Being asked to be a bridesmaid is usually an honor, but Emily’s wedding turned into a financial ambush none of us saw coming.
The morning of the wedding was picture-perfect. Emily handed us each a luxurious garment bag, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I wanted you all to look amazing,” she said as we unzipped the bags to reveal stunning designer dresses—delicate lace, flawless tailoring, the kind of gowns you’d see in bridal magazines.
“These must have cost a fortune!” Sarah gasped, running her fingers over the intricate embroidery.
Emily just laughed. “Well, it’s my big day!”
We assumed the dresses were her gift to us. Why wouldn’t we? Brides often cover bridesmaid dresses, especially when they pick something this extravagant.
The ceremony was beautiful—romantic garden, heartfelt vows, the works. At the reception, Emily gathered us for a toast. “Thank you for being here,” she said, hugging us tightly. Then, with zero warning, she dropped the bomb: “So, about the dresses… I’ll need $1,200 from each of you by tomorrow.”
Silence. Then chaos.
“You’re joking, right?” Megan blurted.
Emily’s smile didn’t waver. “I never said they were free.”
Before we could argue, karma swooped in. A team of bakers struggled through the doors with a wedding cake the size of a small car. Emily’s face went white. “That’s not what I ordered!”
Turns out, she’d accidentally requested a 50kg cake instead of 5kg. The bill? More than her floral budget.
The irony was delicious.
We didn’t pay for the dresses, but we did help her cover the cake disaster—not because we owed her, but because that’s what friends do. The night ended with guests laughing over giant cake slices and Emily learning a hard lesson: true friendship isn’t transactional.
