Newlyweds lose thousands of dollars after over half of wedding guests don’t turn up

A pair of newlyweds were left dismayed after they got married, as over half of their guests didn’t turn up, meaning they lost thousands of dollars.

As reported by the New York Post, Gray Narvaez-Dragion and their husband, Nyx Narvaez’s wedding day was marred by a shocking turn of events.

In a now-deleted TikTok video that garnered over four million views, the couple shared a heartbreaking glimpse of their nearly empty ballroom.

The video panned around the reception area, showing empty round tables and a deserted dance floor.

“88 people said yes… not even 40 showed up,” Gray penned in the caption of the clip, as cited by The Post.

Anyone who has hosted a wedding will know that every seat at that wedding is expensive, especially if it’s a sit-down catered meal, so the couple ended up spending thousands on people who didn’t bother to show up.

The couple didn’t stop at sharing their disappointment; they went on to accuse someone close to them of deadnaming Gray on their significant day.

To quell any doubts, they had evidence to back up their claims. They had a Google form containing the names of all 88 individuals who had RSVP’d for the wedding.

In a subsequent post, Gray disclosed that they and their husband, Nyx, were left bewildered and disheartened when they realized that no one was showing up.

“We literally sat in the empty ceremony room together and cried,” Gray shared, adding that they had to cut the reception short. Nyx’s family left immediately after the photos were taken, and Gray’s mother remained largely silent until prompted by Gray’s father. The dreamy send-off and dinner plans at Gray’s favorite restaurant were also canceled.

In a conversation with Insider after their wedding, Gray expressed their bewilderment since they had maintained constant communication with all the guests who failed to attend. In an unfortunate twist, one guest had even texted on the morning of the wedding to express excitement but ultimately did not show up.

“We loved every single one very dearly,” Gray insisted, emphasizing the close relationships they shared with their guests.

The financial toll of the unfulfilled wedding was significant. Gray estimates that they and Nyx lost between $2,500 and $3,000.

Much of the food, including a grand charcuterie table and a wedding cake, went untouched. The couple had also prepared thoughtful gifts for their guests, including “spell jars” with custom-made resin magnets and soaps, intended to bring good fortune, love, and grounding.

Every space at a wedding adds up for the couple. Credit: Victor Dyomin/Getty Images

Gray revealed: “We have most of them in my car right now. We haven’t even really unpacked it. My flowers are still in there. It hurts too much now.”

TikTok users rallied around the distressed couple, offering support and advice. Some suggested hosting a smaller, more budget-friendly reception for their newfound “TikTok family” to celebrate their love.

One person commented: “My heart breaks for you guys; no one deserves this. Just know everyone here on TikTok is celebrating you two!”

Others took a more practical approach, suggesting that the couple send a bill for the food to those who had RSVP’d yes but failed to show up.

“If I have a wedding, this video has inspired me to put fine print stating if they say yes to RSVP and don’t show, they have to pay a space and food fee,” one person shared.

“Please do so,” Gray responded. “This entire thing cost me 27k. Probably more. I fell during our first dance too. Save yourself from a day like this.”