A US-based bride and groom has sparked a heated debate online after a wedding guest shared a photo showing a controversial sign from their wedding.
The ‘Pay to Play’ poster revealed that guests had to fork out as much as $100 (£75) to hear a single song on the dance floor after the ceremony.
The image, posted on Reddit, showed a framed sign at the wedding reception offering a playlist of classic crowd-pleasers – with a twist.
Guests weren’t just encouraged to request their favourite dance floor hits but were told they’d need to pay for the privilege. And the prices weren’t a small change either.
‘In lieu of the dollar dance,’ the sign read, ‘Pay to play one of the following songs that you’d like to hear.’
Songs on the lower end of the price list – a still-hefty $25 (£18) – included classic singalong anthems such as Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen, Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond and Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey.
But the pricing ramped up quickly, with some tunes fetching a staggering $100 (£75) fee.
These included The Wobble by V.I.C., labelled as ‘Austin’s least favourite’, and The Cha Cha Slide, described as the ‘couple’s least favourite’.
The controversial ‘Pay To Play’ sign included wedding staples, such as Sweet Caroline, with songs ranked in order of the newlyweds’ least favourite to mildly tolerated tunes (stock image)
Cotton Eye Joe, a perennial polariser at weddings, was listed as ‘Shelby’s least favourite’.
The viral club hit Get Low by Lil Jon also made the $100 (£75) list, with a cheeky note revealing it was the ‘most requested on RSVPs.’
In the mid-tier $50 (£37) bracket were nostalgic bangers including I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston, Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks, Unskinny Bop by Poison and Cherry Pie by Warrant.
‘If you purchase one or more of these songs, the bride and groom must dance,’ the sign continued.
‘Proceeds will go towards the couple’s Honeymoon Fund!’
Presumably, the newlyweds were hoping to maintain control over the wedding atmosphere while also making a playful statement about their musical tastes. But not everyone online was amused.
‘Usually, I’m pretty in the camp of ”let the couple do what they want, it’s their day,” one Reddit user commented.
‘But this seems like such an over-the-top and overt money grab. Like if your guests wanted to give you money, they probably would’ve already done so in their gift and given you the amount they’re comfortable with?’
A second was particularly riled by the couple’s decision to charge for the most popular request, writing: ‘That one feels icky.
‘Like they wanted to know what their guests wanted to hear most just so they could charge them.’
Another unimpressed commenter added: ‘Certainly, I wouldn’t pay money to listen to any song at a wedding, let alone $100 to hear the Cha Cha Slide.’
But while some considered the stunt to be tacky, others praised the couple for their cheeky humour.
‘I love it and would 100 per cent participate by paying to hear one of the songs,’ one wrote.
Another defended the move, writing: ‘This is definitely a list of ‘songs we don’t want, but if you have to have it, pay us to tolerate it.’ Good way to shut up the drunk uncles.’
A different Reddit user even called the idea ‘tastefully done’, saying: ‘I would crack up if I saw this at a wedding.’
Another commenter said: ‘Yeah this comes across as really funny to me. I would love it if I saw it. I’m from the UK, if that has any impact on my taste in humour.’
