A man put himself on trial on Reddit’s famous “Am I the A–h—” forum and was labeled the bad guy by almost everyone. The reason? $150.
A 26-year-old Reddit user posted the story of his best friend’s wedding earlier this week, where he was asked to act as an officiator almost a year ago. “I love both of them, and I was honored to do it, so I obviously said yes,” he wrote. However, the redditer was going through a divorce, so he did not “go over the details” with the bride, 21, and groom, 24. The details in question are the officiating fees that the man was expecting.
So, the user finally decided to ask the question straight up. “Will I be getting paid for officiating the wedding? I asked for $150,” he wrote. To this, his best friend replied that “they weren’t planning on paying” because they felt it was something he could do as her best friend. Fair, right? But the redditer had certain arguments in his defense.
“I’m taking time off work, I’m driving 7 hours (they live in Missouri, I’m in Mississippi), I have to pay for my own hotel and food, I had to by a shirt that matches the color scheme of the wedding, and 2 ties (one she didn’t like) and a vest set. I’m not asking for full reimbursement, just some type of compensation.”
The bride’s response, however, was what resonated with everyone on Reddit. She rebutted his logic, saying he wouldn’t ask for compensation if he were a guest. Adding that taking time off work and paying for one’s way to the wedding is “normal.” While the man expressed frustration at her response, believing that “they’re not remotely the same thing.”
“If I was a guest I wouldn’t ask to be paid and I’d gladly take the hit to be there for my best friends wedding,” he said.
This was followed by what seemed like an argument between the two, both advocating for their sides. While the bride argued that “most priests only charge a fee if they write the script,” and how her Puerto Rican relatives spending $1000 to attend the wedding aren’t complaining, the man struck back, saying how “most priests live in state and don’t have to drive 7 hours to officiate a wedding.”
While their conversation ended with disagreement over his need for compensation, the bride apparently called him back a few hours later, and “begrudgingly agreed to pay” him $150. He also took a jab at the bride and the groom at the end of the post, at how they spent money on a nice venue and beautiful outfits for themselves, “but apparently $150 is gonna break the bank.”
“If finances are tight, that’s worth a discussion instead of your entitled attitude”: Redditors labeled the man an A-sh—
Most of the Redditors were in union and found the man in the wrong. One wrote, “You are not their best friend if you are asking for this,” reasoning that “Presumably you would go to the wedding as a guest, so what is so different about officiating?” Others were more frustrated with the man’s reasons and straight-up said that they would end their friendship with him if they were in the bride’s place.
“It is an honor to be asked to officiate for a friend’s wedding. If anything you could have said it is your wedding gift to them. You sound exhausting and I would stop being friends with you after this,” the user wrote.
Users presented several other arguments against the man’s perspective:
Some even said they’re surprised the bride and groom “didn’t tell you they’d find someone else to do it,” and how the man has “pretty much ruined” the friendship.
