Some people are just meant to be together. Others? Not so much. From awkward moments at the altar to excruciating receptions, these wedding disasters had everyone involved saying "I Don't".
1. Busted
When the minister reached the phrase "or forever hold your peace," the bride spoke up, saying, "Yes, I have something to say". She turned to her attendees and announced, "I'd like to express my gratitude to my bridesmaid for sleeping with my soon-to-be husband last night".
Following that, she discarded her bouquet and stormed out in rage.
The incident became so notorious it was even covered on local radio back then.
2. You’ve Got A Friend In Me
There's this pair I know who thought it'd be a good idea to shoot out a wedding invite to everyone on their Facebook page. They were expecting 700 guests. So naturally, they got a place big enough to seat an army.
Imagine their faces when they walked into essentially an empty room!
I suppose life taught them a pretty tough lesson—not everyone you're connected with on Facebook is a real friend.
3. Not An Easy Mistake To Make
I played the part of a bridesmaid at a wedding. During the reception, we had trouble finding the groom for their first dance.
We spread out to look for him. I couldn't believe my eyes when I found him... getting a bit too close... with his 2nd cousin. His story?
He'd been drinking and mistook her for his bride...even though she was unmistakably wearing a bright red dress. Unsurprisingly, their marriage didn't stand the test of time.
4. Cleanup In Aisle One
Once, at a wedding I was at, the bride chose to break tradition—she sang while walking down the aisle. Her singing was not exactly pitch-perfect, especially when you compared it with the Carrie Underwood track that was playing in the background. She reached the altar before the song was done.
So, she just stood there, serenading the groom with the remainder of the song, while we as the guests had no choice but to sit and witness it all.
5. For Richer Or…Richest?
I once went to a super uncomfortable wedding. The bride, who most of us suspected was more interested in money than love, couldn't stop laughing when she was supposed to say the "for richer or poorer" bit during the practice run. She swore she'd keep her composure at the actual wedding.
Spoiler alert: she didn't. Once again, she cracked up at the pivotal moment in the real ceremony, and she never ended up saying those words at all.
6. Almost Made It
My father attended a high-profile wedding in the UK. Everything was going smoothly until the toast came around. The husband-to-be rose to his feet and announced, "A toast to my lovely wife and fantastic best man, who've been having an affair for the last six months. Cheers"! After finishing his drink in one gulp, he walked out, leaving everyone in shock.
Suddenly, the bride's father started resealing all the wine bottles, exclaiming, "The celebration's finished, everyone leave"! It looked as if he was trying to save some cash by returning the unused drinks.
7. A Double-Decker of Trouble
I once attended a wedding of a dear friend of mine. She's an absolute sweetheart and was in love with a so-called truck driver.
Their love story was of the long-distance kind for ages, so you can imagine her joy to finally tie the knot. But just when the priest asked, "Does anyone object to this"?—the unthinkable happened.
A lady stood up declaring, "I do". Plot twist—the groom wasn't a truck driver at all but a secretly married man from Florida, father to two kids. Sure enough, he'd pretended to be a driver to keep up his long-distance facade with my friend.
The woman who protested was his actual wife.
8. Blame It On The Juice
This might just be the most quintessentially Scottish tale that you'll ever come across. This is my parents' wedding story. My mother, assumed that not only my dad, but also the minister had left her hanging at the altar.
She absolutely detests being the focal point of everyone's attention and didn't dare to look up from the floor till she was quite far down the aisle. And when she finally did lift her gaze, she found herself staring into the abyss—there wasn't a soul waiting for her.
Suddenly, the altar's back door burst open and out came my dad, his kilt rustling in the bustle, with the minister in tow.
Turns out, they had been tucked away in the minister’s office, losing track of time while enjoying a good ol' scotch, completely oblivious to the fact that the wedding ceremony had kicked off.
9. Getting A Second Opinion
During the wedding, the father of the groom decided to raise a peculiar question.
He asked the bride's dad to verify her purity. I was absolutely revolted. It was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever experienced at a wedding.
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10. Script Change
My dad, who's a retired judge, once officiated a rather peculiar wedding years ago. During the rehearsal dinner, the groom asked whether he had to stick with the traditional "I do" or if he could switch it up with his own statement of affirmation. My dad agreed but didn't inquire further about the groom's anticipated choice of words.
Fast forward to the wedding: the groom's planned response caught him off guard. When the time came to say "I do," the groom exclaimed, "I fancy plus-sized women"! My dad was dumbstruck, while the bride, according to his observations, seemed unfazed by the unusual proclamation.
Pulling himself together, my dad proceeded to conclude the ceremony.
Without any updates on the couple, it's hard to know if they're still together, but if I were a betting person, I'd wager they're not.
11. Our Duties Stop At The Honeymoon Suite
So, it seems the newlyweds desired that we—along with their parents—witness their first married night together. This was due to an age-old European custom they were following.
12. Tell Us How You Really Feel
The wedding ceremony is in full swing with the couple at the altar. The officiant declares, "Surrounded by friends and family, we gather to bless this union," when an unexpected twist occurs. Suddenly, the groom's mother rises and states, "That's not entirely accurate. I, for one, don't bless this". It was equally appalling and somewhat funny.
13. You Win!
Well, they hadn't even got to the "speak now" part yet, but the groom's ex surprised everyone by standing up. She yelled that he was her soulmate, that she had forgiven him for "all this," and suggested that they just go ahead and leave—pointing out that he'd made his point. And what was this point?
It was that he had ended their relationship five years back, fallen head over heels for another woman, and was now in the middle of his own wedding ceremony.
14. What To Not Put Up With When You’re Expecting
I once knew a lady who was supposed to be a bridesmaid in a family wedding. She and her husband had been attempting to have a baby for some time.
As it turned out, they struck gold and she became pregnant. This news upset the uber-demanding bride, who dismissed her from the bridal party out of concern that her pregnancy would be obvious in the photos.
Regrettably, my friend suffered a miscarriage three months into her pregnancy.
The bride reached out to her saying, "Well, since you're no longer pregnant, you can now return to the wedding party". Safe to say, my friend not only declined the invitation, but decided not to go to the wedding at all.
15. Showing His True Colors
I was attending the wedding as a friend from the bride's side.
A mate from an old workplace of mine had invited me, and it was shaping up to be a fantastic day. As the bride began making her way down the aisle, she abruptly stopped in her tracks.
Her parents then approached her. After a hurried whispered conversation, they all turned and exited, with the groom trailing behind.
The music subsided, leaving us in a state of quiet disbelief. After a few eerie minutes of silence, the bride's father returned and delivered the unexpected news—the wedding was off.
As confusion turned to shock, we slowly filed out. There were a few heated exchanges from the groom's family, but this didn't last long once they spoke with the bride's father.
As we left, the bride's mother shook my hand and thanked us for our presence, promising a full explanation would follow.
There was a hint of sorrow in their demeanor. Then came the revelation—the groom, on the eve of their wedding, admitted to the bride that he was gay. Despite his confession, he still loved her and wished to marry her, support her, and have children together.
But truth be told, she felt it wasn't right to let him live a false life, as it wasn't fair to either of them.
16. Change Of Heart
In a rather surprising turn of events, I attended a wedding where the groom had his objections. He simply stood up, broke down in tears, and made the startling declaration that he had stopped loving the bride some time ago but couldn't bring himself to end things.
The whole scene was incredibly awkward, and they both exited the room.
Astonishingly, they returned after about ten minutes and proceeded to get married. The reason behind this only came to light much later. As it turns out, she had revealed to him that she was expecting.
This news left him feeling obligated and unable to leave her and the unborn baby.
Interestingly, they're still together and now have a family of three children. Despite not being sure of the husband's status, I can vouch that the wife is involved in an extramarital affair.
Neither of them seems happy, but the wife enjoys a comfortable lifestyle while the husband lacks the courage to walk away.
17. Telling It Like It Is
I was at a friend's wedding. He was forced to marry this girl whom he had impregnated because she thought that expired aspirin was an acceptable alternative to birth control.
During the ceremony, his cousin objected with something along the lines of, "Come on, man! The dummy was using expired aspirin as birth control!! You wanna spend your life with someone like that??!"! There was laughter, shock, and even some mild applause from the audience. I personally laughed till I cried.
18. Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater
I attended a colleague's wedding, and in a surprising twist, the maid of honor stood up to voice her objections. She confessed she was the "other woman" the groom had been secretly seeing for the past few months. This caused the bride to bolt from the ceremony, sobbing uncontrollably.
In an unbelievable attempt to save the wedding, the groom invited the maid of honor to take the bride's place, as if that would somehow fix the situation. She turned him down firmly.
19. The Big Problems Start Small
My cousin decided to splurge on a swanky golf course wedding. I was initially hesitant to attend because he had previously been involved with a mutual friend while engaged to his soon-to-be wife.
However, the lure of family obligations and free drinks convinced me to go—and I'm delighted I did, especially when I saw the former fling was also a guest.
As the event progressed, we indulged in a few beverages before settling down for the ceremony. Turns out, my cousin's past fling had a bit too much to drink.
As the ceremony reached its pivotal point, she shouted, "I object, your honor, this man couldn't satisfy with his inadequate size; he's unfit for marriage"! as if she was in a courtroom.
The room fell silent instantly, then my friend and I exploded with laughter. The bride, understandably angry, slapped the groom.
Tears were shed, but after a brief pause and discussion, they chose to continue with the marriage. As expected, though, after just two years they have decided to end their marriage...
20. What’s In A Name?
I once attended a wedding where the bride and groom shocked everyone with an unexpected "Name Reveal". Simply put, they let their nearest and dearest know that they planned to start their married life with a completely new surname.
The reason for this, however, was quite unsettling.
The truth was, they'd decided to switch up their names, hoping that somehow it could wipe out their towering debts or at least shield them from those seeking payment. Believe it or not, they were naive enough to think this could work.
But it didn't take long for them to find out that the government isn't usually too keen on people having two different identities...
21. And Another One Gone
I once attended a wedding along with a girl I used to date in high school. The groom was her uncle, and he was tying the knot with a woman who already had four previous marriages under her belt.
Yup, four times down the aisle already.
Instead of the usual "Here Comes the Bride" filling the air as she made her entrance, they amusingly played "Another One Bites the Dust". She seemed pretty mad about it. As for the longevity of their marriage, I'm not entirely sure, but I wouldn't bet on it.
22. The Last Mistake You’ll Ever Make
I called it quits with my future wife a day before our big day. At my bachelor party, a mutual friend dropped a bombshell; my fiancée had been unfaithful to me for the past two months with some guy. Her excuse? She just wanted a last hoorah.
Even worse, some of my mates knew about it but kept it under wraps.
She tried to deny it at first, but in the end, she admitted it and tried to defend her actions. Of course, we split. But it wasn't over yet. I had to hire a lawyer to recover all the wedding invoices I'd settled, given that her family barely contributed anything.
Meanwhile, I discovered that the guy she'd been seeing on the side is actually her boss—who's married. The latest I've heard about her is that this guy got her pregnant, rightfully gained custody of their kid, and now she's back living at her folks', unemployed, and seemingly throwing her life away.
23. Father Of The Bride
The bride's dad hadn't been around much since he split from her mom. He'd found a new love and joined a questionable religious ensemble. Although his current wife was not on the guest list, he still attended the wedding. Initially, it seemed like he was there to be supportive.
However, his actions revealed otherwise when he chose to voice his offensive opinions during their vow exchange. He blatantly called his own daughter and ex-wife "pigs," warning the groom to "escape before it's too late" and labeled the bride as "a soul-draining she-devil".
24. What Could Have Been
Growing up, my brother and this girl were together all the time—they went to high school, then to college. But it was always a friendly connection.
Her grandparents were our neighbors, her kid sister was my buddy, and our parents were good friends. So, naturally, we got an invite when she announced she was getting hitched. However, there was a twist.
A couple days before she's set to walk down the aisle, she swings by our parents' place.
My brother just happened to be visiting for her wedding. And out of the blue, she confesses, in front of everyone, that she wants to dump her soon-to-be husband for my brother. I mean, we were all flabbergasted!
There was never any lovey-dovey stuff between them—just the friendship. He was obviously taken aback.
She starts sobbing uncontrollably, saying she's in love with him, and the whole situation got really awkward. I mean, she was weeping so much at her wedding that she could hardly get through the vows...and none of us could forget why.
25. Encore Performance
The most awful moment at a wedding?
Yeah, it had to be my own. You'll never believe it. There we were—my brother, our wedding band and I, having just serenaded my wife with our all-time favorite, heart-melting song by none other than Juan Luis Guerra. Brought everyone to tears, my wife and myself included.
It was up there as one of the day’s cherishing moments, for sure. But what came afterward was utterly horrendous. You see, my mother-in-law, the competitive spirit she is, didn’t want to be outdone. She hastily roped in a distant second cousin, who, until then, was an unfamiliar face to us.
And what did he do?
He belted into an inapt rendition of "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic. Now, imagine that, sung off-key, accompanied by a cheesy YouTube karaoke track being blared over his phone's speaker. And yes, it was exactly as dreadful as it sounds.
As if it couldn't get any worse, he managed to induce some aimlessly sluggish dancing. Not long after, we had to cut short his performance, which, as bad as it was, was further marred by a terrible screeching feedback from the loudspeakers because he tried playing the track into the mic.
Trust me, my mother-in-law wasn't pleased. But the damage done—the emotional bubble of the intimate moment popped and fizzled away into thin air.
26. No Laughing Matter
A pal of mine is employed at a place where weddings are held. She shared a story about one particular wedding where a curveball was thrown.
The best man thought it would be a hoot to reveal through a couple of jokes that he once shared a romantic night with the bride.
His assumption was that the groom was already clued in about this little piece of history. Sadly, he was mistaken and the groom was absolutely livid.
The part that was supposed to follow the vows was promptly called off and the guests found themselves unexpectedly heading home.
27. A Match Made In Heaven
Once, while I was photographing a wedding, the bride was marrying a widower who had two children from his previous marriage. I found myself in the bride's room as the bridal party got dressed, with all the bridesmaids sporting matching silk robes.
The groom's daughter, who was also the flower girl, was present as well. Everything was going smoothly until it took a sudden unexpected turn.
When requested to take a group picture of all the bridesmaids, I noticed one lady in a silk robe standing a bit apart.
Assuming she was simply shy, I asked her to join the others. Immediately, the room fell eerily quiet. The bride reacted with, "We don't want her in the photos"! and cast a disapproving look my way, suggesting I should've been aware.
As it turns out, the lady in question was the groom's ex-wife, present solely to assist the flower girl.
But why on earth would they dress her in a bridesmaid's robe identical to the others? At that moment, I just wished the floor would open up and swallow me.
28. With A Little Help From Her Friends
One time, I attended a wedding where the officiant had previously dated the bride. He spent his entire speech lauding the bride's virtues and surprising us all by assuring the groom that, should he ever pass , he'd step up to look after her.
I was absolutely gobsmacked hearing this.
I truly wanted to request a copy of the wedding video from the couple, but I couldn't come up with a credible excuse to do so.
29. Not Everyone Got Out Alive
I once went to a wedding with one really shocking sign of bad luck. Just as the bride was about to walk down the aisle, the groom's elderly uncle unexpectedly passed right in the front row.
They were unable to revive him even after trying CPR for nearly an hour.
The decision was made to go on with the wedding, and the priest made a point to remember the uncle in all his prayers ("Bless Jane and Jim...and also Stanley..").. It made for something of a gloomier occasion, to put it mildly.
Unsurprisingly, the marriage didn't endure.
30. My Best Friend’s Wedding
My best buddy ditched my sister at their wedding, where I was the best man. He got to know my sister through me, and they dated for a couple of years. After being engaged for a year, the big day finally arrived.
There we were in the church, up at the front, with about 15 minutes till my sister was supposed to walk down the aisle.
Suddenly, he said he needed to use the bathroom and started heading towards the back of the church. After a minute or so, it dawned on me that the bathrooms weren't at that end of the church.
Anxiety set in and I decided to go search for him. But he was nowhere to be found—not in the bathrooms, not anywhere around the church.
My best friend had bolted. He disappeared for three days before anyone heard from him. His family made contact on the second day when he was already in some part of Europe, "staying with a buddy". He's been there for three years now, and never offered an explanation, not even to my sister.
31. Country Boy
At my cousin's wedding, the groom hopped onto a tiny tractor. He went for a joyride around the open-air venue with his bride seated behind him. All this while Kenny Chesney’s “She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy” played on a loop for around 30 minutes after they said their "I do's".
As guests, we simply milled around, believing it was a fleeting act.
Soon, we thought, we'd be diving into the delightful refreshments and scrumptious food. Not exactly. They persisted with their little charade for what felt like an eternity, certain they were bagging awesome photos and videos from every perspective.
They spent an extra chunk of time stationed on the tractor, striking pose after pose for the camera.
It was a blazingly hot day, no shelter in sight. There I was, heavily pregnant and feeling incredibly uncomfortable. But the most infuriating part was that he isn't even a farmer. They share an apartment...
32. A Tragic Ending To A Wonderful Weekend
In the span of a three-day wedding celebration, the first night was truly epic.
It was a vibrant bash where everyone had a blast. There were no dramatic episodes, the food was spectacular, waitstaff were brilliant, and the music was just right—an ideal balance of volume and genre.
It was a remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime kind of gathering. However, we had no clue about the turn of events that awaited us.
The wedding ceremony was scheduled for the second day. The bride and the groom were supposed to arrive at the church separately. However, the groom got delayed, courtesy of a traffic snarl due to an accident.
Nevertheless, dressed in his tuxedo, all he needed to do was make a timely entrance into the church and approach the altar.
Once there, he was embroiled in nervousness—after all, he had been delayed by 45 minutes because of the accident. But, at last, he was present.
The stunning bride, unfazed by the delays, was convinced that nothing could spoil her day. After exchanging their vows, as they began their march down the aisle, an unforeseen calamity struck. The groom collapsed to the ground, succumbing to a massive aneurysm before even hitting the floor.
But a bigger blow was still to come.
The reason for the traffic that delayed the groom was a car accident involving the bride's grandparents, who unfortunately did not survive either.
33. Last-Minute Decisions
Once, I was at a wedding where the groom suddenly swapped out his "Best Man," not even letting the original one know until the ceremony was literally starting. As the celebrations moved on to the reception, to their shock, the bride and groom discovered they'd forgotten to get a bartender on board.
As a quick fix, they roped in a guest to do the job. Then, things got a bit awkward when the groom and his step-mom started to do a "dirty dance" with him openly placing his hands on her rear. You can't make this stuff up.
34. The Groom Got Busy
A close family friend's daughter unexpectedly fell pregnant and, seemingly joyous, the couple chose to tie the knot.
The day of the wedding arrived, and guests were gathered outside the venue eagerly waiting for the ceremony.
Suddenly, another woman stormed in, insisting she needed to speak with the groom. The words that came out of her mouth left us all stunned: She announced that she was also pregnant, and the groom was to blame!
With wide-eyes, we watched as the drama was taken behind closed doors, leaving us standing outside.
After a fair bit of chaos, the wedding continued. As it so happened, the intruding woman had been telling the truth, and both babies were expected within a fortnight of each other.
We departed from the reception quite quickly. Grabbed some cake on the way out—it was tasty. The blissful pair, however, didn't stay married for long.
35. Chivalry Is Gone
At my wedding, I handed my bouquet to my husband so I could lift my dress and hop into the car.
He declined, stating it wasn't masculine. So there I was, clumsily getting into the vehicle while juggling my bouquet and my dress. Shortly after, my mom turned to him and said, "Isn't she stunning"? His reaction was less than enthusiastic, merely replying I looked "fine".
Looking back, these instances were warning signs flashing in neon lights, and I was filled with a sense of doom.
This happened three decades ago, yet I can recollect the feeling vividly today. Sadly, my intuition was accurate, and I ended our marriage just shy of its first anniversary.
36. Why Not Keep What You’re Missing?
I had a family reunion just before a relative's wedding. We went for a social drink, and she enthusiastically showed me a gentleman at the bar.
She'd just returned from a trip with this guy, during which they had a premarital fling that lasted a week. She seemed to believe I would view this as cheeky and amusing.
On the wedding day, I visited her in the bride's room. The same man was present there.
She had been intimate with him the night prior to the wedding. Their marriage survived for a couple of years, but it was an unhappy period.
37. With Mothers Like These, Who Needs Enemies?
During my half-sister's wedding, things turned a little uncomfortable when came the time for objections. Her mother leaned over to another relative and murmured, "No way, he's not worthy of her". The person conducting the ceremony, hearing this, halted the proceedings, asking her to voice her protest louder, as it's an official part of the ceremony.
Taken aback, my sister's mom shrugged it off, blushing and settling back into her seat, while I was glaring daggers at her with my eyes. My sister is incredible and her chosen partner makes her incredibly happy. But the after-party became more difficult.
In his toast, the groom expressed gratitude to the mother for welcoming him into the family, happily reflecting on gaining another mother.
38. Hog Heaven
My cousin held a grand wedding at a farm, complete with a massive pig roast. But tension was in the air, as her dad and my older cousin have always had a rough relationship. During the reception, my older cousin couldn't bottle up his feelings any longer.
He turned to us, asking for our support. We nodded, having no idea of what was about to transpire.
He vanished for a bit, and then returned carrying a 20lb bag of leftover pork from the roast. He then strolled over to where my uncle (my cousin's dad) was seated.
As he approached, my aunt cried out, "Lonnie, don't do it"! But it was too late—he hit my uncle on the side of his face with the bag of meat.
This act set off a full-fledged family fight. Ever since that incident, our entire family has been left off the guest list for weddings.
39. I Can't Hold It In Anymore
A few months back, I saw something quite extraordinary. Out of the blue, an unexpected guest decided to stand up and practically announce his love for the bride. He spilled his feelings by saying he should have been the one marrying her. The room fell into a deafening silence.
The bride blushed from embarrassment, while the groom blushed from rage. But even crazier? This whole ordeal happened right in front of this unexpected guest's wife. Needless to say, it didn't sit well with anyone.
40. When Life Gives You Lemons…
The well-off cousin's partner vanished just a day shy of their wedding.
She didn't leave any reasons behind, just took off with a buddy. Her whole family was already in town for the occasion, as was his—all hyped-up for the big day. Therefore, they simply brushed off the formal ceremony and went ahead with the reception anyway.
The celebration was colossal and the most exciting alternative wedding party I've ever gotten to enjoy.
Given the odd circumstances, everyone just decided to let loose—kids were included in the toast and the band was given free reign with their music. It was an absolute riot. Even the jilted bride had the time of her life.
41. Substitute Soulmate
We arrived at a wedding and were surprised to find that the bride was not the woman we thought it would be.
Apparently, the engaged couple had broken up just a fortnight ago. But, the groom, not wanting to waste all the money he had spent on the reception, came up with an idea.
He proposed to one of his former girlfriends to become his wife. She said yes, which created an uncomfortable atmosphere.
Everyone at the wedding was whispering about this unexpected twist.
42. Think Pink
The bride gave her groom a hearty slap before storming out of their wedding ceremony—all because he sported a red tie instead of the vibrant, pink one decorated with flowers she had requested. With her "pink princess" theme in mind, she expected all male attendees to match.
She expressed her disappointment by texting him that he had "spoiled her big day". The only one who wore the right tie was her tiny nephew, who was just a one-year-old.
43. Practice Makes Perfect
At my step-sister's wedding rehearsal, her best man had an unusual outburst. This was not a small rehearsal; its size surpassed that of many actual weddings. The officiant was casually running through the vows, instructing everyone on their respective moves.
When the part about objections came up, the best man intruded and announced he was calling it quits—he confessed he was head over heels for the bride, convinced she reciprocated his feelings. This shocking announcement sent tremors throughout the room.
Everyone was shocked and bewildered, leading to quite an uproar. Following that incident, the bride and groom cut all ties with him.
44. A Matter Of Time
Two years ago, I played the role of a groomsman at a wedding. The couple had been in a relationship for roughly four years, and they chose to write their own vows.
The groom, a genuinely good guy, delivered his vows which were extraordinarily sweet. The bride, on the other hand, chose this moment to announce that he and everyone else present, that they'd soon be welcoming a new addition to their family—a baby.
There wasn't a dry eye in the house and plenty of hugs to go round.
It was an incredible moment. Everything was running smoothly until a part in the reception where the bride revealed to a friend that she was expecting a girl. Mysteriously, no one flagged her slip-up except for the groom. His reaction was explosive.
He stood up, hurled his drink at the wall causing it to shatter, and he called her derogative names and accused her of infidelity.
In disbelief, the bride burst into tears, denied any act of betrayal, and expressed shock at him spoiling their special day. The other groomsmen and I rushed outside to check on him.
It didn’t take us long to realize what had happened. Her pregnancy was at 16 weeks, but he had only returned from Afghanistan eight weeks prior.
She was under the delusion that no one would catch onto the timeline discrepancy and had made plans to try and convince her husband that the baby would arrive prematurely.
After the wedding, I haven’t been in much contact with both of them. However, speculation was rife that the baby's father might have been a result of a one-off encounter with a relative of my friend's.
45. The Real Life Of The Party
I was stood up at the altar. He'd spent most of the previous day hanging out with his ex, rather than assisting me with the arrangements. I was understandably frustrated and called him out on his tardiness and lack of assistance.
His response was that he had decided not to marry me because he felt his ex was more entertaining than I was, after spending time with her.
Following this, I asked him to leave but decided the party must go on. I advised him to utilize that time to move out and pack his belongings. And that's exactly what he did.
46. Battle Of The Bands
Once upon a time, I found myself at what began as just your typical wedding.
The couple was quite religious, that was expected. But things took a turn when we arrived at the reception and saw that the dinner spread was nothing more than trays of sandwiches from Walmart.
Dance time approached, and they decided to spin likely a "Now That's What I Call 90's"! CD with the gentle tune “Semi-Charmed Life". It was strange, but it went downhill from there. Just as we got into the rhythm of the song, the bride's mom switched off the CD player, replacing it with a CD of her choice.
It was packed full of children’s Bible tunes. Barely a minute later, “Semi-Charmed Life” was back on the speakers. Yet, a short while later, those childhood hymns were playing again. It was like a musical tug-of-war, each of them slipping in their preference whenever they got a chance.
This intense battle of the CDs happened roughly two or three more times. It was clear, the mother was anxious to dictate the soundtrack of her grown-up daughter’s wedding day. Having had enough of this bizarre spectacle, we decided it was time to take our leave.
47. The Heart Wants What It Wants
We were so close to cancelling our wedding a day prior to the event. Two days before, her father suffered a severe heart attack and was on the brink of passing. After undergoing surgery, which he coded in two or three times, we managed to get only about seven hours of sleep during those stressful nights.
He remained in the Intensive Care Unit right up until the wedding. Remarkably, he managed to attend and accompany her down the aisle, sporting an automatic defibrillation vest for safety. Following that, he sat down in a wheelchair—we were truly grateful for that.
My emotions were all over the map, and honestly, I'm still amazed at how she kept herself composed.
48. This Is Why You Practice, People
During our wedding rehearsal, my now-husband and I didn't actually practice our ceremony. Instead, we simply discussed the logistics with our wedding party. Consequently, by the time our actual ceremony came to an end, we were unsure about how to properly wrap it up.
So, we froze and stood in awkward silence for a few beats.
Then my husband leaned over and whispered, "So, are you planing to take off now"? implying that I was supposed to initiate our farewell. I, however, took his words literally and just began to walk away (he insists that I sprinted).
I'd covered about 10-15 feet before he shouted after me, "Hold on, aren't you supposed to bring me along"? It was incredibly mortifying, but all our guests found it uproarious and burst into laughter.
As long as I live, I will never be able to forget that moment.
49. Liar, Liar
Two weeks before my wedding, my world crumbled. My girlfriend of five years, the woman with whom I'd shared my first kiss at the spot where I proposed, broke up with me. We were happily engulfed in wedding planning, picking cake and venues, relishing in our easy-going relationship.
I had total faith in her until it all came tumbling down.
Her trustworthiness was so evident that it did not bother me when she stayed back with an old college friend while I had to cut a vacation short for work. Little did I know they would betray me.
Initially, she came clean about an incident with him, describing it as forced. I was blindsided.
In my shock, I took a week off work to support her and seek help. But as her narrative began to evolve, my suspicions kindled. Her account shifted from forced to enjoyable to consensual, eventually claiming it was all a figment of her imagination.
Unluckily for her, my ex-friend was a terrible liar. Upon his confession, she dumped me right when I returned to work. I apparently made her "too happy" and she didn't want that. The swift dissolution of my world in the span of a week left me in shambles.
My brother and friends kept a close watch over me in the ensuing days.
Regaining my sense of self took quite some time. I'd like to think I've moved on, but retelling it reignites the bitter feelings of betrayal and anger. Being left at the altar is one of the worst experiences anyone could go through.
50. Losing It
Once, I attended a wedding where the best man decided to pull off a funny skit. The plot? He had "misplaced" the groom at the reception. With exaggerated gestures, hands perched on his hips, he asked the crowd, "Hey everyone! Isn't somebody missing here? Any guesses where he could possibly be hiding"?
His performance could easily remind you of a high school drama play.
The guests, unprepared for such a playful spectacle, quietly fiddled with their drinks and cutlery. After a few suspenseful minutes, the groom showed up from beneath a tablecloth.
When the act was over, they'd hoped for applause and cheers, but it ended up being a bit too high-concept for the crowd.
A single voice from the crowd mumbled, "That was...a bit odd.."., with the guests quietly moving on afterwards.
51. Not A Fruitful Union
I once knew a woman who tied the knot with a guy she had only known for less than an hour, having met him at a bar. Without missing a beat, he popped the question and she said yes.
The festivities unfolded at a public park—a real two-in-one, party and wedding combined... reality hit within 48 hours, and the marriage was nullified.
Turns out, she couldn't stand his finicky habit of picking out fruits and vegetables. Personally, I think he should've been more discriminating when it came to choosing a spouse.
52. Betrayal Leaves A Bitter Taste
I didn't witness it myself, but a dear friend once shared a story with me about a wedding he attended some time ago. You know the part in the ceremony when they ask for any objections? It seems someone from the back of the room shouted, "We slept with each other half an hour ago"! The bride broke down on the spot while the groom simply walked off.
53. Belting It Out
This mishap was entirely due to the bride's relatives. When I was around 19, one of my early school buddies got hitched and held a modest gathering, primarily with kin and old high school pals. There's nothing off about that. But then they chose to hold a bidding war for the bride’s garter belt during the festivity.
They declared that the highest bidder would have the honor of removing the garter from the bride and becoming its new owner.
Most of us were just struggling college scholars, so the only ones placing bids were her father and uncles. It was extremely cringey to witness.
Finally, the bride’s heavily tipsy dad "clinched" the auction, shelling out over $500. Here's to hoping they at least put that money towards the honeymoon costs.
54. I Can Find Another You In A Minute
I broke off an engagement months before the big day as my soon-to-be bride seemed too fearful of intimacy. I couldn't see myself living that way. Then came the surprising twist. When I sent out cancellation notices to my extended family, they were clueless about the event.
They hadn't received the invite to start with. Evidently, she never bothered to mail them.
Fast forward to six months later, she wanted to reconcile, but I didn't accept her proposal. Then came the sudden news of her new companion. "I've found someone new and we're deeply in love, so take care," she said. I felt bad for the new man in her life.
It was clear she was ready to ditch him in no time for a shot with me.
To this day, I contemplate whether I should have warned him.
55. All The Wrong Moves
So, the bride informed the groom she had a treat for him. She then vanished, leaving the groom seated alone in the center of the dance floor.
Soon, she resurfaced, performing what was intended to be a spicy belly dance just for him while, surprisingly, everyone, family and friends, watched.
Interestingly, neither of them has any roots in the Middle East. Oh, it didn't go well. Not at all.
56. There Will Be Blood
The wedding kicked off with the groom serenading his bride using a rather discordant guitar.
Perched on chairs in front of what could only be described as a massive assembly–– easily 400 people–– the bride's obvious discomfort was palpable. This discomfort inevitably trickled down, making the crowd uneasy as well. The oddities, however, did not end there.
The ceremony also featured an unusual foot washing ritual.
Once the bride slipped her shoes back on, she unfortunately stumbled over her own dress and took a tumble. This shocking instance stunned every onlooker. The vows were yet to be exchanged, and so the ceremony was put on pause for a solid twenty minutes in order to address her nosebleed.
57. Oh. My. Gosh.
I was part of an unbelievable wedding event. The marriage didn't even last a whole 6 hours. I was playing the role of bartender at the reception. As guests started to show up, indulge, and mingle, it all seemed reasonably normal—until the best man delivered his heartwarming speech, and waitstaff began to serve the food.
After the best man's speech, the groom got hold of the microphone, wished everyone a pleasant evening and a tasty meal.
But that's when everything took a wild turn. After conveying his warm wishes, he gently called for his best man and bride's attention.
He coolly announced that he was aware of their secret affair throughout their engagement and assured everyone he would be seeking annulment by Monday.
After thanking everyone for attending, he apologized to his bride's father saying, "Had I known earlier, I would have cancelled weeks ago, but I thought you'd be more upset with your darling daughter when you're stuck with the bill for the reception".
He swiftly turned to his wife and firmly said, "To heck with you," and then faced his best friend saying, "From eavesdropping, I gathered—I'm superior in the sack"! Microphone dropped.
The groom exited. Utter commotion. My co-bartender and I watched in stunned silence. We had to retreat to the kitchen to laugh our heads off.
Pixabay
58. Hard Pass
I was asked to attend the wedding of a past girlfriend. There, they did one of those old-fashioned dances where guests can pay a dollar to dance with the bride or groom.
I gulped down my discomfort and took my ex out for a spin on the dance floor, slipping her a five-dollar bill.
As we danced, she tilted her head to whisper something that made my heart drop. She said, "This should have been you". I felt a wave of panic wash over me.
I hastily made my exit soon after. It comes as no surprise that their marriage didn't stand the test of time.
59. Feels Like The First Time
I grew up in a very strict group where dating wasn't permitted unless it was with the aim of getting married. Moreover, all romantic interactions were closely supervised to prevent any physical contact before marriage.
The worst wedding I ever attended was a tiny, intimate affair with only the bride's family, the groom's family, and my own family, celebrated in her grandmother's living room.What spoiled the wedding was the incredibly awkward kiss at the end.
When the official prompted the groom to kiss the bride, he eagerly kissed her in a rather sloppy display.
It was a flurry of eager tongues, heavy panting, and a bit too much touching for our comfort. For a solid five minutes, everyone in attendance didn't know where to direct their gaze.
60. Wish I Were You, Kiddo
Wow, the low point was definitely when the groom's dad, who seemed completely clear-headed, delivered a ten-minute toast that slid into him publicly grumbling about the fact that his son gets to sleep with the bride but he doesn't.
And let me clarify, this was nothing like an awkward compliment about the bride's beauty, this was a full-blown gripe about the discomforts of aging and how ladies no longer found him attractive. He even made it known that his wish was to take his son's bride to bed.
61. Dip And Strip
At the wedding, a groomsman and the pregnant maid of honor cut a rug, and they busted out a slick dance move that ended with a dramatic dip. Now, the maid of honor was sporting a strapless dress with her expanded chest due to her pregnancy.
When they pulled off the dip, her chest just couldn't stay put and made a surprise appearance, right there on the dance floor.
To say the least, it was a night that left quite an impression.
62. Sister Act
At a wedding I went to, the groom took the mic to express his gratitude towards all the attendees. However, in no time, his speech took a bizarre turn, transforming into an outright humorous poke at his freshly minted brother-in-law. Things escalated to weirdness rather quickly.
I mean, how much hinting towards "I'm definitely going to sleep with your sister tonight" can one handle before it turns into a full-blown cringe festival?
63. I’m Sure God Approves
A couple of my future-spouse's pals were on the brink of tying the knot. The husband-to-be had been wrestling with some major life decisions for a while.
He was torn between settling down with a spouse and kids or joining a religious priory, aiming to become a priest.
Well, he finally made his choice... on the wedding morning, no less, and ended up being a no-show.
64. Tears Of Joy?
The most uncomfortable wedding I've ever been to was when a friend tied the knot with the guy, her parents had forced her to split from years ago because of family disagreements.
His mom didn't just shed tears; she wept loudly for the whole ceremony, making no attempts to disguise her feelings.
All of us guests were left squirming in our seats, having to witness such an uneasy spectacle.
65. How Dare They Not Come
The day following her wedding, a school pal of mine let loose on Facebook, upset that her friends had been no-shows for her big event.
Those that did attend didn't engage or dance at the reception. She was publicly critical of everyone and made her wedding party guilty—she had splurged excessively on things that weren't needed.
Just an hour later, she posted again airing her grievances about people stopping her for snaps, which prevented her from reveling in her own celebration.
It was quite amusing to see the flurry of replies from miffed attendees. So peeved were some that they even demanded their gifts back. Apparently, there was a more somber reason for the lack of turnout.
An old classmate, who shared many friends with the bride, had suffered the heart-wrenching loss of his infant son during the same week.
The baby's funeral was scheduled on the wedding day, thus, the absent friends she was griping about had chosen to pay their respects at the funeral over attending her wedding.
She managed to fritter away a load of respect and friendships in a span of just two hours.
66. Is Now The Right Time?
When the groom and bride rejoined at the alter (which isn't the usual procedure), the father of the groom made a toast. He said, "I'm relieved I managed to join you all today. I needed to let you know—I have cancer, and my time is short. But let's focus on the joy of my son marrying his wonderful bride.
Cherish these moments"!
Everything went pin-drop silent. Honestly, it was one of the most uncomfortable experiences I've ever lived through. For context, this happened back in 2008, but thankfully, the groom's father is still with us.
67. The Silver Lining
So, I got stood up at my own wedding. At that point, we'd been an item for six years, engaged for the last four.
There was zero indication that such a thing could happen. The wedding prep was a group effort, just me, him and our buddies basically. Sundays would typically involve some BBQ, a good chat and plenty of planning.
He seemed super pumped about the whole thing, going on about how amazing our cozy ceremony, followed by a picnic and big bonfire would be.
He used to say that our love was authentic, that we didn't need all the frills. When he didn't show up after an hour of waiting on the big day, reality hit.
I got a call from him saying he simply couldn't go through with it. I'll admit, it was awkward having to tell everyone he got cold feet but we decided to have the picnic anyway.
I strolled about in my wedding dress, making light of his cold feet. I mean, after six years, I felt like I knew him inside out. The strangest part?
We never really discussed it afterwards. He acted like it was a regular day when I got home, just sitting there watching TV.
A week later, he packed his bags and left, only to ask if he could move back in two months later. And I let him. Things went back to normal, until they didn't.
A year and a half later, I was in a terrible car accident and ended up in a coma for a while.
He did pay me a visit, but when I began my first round of surgery, for spinal issues, he made a chilling confession. He just didn't love me enough to stick around throughout my recovery.
Oddly enough, I reacted the same way as I did when he ditched me at the altar.
He left me in the hospital much like he did at our wedding. By then, we'd been together for nearly eight years. Our families were really close. I honestly believed that we could sort it out. But, that didn't happen.
However, I managed to pull through, both physically and emotionally.
When someone's been your other half for so long, moving on can be tough. I decided to keep busy. I attended classes, picked up kayaking, cried a lot, made new friends, and even danced. I started dating again. Two years later, I found my current husband.
This whole ordeal taught me a valuable lesson—familiarity and a shared past don't necessarily guarantee a secure future.
68. A Man On A Mission
When I was younger, my job was to man the bar at wedding receptions.
On this particular day, the party was scheduled to start at around 4 in the afternoon. But, there was this guy already at the bar, drinking early at around 3. I asked him casually if he was skipping the ceremony, to which he gave a vague response about needing to gather his courage first.
After finishing his drink, he quietly exited. However, he returned in about ten minutes, looking quite downcast, and ordered another drink. As he was about to take a sip, another man, who happened to be the groom, stormed in, delivered a punch to the back of his head, and promptly left.
The man simply shrugged it off, lifted his drink, and continued sipping.
The real story behind this misadventure unfolded over time. It turned out that this man had gulped down his drink, barged into the wedding ceremony, and shockingly confessed to having an affair with the bride during her bachelorette party.
Following this revelation, he dashed back to the bar.
The surprising bit was that he wasn't even invited to the ceremony; he had found out about the location, suited up, and decided to unleash this chaos right in the middle of the ceremony.
69. It’s All About Me, Myself, And I
When I was just 11 years old, my cousin, who was already 37 and quite self-absorbed, got hitched for the third time.
There wasn't much in the way of common ground between us, but everything was alright, the ceremony was a bit dull, but okay. But the peculiar part was the reception.
The instruction to sit seemed strange to some, but being only my second wedding, I didn't read much into it.
Her previous ones were adult-only affairs. As soon as we seated, the newlyweds burst into the hall, drawing all the attention with crowns shining on their heads. And that's when the spectacle really took off.
The bride grabbed the microphone, passed it to her mother, requesting her to express her love for her.
The real kicker was when she wanted each guest to share what they loved about her. Don't get me wrong—it wasn't about them as a couple or even the husband—it was all about her.
The discomfort proliferated around the room as everyone fumbled to find words of admiration.
When my turn rolled around, the best I could muster was, "Your eyeshadow is pretty". I wished to be invisible in that moment. My older brother simply stated "Pass," which led to an awkward forced laughter from her.
The relationship hit the rocks a few months later, when she found her husband cheating with a high-school teenager.
But, she was back in the game a few years later for round four. Looks like this time it stuck—they are still together, enjoying their happily ever after. I suppose the fourth time was the winning charm.
70. What A Nut Case!
I attended a wedding where everything was arranged to be nut-free, coconut-free, and lactose-free.
This was to ensure none of the guests, including children, who had these common allergies would have an issue. Yet, the chef in charge of the buffet had different ideas, ignoring the agreed-upon menu and adding nuts to virtually every dish.
The salads had almonds in them, desserts were sprinkled with pecans, and walnuts found their way into the chicken dishes.
Nuts were simply everywhere! It wasn't long before the bride discovered this. The bride and her sisters suffer from extreme, potentially fatal nut allergies, so you can imagine her reaction.
She was left to settle for a Burger King meal at her own wedding because of this.
Her sister, who was eight months pregnant, had to inject herself with epinephrine and quietly slip out to rush to the ER due to an anaphylactic reaction. And witnessing the groom trying to comfort and uplift his bride amidst this fiasco was incredibly uncomfortable.
This incident filled the bride with such intense anger and the guests could do nothing but watch helplessly.
71. Nothing’s More Important Than Me
One day at the bridal store where I work, a soon-to-be bride strolled in to collect her wedding gown and the dresses for her bridesmaids. She was noticeably grumpy and soon shared the reason for her foul mood. "I'm really upset because one of my bridesmaids won't be attending my wedding".
We all responded, quite alarmed, "Oh no, why"?! The answer she gave was so shocking, it's one I'll never forget.
We were all left speechless, our jaws literally dropping to the floor.
72. Lap Dog
I remember a time when I was working at a wedding reception. I witnessed the bride, who had a little too much to drink, cozying up to a random guy for a solid two hours. She was shamelessly flirting with him, while the groom sat alone, looking crushed, at the main table.
My heart really went out to him.
I'm not sure what became of the couple afterward, but it's hard to believe their marriage stood the test of time.
73. Blast That Past
The groom's ex-girlfriend showed up to the wedding unexpectedly and clearly tipsy. The groom had ended things with her a decade earlier and hadn't seen her for more than eight years.
She was making a scene, shouting explicit desires towards the groom.
The bride, usually the epitome of tranquility, stepped in, let loose, and punches the ex-girlfriend square in the face. This petite lady managed to knock her husband's ex unconscious.A group of us carried the ex-girlfriend out of the party and took her back to her apartment which was about 20 minutes away.
The bride reassured my wife saying, "nothing is going to spoil my wedding day".
74. Too Close For Comfort
My friend tied the knot about 15 years ago. We were certain he had discovered the ideal partner—she was consistently charming, extremely attractive, and from both our guy talk and her playful banter during poker games, a star performer in the bedroom.
When the wedding day arrived, the official asked if anyone had any legitimate reasons to object.
That's when everything fell apart. My friend's father stood up to object because he had kept a secret for many years—he had been unfaithful to my friend's mom years ago, and the woman he was involved with was, astonishingly, the bride's mother.
The shocking twist was that the bride turned out to be my friend's half-sister.
Apparently, the parents were the only ones aware of this shocking revelation. Later on, a DNA test was carried out to verify it. As a result, my friend now attends therapy sessions, grappling with an unsettling realization that "the best love and intimate partner of my life turned out to be my sister"!
75. A Scheduling Conflict
So there was this one time I saw a bride arrive nearly two hours late to her own wedding.
This ended up being a massive warning sign. The atmosphere got really tense when she finally got there, not because she was late, but because she was wearing yoga clothes instead of a bridal gown.
Her fiancé lost it and completely cancelled the event on the spot when she refused to change outfits. In a chat with my uncle, I found out that the groom had been suspecting his bride-to-be was having an affair with her fitness coach.
When she rolled up to what was supposed to be their wedding in her workout clothes, that was the last straw and he called it quits. What happened next was a total whirlwind—she ended up marrying her trainer not long after, but they ended up splitting in no time.
76. No Means No
Once upon a time, my minister was set to oversee a wedding.
The pair had participated in pre-wedding guidance with him and everything appeared to be smooth sailing. However, as they stood before the altar, after his welcome and initial blessing, everything changed.
When he asked the bridegroom, "Do you take this woman as your wife"?, the man glanced at his bride, looked back and shockingly replied, "No". Assuming he had misspoke, the minister tried asking again, but the man interrupted him insisting, "No, I don't". So, perplexedly, the minister guided the groom to an adjacent room.
In privacy, the man confessed that he felt bulldozed into the wedding by his bride and her mother. He admitted he hadn't been brave enough to confront them earlier but now realized he couldn't risk his future on a lie. They ended up involving both families in this raw and truthful exchange.
Afterward, the minister, unfortunately, had to face the bewildered congregation to tell them the wedding was off. He pointed them towards the refreshments but noted all other activities for the evening were cancelled. This certainly made for a jaw-dropping event.
77. Together Again
I remember going to a wedding in the US.
Both the bride and groom were getting hitched for the fourth time, and not to new partners, but to each other. That's right, they had been married and divorced from each other three times before. The location for this quirky wedding was a grungy biker bar.
To add to the oddities, they were casually serving adult beverages to kids and found their wild antics amusing.
As if the scene wasn't strange enough, things quickly spiraled into a new dimension of craziness. When the bride unexpectedly whipped out a blade hidden in her dress and tried to hurt the groom for an unfaithful act during their separation, I promptly asked my friend if we could make a quick exit.
Is this a norm in New Jersey? I can't be sure, as the other weddings I've been to were nothing like this...
78. Think Of The Children
This wedding happened in an Episcopal church. The priest was decked out in his ceremonial attire, and the church was all beautifully dolled up for the big day.
The bride and groom had requested that everyone dress down—we assumed this meant semi-formal. We were wrong.
The couple and their children showed up in the most casual gear: overalls and white tees. Then, the groom began to share their love story, off-the-cuff, for a good twenty minutes.
Bits of the story revealed the groom's initial uncertainty about the bride but prompted by his son's longing for a mother, he continued the relationship.
These memories tugged at our hearts since his biological mother had passed when he was only four, and this was eight years down the line.
Long story short, his rambling speech essentially said, "I'm marrying her, so my son can have a mom". A few unrelated Bible quotes were thrown in there as well.
It raised some eyebrows as it's not the best reason to marry someone. I think most of us in attendance, including the priest, could see that.
79. It Never Hurts To Bring A Back-Up
My sister had sent out my invitation for her wedding, plus one—but it was for a long-time male friend, someone she always fancied. Interestingly, I've been in a committed relationship with my boyfriend for two solid years, and the friend she fancied is engaged himself.
When questioned why she didn't give my plus-one to my boyfriend, her logic was that she didn't want an unknown face spoiling her wedding album.
Going solo was my way to attend her wedding.
80. Leaving So Soon?
Back in my college days while learning the art of photography, I hit it off with this guy who ran his own wedding photography business alongside his studies. Impressed by my work, he invited me to give him a hand at his next wedding.
So, I said sure, why not, right?
I was all set for the big day, eager to capture memories of the groom, the best man, the ushers, and the slew of other guests. But boy, things didn't go as planned.
Out of the blue, the groom decides to opt out of the picture, saying he's under the weather.
I thought he should just brave it out, after all, that's his special day. But, no dice. He was determined not to appear in any pre-event snapshots. The ceremony unfolded and it was time for the bridal party images at the church.
Again, the groom refused to pose, much to everyone's chagrin.
We finally got to the reception, speeches begun, and lo and behold, the groom bailed in the middle of the father of the bride's speech, again claiming sickness. The bride's was livid. She yanked off the miniature groom and bride dolls from the cake and started stomping them.
She cried out, "I knew I shouldn't have married him"! Chaos ensued—but a shocking revelation awaited us. Back home, feet up, enjoying a couple of drinkss, I got a surprising call from my buddy. I thought he was just phoning to have a laugh about the mess.
Far from it.
He called to break the news that the groom had passed right after he had left the reception hall.
81. Speaking From The Heart
I had a significant role in this wedding, serving as the best man, which gave me an up-close and personal view of everything. The bride and groom were tying the knot at a young age, prompted by the bride's unexpected pregnancy.
It wasn't part of their plan, obviously, but their love for each other was unstoppable, and they believed this was the right thing for them.
Moving to the scene of the wedding reception, I was sitting next to the bride's dad. I noticed him nervously going over his speech multiple times.
There were phrases like "less than perfect," and "wished the circumstances for this reunion were different," among others.
Right before the groom was due to give his speech, the father left to use the restroom, leaving his rather negative speech unattended. I quickly realized that I had to intervene, or the wedding might turn into a gloomy affair.
I'm not shy to confess that I took the speech and pretended to know nothing about what had happened to it when he came back and asked.
Eventually, he got up, said a few standard words about love, and then quietly took his seat again. There were no problems, luckily.
I never spilled this secret to the groom, and I'm delighted to report that they are still blissfully married two decades later.
82. Willful Ignorance
The first red flag unfurled before they even walked down the aisle, when my old friend presented her future husband to our friends, and he stayed buried in his phone, hardly acknowledging anyone.
Then, during the actual ceremony, our usually emotional pal who is known to shed tears at the slightest provocation was strangely composed, even while they exchanged heartfelt vows.
Throughout the ceremony, she seemed more engaged with the camera, constantly striking poses. Strangely enough, the wedding was officiated by the groom's family's priest.
What he said left us all stunned. He went on a rant about how it was the bride's duty to keep her husband happy, staying at home and being an ideal wife.
This didn't sit well with us, since at that moment the bride held financial reins in their relationship, supporting him and his parents.
Yet, when I chatted with his parents at the reception, they couldn't stop praising the priest's words. The marriage ended in a divorce not even four months after.
83. Just Making A Quick Stop
The most unusual weddings I've ever been to? It would have to be a toss-up between my sibling doing the "Cotton-eyed Joe" at her wedding only to end up with a broken knee and my half-sister throwing her wedding party at a highway truck stop when she was six months pregnant.
In defense of my half-sister, the food at the truck stop was surprisingly delicious.
But, let me tell you, strolling through a gas station all dressed up was beyond peculiar.
84. The Family That Lies Together Stays Together
My sister and her now ex-husband first crossed paths during our high school's junior year, and she moved in with him before our senior year was even over. I was never a fan of him and never made an effort to mask my feelings.
Truth be told, I liked him even less after he made a pass at me while they were still in the dating phase.
I voiced my displeasure, but my sister didn't take my concerns seriously. Before he proposed, she discovered he was exchanging flirty messages with other girls.
He pledged his commitment to change, and they moved ahead with planning their wedding.
The ceremony was a disaster, held in our small family garden with our aunt presiding over it. Halfway through the service, our usually composed aunt was overcome with tears. My spotlight-loving stepmom read out a self-penned poem about the couple mid-ceremony, turning heads and eyebrows towards herself.
The groom's father, who was supposedly excluded from the guest list, made a tipsy surprise entrance during the vows to grab a drink. Despite the chaos, I noticed the groom getting handsy with one of the bridesmaids. Although I witnessed it, I didn't mention it to my blissfully unaware sister.
To this day, that's one of my deepest regrets. A year later, it was revealed that the groom was having an affair...with our stepmother. Remarkably, my sister managed to forgive both of them, a testament to her low self-esteem. A year after the first incident, they were caught yet again.
By then, my father had already divorced my stepmother, and I had distanced myself from the entire drama. Thankfully, my sister—who I still keep in contact with—eventually gave him the boot. It seems like divorce became a family trend, something right out of an Oprah show.
85. Party Pooper
It was at a wedding ceremony when.
.".Is there anyone who has any objections, make them known now or stay silent forever—" From the crowd, a woman stood up and declared, "This man can't get married because he's already my husband".
As it unfolded, the lady who raised the objection and the groom were indeed previously married.
They had attempted to divorce, but it was never finalized. Consequently, the wedding could not continue.
86. Grooming Him For Success
My friend had the perfect engagement, but trouble started brewing about two months before the big day. During a family getaway, his fiancée blew up over a trivial matter and gave him the silent treatment. Their communication was limited to daily "I am okay" texts, including "I love you(s)", with her continuing to reassure him that she still wanted to tie the knot.
However, a month before their wedding day, she dramatically called it off.
Their interaction had dwindled to those sparse texts. So, he conveyed the unfortunate news to everyone—the wedding was off. However, he overlooked one mutual friend who was on his fiancée's invite list.
As a result, this friend showed up at what he thought was a canceled event, only to be met with an astonishing scene.
He was greeted by... a wedding! But not the one he'd expected to attend. It turns out that the woman had a different paramour, whom she married on the planned date, shockingly enough, using my friend’s hard-earned money.
He had left it up to her to cancel all the wedding arrangements.
87. Everybody Dance Now
My cousin, along with his spouse, are highly spiritual folks and could possibly be the most socially awkward people I've ever encountered. At their nuptials, they presented a "surprise switch" first dance. Initially, it was a tender, slow melody, which abruptly changed into a pre-planned, lively dance number.
Adding to the eccentricity, the lively tune played for an extended five minutes and the couple kept on revolving around the same few dance steps, repeatedly. The whole scene seemed to stretch on forever.
88. Tonight’s Gonna Be A Cringey Night
For years, I've been a banquet manager at a hotel and, safe to say, I've seen my fair share of weddings.
However, the one that sticks out the most involves a bride and groom with at least two decades between them—it was quite likely a planned alliance.
The guest list wasn't grand; just a group of around twenty people. Simple decorations adorned the place, the centerpiece being a colossal heart-shaped picture of the newlyweds—although notably of poor quality.
As the blissful couple enter the room, someone hits play on the Black Eyed Peas' "Tonight's Going to be a Good Night" over a CD player. Remarkably, the same tune was spun continuously for a good three hours.
Its rhythm only interrupted when the CD ended, as it seemed the constant repeat function was a mystery to all.
Turns out, they'd burned the same song into the CD twenty times consecutively. And whenever it ended, someone would just stand up and press play again from the start.
89. At Least She Admits It
During the rehearsal dinner, the mother of the groom broke down and cried. Everyone could tell her son was unhappy—it was obvious to us all. When the bride began to recite the vows they'd written for each other, she admitted, "I know I've been awful at times, and I'm not sure why you're still here with me. But, I promise that everything is going to be different starting from today"!
Unfortunately, their marriage ended in divorce after just a year.
90. More Spice Than Sweet
One time, I went to a friend/fellow student's wedding. The pair was quite young, likely around 22 to 23 years old. In some places, there's this wedding event known as "caking". Essentially, it's when the bride and groom serve each other cake and humorously smear a bit on each other's faces.
The bride was adamant—she was 1000% sure she didn't want any part of the caking ritual. Despite her clear instructions, the groom did it anyway. He didn't just lightly smear it, he stuffed the entire piece into her face.
Shocked by his actions, she suddenly stood up, her face covered in cake, and shouted, "YOU'RE THE WORST! I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT"! She promptly sprinted towards a private area near the party location.
The groom attempted to chase after her, but the bridesmaids, along with the bride's mother, blocked his way.
So there he was, the groom, stuck in an uncomfortable silence at the main table all alone while half the wedding attendees ran after the distressed bride. She stayed hidden for roughly an hour.
Eventually, they allowed him to follow her to the back to see if she was okay.
All we could hear from there were the sounds of her crying and a brewing argument. The party atmosphere plummeted into a standstill. The reception only picked back up when one of the bride's aunts came out and instructed the staff to clean the tables and play some music.
Unfortunately, the marriage didn't last, they divorced two years later.
91. No Laughing Matter
One of my closest pals cancelled her wedding a mere month before the big day. Why? Well, her soon-to-be husband made a "sarcastic comment" about causing her harm because, according to him, she gave her step-brother an extended hug at her mother's anniversary celebration.
Turns out, she avoided a major crisis:
Just one year later, he got taken in by the authorities for actually harming another lady in the same manner.
92. This Is A Classy Affair
My former business partner—who loved the limelight—was getting hitched for the second time, this time to a well-known attorney. Despite being in her 40s, she acted much like a party-loving college girl with a fixation on appearances and prestige.
Their wedding was an extravagant two-day event held in a posh city event center.
When my wife and I arrived, we were greeted with a disappointing surprise. The guests were decidedly split into two categories: those who mattered, and everyone else.
As part of the privileged crowd, we were invited for pre-dinner drinks, witnessed the exchange of vows, and escorted to a luxurious sit-down dinner.
The rest—the so-called secondary guests—were invited to join the party much later for some cake and dancing.
During dinner, the bride, whose cheek flushed from a few drinks, rose to her feet and declared that we, the superior guests, were her "actual friends," the very "best of the best," and our esteemed status was reflected in the high-end dinner in front of us. It was top-tier favoritism at its awkwardly finest moment.
Meanwhile, the second batch of guests began to congregate outside, unable to enter because the dinner was still in progress. As if things weren't uncomfortable enough, the venue had large windows reminiscent of storefront displays, providing a clear albeit distressing view of the interior.
To add insult to injury, the skies opened up and it began to pour.
The guests outside, unaware of their lesser status, got drenched while waiting and watching us. The whole ordeal was painfully embarrassing.
93. That’s What I Call A Drop
During the reception, the bride's aunt unexpectedly passed while she was dancing. Her sudden collapse led the DJ to stop the tunes, waiting for emergency services to get there.
After they escorted her away, the music started up again. Believe it or not, the DJ's first song choice was Bryan Adams' "Heaven".
It was such a bewildering decision that the shocked expressions I saw from the crowd will stay etched in my memory forever.
94. No Double Dipping!
Once, I attended a wedding that turned out to be quite the spectacle.
The crafty bride got her revenge on her unfaithful husband-to-be in a truly remarkable manner.
As we approached the end of a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, after all the official paperwork was signed, she unexpectedly raced into the crowd loudly proclaiming, "I'm divorcing my husband for sleeping with my sister"! But here's why this was such an ingenious move.
See, I'm not Jewish myself, but from what I understand, the faith has certain stipulations regarding who you can and can't marry after a divorce. One of them being you're not supposed to marry someone related to your former spouse.
So, this clever bride managed an epic double-whammy:
not only did she shame her husband and sister in public, but she also ensured that under Jewish law, they can't ever become a couple.
95. Backhanded By The Holy Man
The bride used to be a nun, but she decided to leave shortly after joining, so she could tie the knot with a family friend of my partner.
Throughout the wedding, the priest couldn't help but look at her in a disapproving manner, shaking his head a little and pulling faces that clearly showed his disappointment in her choices.
Things got really uncomfortable when he highlighted during his sermon: "Sticking to the promises we give—be they marriage vows or religious—is a reflection of our honesty and sincerity".
96. The Worst Groom Ever
Once upon a time, I attended a wedding with my girlfriend, where both families were Irish.
Neither the bride nor the groom was familiar to me—only my girlfriend knew them. Amidst the vows, a commotion was caused by the groom's ex-wife, who was promptly escorted out. Now, I couldn't quite grasp what she was shouting about.
The after-party was incredibly fun, complete with a perfect venue and impromptu live music by guests flaunting an authentic Irish jig.
Drinks flowed in abundance that night. There wasn't anyone moderating the serving at the bar, quite purposefully I think. These folks were known to be the life of parties.
At one point, a bathroom break led me to spot what seemed to be the groom sharing a stall (the door was wide open) with a lady who was definitely not the bride.
But having just met these people, I shook off the confusion and chose to say nothing.
Fast forward a bit—my girlfriend feels it's time we left. Agreeing, we start gathering our stuff. On our way downstairs, I run into the same guy from the bathroom, passionately caught up with the mysterious woman.
My girlfriend pulls at my arm urgently, giving a quick thank you to the hosts and hurrying past the unlikely couple. Still bewildered, I just tag along.
Later, it all falls into place. The man with the woman in the stairwell was indeed the groom, and his accomplice was none other than his ex-wife, at his very own wedding to a different woman.
The woman shot us a triumphant look, as if to say, "I always get what I want".
That chilling image is still etched into my memory, even after the whole bizarre saga was explained to me on our ride home.
97. Missed Encounters
My spouse and I attended the wedding of a long-time friend of his.
The other women at our table gawked at us as if we were apparitions. Out of the blue, one lady cornered my husband and let him know that the bride, his old friend, had carried feelings for him for ages.
They were genuinely panicked that we were present at the wedding.
My husband was taken aback, as he was completely oblivious to her feelings. After the part where they introduced the newly married couple, the bride made a beeline to our table, disregarding her relatives and leaving her groom stranded.
She clung onto my husband and broke down into tears, intermittently giving me stern looks.
It took an effort to separate her from him. Her newly wedded spouse was dumbstruck, not to mention my husband was mortified and clearly discomforted. We chose not to stick around for long.
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98. The Big Grift
My cousin went to a wedding where the couple got duped by their wedding planner.
An hour before the event, the room was essentially empty—no food, no decor, just a scattering of tables in an otherwise vacant Banquet hall. The bride and groom quickly understood that the planner had tricked them and used the money to purchase a massive new home.
99. Whoops!
I'm in the business of managing bars at weddings and I've seen my fair share of doomed unions. But there's one that's forever etched in my memory: There was a wedding, see, and the bride was really late. Tension was thick in the air.
In a heartbreaking twist, she sent the groom a text just 15 minutes before their vow exchange was due to start, saying, "Apologies, but I'm not coming". It was enormously sad.
Despite the hiccup, the guests decided to party anyway, but you can bet that the groom was shattered. He bailed at approximately 7:30 pm and the others tagged along at around 10 pm.
Turns out, the bride had spent the entire prior day with her folks, who were not fans of her future husband.
They evidently talked her out of attending her own wedding. But that wasn't all. The next morning, she showed up at his doorstep to say sorry and, as far as current rumor has it, they're still an item. Talk about a cringe-worthy work experience.
100. Wedding Transference
In the business that I'm in, I have a close friend who is a wedding planner.
He's a charming and design-savvy guy who can handle anything related to weddings, from designing wedding dresses to floral arrangements—and his expertise does come with a hefty price tag. Just a few days before one wedding, he received an unexpected call from the bride.
The bride confessed her doubts about the wedding, saying she was in love with someone else.
The conversation unfolded somewhat like this:
Bride: "I can't go ahead with the wedding; my feelings have changed and I think I have fallen for another person"!
Him: "Wait, you have feelings for another person!? But your wedding is just around the corner"!
Bride: "Actually...it's you I'm in love with.
You just UNDERSTAND me! You're truly unique"!
Him: "...Are you aware of the huge amount your folks are shelling out for my services"?!
Interestingly, she went ahead with the wedding as planned five days later and the matter was never brought up again.
101. There’s Making A Scene And Then…There’s This
My cousin A and I have always been tight.
We're the only ones without siblings among our cousins, so he's felt like an elder brother to me. With lots in common and great camaraderie, I value our bond. But recently, we've grown somewhat distant, and we usually reconnect during festive family occasions.
A has been with his wife S for five years, marrying last October.
This is where the wedding saga unfolded. S, admittedly, doesn't care much for me. It's her constant oversight of my behaviors at family events—such as belittling how I wash dishes or fussing over my boyfriend's age.
She often dishes out dismissive, passive-aggressive remarks. Not just to me, either but the other women in the family too.
I usually brush it aside to avoid sparking any unnecessary drama. Last October, A and S tied the knot. My boyfriend and I attended, and the ceremony was stunning—a classic Italian-style wedding.
Everything ran smoothly, initially. However, eventually, a mishap occurred. Held at a posh hotel with multiple venues, another wedding was going on.
Our cake was mistakenly sent to the wrong event. When the error was corrected swiftly, it didn't stop S from losing her cool and turning to the bottle.
Post-dinner, A spent hours catching up with the guests, finally ending up at our table. Being the first time I saw him in almost a year, we ended up chatting at length.
Then, my boyfriend left to fetch drinks, S came over. Clearly unsteady, she insisted A return to their table.
As he hugged me goodbye, she lashed out, screaming, "STOP TRYING TO SLEEP WITH MY HUSBAND YOU HARLOT"! The whole area hushed and stared. Overcome with embarrassment, my boyfriend and I left immediately.
At the time, we considered this the best course of action.
S left a lukewarm apology on my voicemail, blaming the outburst on wedding stress. Fast forward to yesterday's holiday gathering, and A hardly spoke. Worse still, people told us we were rude for leaving early, accusing us of creating a scene and blaming us for sabotaging A and S's big day.
I was shocked to find some relatives even defending S's behavior, suggesting I should've toughed it out instead of leaving.
102. A Familiar Face…
While I don't see my biological dad that much, I knew that he had gotten remarried. Some relatives from my dad's side caught wind of my baby sister's wedding and decided to show up uninvited.
During the festivities, a woman who seemed familiar approached me and asked if I was indeed who she thought.
I confirmed my identity, telling her that she also looked familiar, although I couldn't place her name. She introduced herself and dropped a surprise: Back in my high school days, I used to babysit her while she was in middle school.
Wondering who she was attending the wedding with, I asked about her presence.
Even more shocking was her reply: She was my biological dad's current wife and felt the need to clarify that he was now "hers". Completely taken aback and not wanting to stir any drama, I excused myself, leaving her in the middle of the crowd.
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