In recent years, the financial burden of being a bridesmaid has increased significantly, leaving many attendees struggling with high expenses. The Knot, a leading wedding planning resource, reports that the average cost for bridesmaids can exceed $3,430, with bachelorette parties alone costing an average of $1,300 per person at a venue. The financial burden of attending a wedding is becoming increasingly apparent, with a 2024 LendingTree survey finding that 40 percent of wedding guests have gone into debt in the past five years to afford the festivities. In addition, 68 percent of those individuals have put over $1,000 on their credit cards to cover the costs.

An unreasonable demand

However, one bride has taken the concept of the “bridezilla” to unprecedented levels, demanding that her bridesmaids take out a $20,000 loan to fund her extravagant pre-wedding events. This shocking demand went viral, with over 4.4 million people seeing screenshots of the text message shared by @MookieDookieDog on TikTok. The messages sparked widespread disbelief, with many questioning the authenticity of these outrageous demands.

Great expectations for the big day

In the viral posts, the bride outlines her expectations in no uncertain terms: “Here’s the thing: my wedding is in January 2025 at the fabulous Cipriani in Miami, and I have some expectations that you all MUST meet,” she wrote. “These are non-negotiable, so get ready to step up your game.” The list of demands included a $700 dress fitting in New York City, $1,200 for beauty treatments, a $500 spa weekend in the Berkshires, and another $1,000 for miscellaneous expenses during the week of her wedding. “Remember, this is MY big day… I expect nothing less than perfection,” the bride concluded.

The wedding boom after the pandemic

This level of extravagance is not an isolated case. A recent study by Coupon Birds, a virtual discount portal, found that the role of bridesmaid or best man can cost up to $2,100. The post-pandemic wedding boom has led couples to indulge in increasingly lavish ceremonies, often at the expense of their friends’ financial well-being.

Bridesmaid’s request and bride’s response

The TikToker, known as Mookie, later shared her response to the bride’s demands in a series of screenshots of text messages. In her response, Mookie expressed concern about the rising costs: “With the outfit and outings, we’re approaching $20,000, which is basically paying off my student loan,” she wrote, hoping the bride would be understanding. “I know how special you want to make this day, but is there any way you can rethink some of the events and clothing?”

The bride, however, stuck to her demands. “Um, I’m sorry, but unfortunately not really. This is a once in a lifetime deal. Don’t you have an expensive Amex? In an emergency, maybe you could use it and sort it out later?” she replied. The bride even suggested that her fiancé Mookie could lend the money at two percent interest.

The online community was quick to criticize the bride’s behavior. One TikTok user commented, “No way. $20,000 is INSANE. No best friend would ask you to go into debt for their wedding.” Another user echoed this sentiment, writing, “‘No.’ It’s a complete sentence. ALWAYS choose for yourself.”