Update (Sept. 1, 2021): The newlywed couple who received backlash for creating an invoice for guests who didn't show up to their wedding said they've actually had people try to pay them back, Fox 5 Atlanta reports.
Douglas and Dedra Simmons got married in Jamaica and invited 109 guests to their big day. To their surprise, however, eight of those invited guests didn't show up and didn't RSVP saying they would no longer be in attendance, as Blavity previously reported.
"Some people didn't really have an explanation, they were just like, ‘it is what it is,'" Dedra told FOX 5 New York. "One of the couples, they were extremely apologetic. … They said, ’We're sorry.' They did offer to give us the money but of course, we declined. That wasn't the purpose of the invoice. It was to make a point."
Although they declined payment from one of the couples, they said, "Whether rich or poor, no one wants their money wasted."
After posting the invoice on Facebook, the couple said the no-show guests responded.
Original (Aug. 30, 2021): Dedra and Douglas Simmons, a newlywed couple in Chicago, have stirred up a heated discussion on social media after posting a photo of an invoice they created for invited guests who didn't show up to their wedding at Royalton Negril Resort and Spa in Jamaica.
In an interview with NBC Chicago, the couple said they invited 109 people to their wedding, but only 101 showed up. That was apparently a big deal for the newlyweds who paid $120 per person for the unused seats at the resort.
"If those eight people said, 'Doug, Dedra, we can't make it,' we would have totally understood it, would have been no problem," Doug said.
When the couple returned home from their wedding, they created an invoice for the cost of two seats and posted an image of the bill on Facebook.
"This invoice is being sent to you because you confirmed seat(s) at the wedding reception during the Final Headcount. The amount above is the cost of your individual seats," the bill stated. "Because you didn't call or give us proper notice that you wouldn't be in attendance, this amount is what you owe us for paying for your seat(s)."
The controversial post, which went viral over the weekend, has been shared by celebrities such as D.L. Hughley.
The invoice received mixed feedback on social media, with some saying they understand the couple's frustration.
Do you know how much it costs per head for catering?? I don’t know if I’d have the guts to actually do it, but we were charged hundreds for food for no shows at my wedding! It honestly seems kind of fair ????
— Bridget (@BridgetLaurette) August 30, 2021
Several social media users described the couple's move as "tacky." At the same time, the no-show guests are also facing criticism.
Tacky and i wouldn’t personally do this. But people who rsvp and no show are incredibly inconsiderate.
— J* (@helloitsjazmine) August 29, 2021
Some people said their opinion depends on whether the guests had legitimate excuses to miss the wedding.
Unless you know why they were unable to attend then you are way out of line.
If they didn’t show bc they didn’t feel like it. That’s one thing.
If they didn’t show bc something came up that was out of their control then idk how they can be blamed.
— Matt Walsh’s Alien (@Matts_Attic) August 29, 2021
Dedra and Doug said the missing guests didn't have any real reason to miss the special day.
"No one had COVID, no one was sick, no one had a death in the family," Doug said.
Still, there were many more who refused to sympathize with the couple.
I completely understand being upset at the cost of your wedding and shit going to waste bc of No Shows.
However Weddings are extravagant and full of spending. Of course your going to eat it. It's rude, tacky, and downright disrespectful to do that. It isn't a buisness contract.
— Banginbill 2.0 (@Bangingbill2) August 29, 2021
The newlyweds, who are also business owners, are now saying that they never planned to send the invoices, but only wanted to send a message.
"We never had any intentions of sending it out," Doug said. "We would have given them the benefit of the doubt had they reached out to us, but the fact that you didn't reach out, I wanted this to become a teachable moment."
The business owners said they have received support from people all over the world while facing backlash from others.
"They said this was broke behavior," Dedra said. "Shouldn't have had a wedding they couldn't afford. Tacky, classless."
