Planning a wedding on a budget is definitely not easy, but it can be done. You need plenty of creativity and a whole lot of resourcefulness and you can turn your big day into an amazing event, without breaking the bank.

To find out what strategies couples can use to limit their expenses when planning a wedding on a tight budget, Bored Panda reached out to Allison Cullman, wedding etiquette expert at ZOLA. She told us that in order to cut costs without sacrificing the quality of the wedding, it’s essential to create a detailed budget that includes all the expenses, from the start.

“It might seem overwhelming, but using tools like a wedding budget calculator can help you stay organized and on track. Next, prioritize your spending based on what matters most to you as a couple. If you’re passionate about food, invest in a top-notch caterer; if dancing is your focus, allocate funds for a great band,” Cullman explained.

We wanted to know what common budgeting mistakes couples make, and how can they avoid them. Cullman explained that these mistakes often come from couples not giving enough importance to little expenses that can quickly add up. She suggests setting aside an emergency fund that factors in potential unexpected costs. “If you end up not needing it, you can always use the extra money to treat yourselves on your honeymoon,” Cullman suggests.

When asked what she thinks about serving buffet food at the reception, Cullman explained that, “Just because food is served buffet-style doesn’t mean it will be less expensive. Discuss with your partner what role you want the food to play in your wedding, and how important the quality and service of food is to you. Speak with your venue or caterer about different options and weigh the pros/cons depending on what you’re prioritizing,” she advised.

What do you think of this story? What would you have done if you were in our bride’s shoes? Share your funniest wedding stories in the comment section.

Netizens are shocked by the amount of people who showed up at the wedding, saying that the ceremony can be open, but the reception should be a private event

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