Couple asks if they're wrong to force guests to 'wear' puppets for themed wedding.

Harry Potter-inspired weddings, entering the venue in a horse-drawn pumpkin carriage, forcing guests to pay for their own dinner, storming out of the ceremony because your Mother-in-Law showed up in a white gown...if you think you've seen it all, you're wrong.

So, when a conflicted bride decided to consult the moral compass of the internet otherwise known as Reddit's 'Am I the As*hole' about her unique wedding requirements, people were overjoyed to help deem a verdict.

AITA (Am I the As*hole) for making our guests participate in our puppet-themed wedding?

My fiance (26F) and I (27M) met at college. We were in our school's performing arts program and met in a puppetry class. In the class, we designed our own puppets.

Mine, named Hat Boy, and my fiances, Daisy (she's better with names) were what we initially used to talk to each other and flirt in class. We fell in love, and in a way, we've considered Hat Boy and Daisy in love as well.

Years after graduating, we still use Hat Boy and Daisy both at home, and at our local (but fairly prominent) theatre where we perform puppet shows with high-end, muppet style puppets.

While planning our wedding, we realized we wanted Hat Boy and Daisy to be a part of the ceremony. They've been a part of us since the beginning, and it just felt right.

We also invited our entire troop of puppeteers from the theatre and got the idea that we should have our wedding completely officiated by 'puppets' and that our wedding parties would be made up of puppets (and our closest puppeteer friends!). We figure it'll make for incredible pictures.

Here's where we aren't sure if we are the as*holes or not: We're insisting that all of our guests also participate and use puppets. In lieu of gifts, we've asked everyone to purchase high quality (but not nearly the quality of professional puppets) puppets to use during our wedding.

We took the guess work out of it and directed them to several vendors, some of who offer some really cool options. Everyone could realistically expect to spend $150-$500 depending on what sort of details and whatnot they wanted.

We also want everyone to 'wear' their puppets during the entire wedding and reception. All puppets we're suggesting can be mounted on and controlled with one hand. The puppets are meant to be 'guests' at the wedding in the same way all of our human guests are as well.

Well let's just say, there are a LOT of people not happy. Both of our parents, my wife's sister, and family members on both sides have complained that this is completely unreasonable.

They're concerned about how are they going to eat and drink? How are they going to dance? (you don't need hands to dance, so idk where this complaint came from). We of course don't expect people to have their puppet on their hand while in the bathroom, but everywhere else, we'd really like to insist on it.

We also made sure that our hors d'oeuvres are all finger foods. There will be plenty of cocktail tables so people can put down their drinks. We even made sure that all of the food for the dinner itself is portioned so that it can be eaten in bite sizes just with a fork without having to use a knife.

We really think this would make for a special day. We only get to do it once, and think that it will be an event that all of our guests will remember for a lifetime. We have a hard time believing that once there, they wouldn't have a blast.

So, are we the as*holes for making what we think is a silly but harmless and reasonable request for our one special day?

With absolutely no intention of shaming this couple for their adorable love story and shared interests, forcing your guests to put on a puppet show is...hilarious?

What happened to exchanging vows in front of your loved ones and then dancing all night to tacky line dances while drowning in open-bar cheap champagne?

If this couple wants to include puppets in their wedding that is completely up to them, but forcing friends and family to purchase a puppet is a bit...extreme. Setting any sort of gift cost minimum whether it's for an air fryer or a puppet is surely going to make you the target of some gossip in group chats.

Of course, the jury of internet strangers was eager to weigh in on this wedding drama...

LeatherHog said:

YTA (You're the As*hole). You’re not like, bad people, but Jesus Christ is never want to associate with y’all ever again. I’m exhausted and infuriated reading this. Your quirky nonsense is gonna keep people away

kaett said:

YTA. telling your guests to spend $150-$500 on something they will literally NEVER use again just for your one day is not harmless or reasonable. having your own puppets, and the members of your theater troupe with theirs, is fine and unique. but don't force your guests into doing the same. let them just be there and enjoy the spectacle.

ur-humble-overlord said:

YTA. $150-500 on a puppet ill never use again isn't harmless. I have a lot of things I'd much prefer to spend my money on and your guests probably feel the same.

FoolMe1nceShameOnU said:

YTA. Aside from the fact that you're thinking only of your enjoyment of the evening and not that of your guests AT ALL (and you keep trying to defend their discomfort by saying 'well, we're going to mitigate it' - there shouldn't BE discomfort, they are not puppeteers, they are GUESTS), your comparing the cost of these puppets to the cost of wedding gifts is a terrible analogy.

People spend money on wedding gifts as a way of helping the bride and groom start their new life together; traditionally they buy household items and things that will be used to help furnish their home, as a way of contributing and supporting a young couple.

Not everyone spends (or can afford to spend hundreds of dollars), but whatever people choose to spend, they do so knowing that they are contributing to the celebrated couple's new life together in a practical, meaningful way.

Asking people to spend that money on expensive, one-of-a-kind puppets that are not a personal interest for the vast majority of your guests, while it may be a form of genuine artistry, is INCREDIBLY SELFISH AND WASTEFUL.

You're asking them to spend their hard-earned dollars on NOTHING MORE THAN YOUR WHIM FOR A SINGLE EVENING. It's not in the spirit of a wedding gift at all...it's de facto part of your wedding entertainment, which they shouldn't be paying for.

If you want the guests to all have fancy puppets because you dream of a puppet-filled wedding, then the appropriate thing to do is provide puppets for all of your guests. If you cannot afford that, because - as you have made clear - it's outrageously expensive, then perhaps that's not the wedding you should be having.

YTA, and you clearly don't understand the concept of being a host to other people.

So, there you have it!

Everyone agreed unanimously here that this couple is 100% wrong to expect their guests to pay to participate in their bizarre wedding theme. Your guests aren't puppets, they're people! Good luck, everyone!