AITA for wanting truth revealed after a “friend” canceled wedding venue 2 weeks before the date ?
A Reddit user (29M) shared his experience with a couple, “Adam and Sarah,” who agreed to host his wedding at their residence and then canceled the venue just two weeks before the big day. After shaking hands and agreeing on terms, including a payment plan, things went awry as the couple expressed concerns about permits and noise.
Despite assurances, they abruptly canceled, leaving the user and his fiancée scrambling to replan their wedding while dealing with family travel plans and work complications. The user now questions whether it would be wrong to reveal the couple’s unethical business practices and their handling of the wedding situation. Read the full story below.
‘ AITA for wanting truth revealed after a “friend” canceled wedding venue 2 weeks before the date ?’
Okay so I’ll try to keep this short but in a timeline that is accurate. We have been “friends” with another couple for 3 years. Let’s call them Adam and Sarah. Back in January my Fiance started working for them in their dog training business and in February we all agreed to have our wedding on their personal residence and where they run their (now found illegal) dog business.
We shook hands and agreed on a price ($800) and started planning. 2.5 months before the wedding, Adam text us and says … hey guys I guess you’re having your wedding here because it’s our address on the invitation. I said- yes of course it is… we agreed on this months ago. He said okay- well we haven’t received 50% deposit so it has not been confirmed.
I’m like WTH but I just say ok I’ll send you the money. Cool done. When we shook hands we agreed to get a special event permit as this residence is out in the middle of the desert, there are neighbors who have called the cops on the previous owner for throwing huge parties and loud music. Adam said ok. 4 weeks before the wedding we took them to dinner and he expresses concerns about music and the permit.
He said he doesn’t want a permit. We suggest he talks to his neighbors. He is against it. He said he would need us to end the party at dark (6pm) and Sarah stood up for us. She said it is the biggest day of our lives and that is a ridiculous idea. 10pm will be fine. (The permit is to allow 50+ people and protect from complaints and cops showing up, we have 65 people total).
2 weeks prior we schedule a time to walk the property and go over last details. They haven’t expressed any or much of their needs at this point other than allowing us freedom to plan as we wish and telling us whatever they can do to make our day excellent let them know. (Awesome friends, right?—- nope.) At the meeting, they tell us nobody is allowed inside to use the restroom.
We will need facilities. I tell them it’s so soon and it will be hard to find that. They say oh well. Then, he tells us again we need to end at 6pm. But now agrees to get a permit (we are at the limit to do that). The next day we receive a text message and voice memo. They are canceling our venue. And will refund our money. Absolutely 0 compassion. Just “we want you to have the best day ever and our land won’t allow that”.
Adam calls me and tells me how good this will be. My soon to be wife is in tears. He tells me we are not the victims and he’s doing a good thing. What the actual f*ck? My family is traveling to Arizona from North Carolina and hers from California and Hawaii. Everyone has flights, accommodations etc. Not only are we faced with replanning our wedding just two weeks out but also my fiance has to quit her job.
I mean who can work for someone who could do that to someone? I am not a revengeful person, but we live in a small spiritual town and these people claim to be “abundant business owners and coaches, pillars for the community, people who stand in integrity” and this is not it. They spoke when they canceled about not being bothered if we come out publicly. I think this was a front because it scares the s**t out of them.
AITAH for wanting people who are looking to do business with them to know what kind of people they are? Reporting their illegal business practices? I do not want to get into a legal battle. But this has been a really hard situation.
Here’s the comments of Reddit users:
Ok-Draft9581 − Dude, your friends are total jerks. Canceling your wedding venue two weeks before the date? That’s messed up. I’d definitely want to warn other people about them. Maybe even report their illegal business practices. They deserve to be exposed.
wlfwrtr − NTA You live in a small spiritual town. You just have to let a few old chuch ladies overhear your conversation about it. They’ll spread the gossip around real quick and you won’t have to do a thing.
Prudent_Valuable603 − Instead of dwelling on revenge/anger on these two idiots who messed up your wedding venue by cancelling it, immediately start looking for a church hall to rent out or a school gym. Ask the local fire department if they know of locations that can hold 65 people. Go to the parks and rec Dept and ask if you can rent out a park pavilion. Are there any skating rinks you can rent out? NTA, by the way.
Demand-Steep242 − You deserve better than what they did to you. Honestly, I’d want the truth out there too.
Illustrious-Sky-713 − Oh yes, and I forgot to add. When Adam called me I said we would end at 6pm (out of desperation) he still said no. I asked him why we still couldn’t have it there and he said he made the decision prematurely. (Yes almost 8 months ago)
SofiaActive − You’re definitely NTA. It’s incredibly frustrating to deal with such irresponsible behavior from people you considered friends. They should have respected your wedding plans and communicated their concerns well before the cancellation.
It’s completely understandable that you want to share your experience with others, especially since they run an illegal business and seem to misrepresent themselves in the community. Just be cautious with how you do it; you don’t want to open yourself up to any potential legal repercussions. Consider writing a review or sharing your story in a way that focuses on your experience rather than making direct accusations.
emerixxxx − NTA. Also, if you paid by bank transfer with a reason such as “Booking for wedding venue” AND/OR there is correspondence to imply that a contract has been established, please look into the possibility of claiming against them for your consequential loss and damage such as the costs of looking for another venue, the costs of rehiring/relocating caterers, etc. Especially if you already have the permit in hand, and they have no justifiable reason to cancel on you.
hamsterfamily − The illegal dog business is probably why they don’t want to have the wedding there. Having an event there – and getting a permit for it – draws attention there. Seeking revenge isn’t going to make them realize how messed up canceling the wedding is, it will confirm to them they were wrong to ever think about holding it there. I would recommend being honest when asked about the location switch but not attempt anything more than that.
Existing_Watch_3084 − Post on fb or send a mass email or anything and say. X informed us on X that we are no longer allowed to use their property. We do not have an explination but are desperate as we no longer have a place to get married. And ask for recommendations and help
Bitter-Fishing-Butt − put a post up on the town’s social media group saying “A local business has let us down right at the very last moment without real explanation. Looking for somewhere to host our wedding on Date at Time for This Many people :)” up to you if you name the business in comments, but word gets round small towns quickly anyway so people will find out
Do you think the user is justified in wanting to expose Adam and Sarah’s behavior, or would that be too extreme? How would you handle being in their position so close to your wedding date? Share your thoughts and advice below!