Wedding Horror Stories: The Case of the Missing Wallet

When it comes to planning a wedding, sometimes you have to get a little creative—especially when your venue is on the smaller side. In this particular case, our adventurous couple decided to serve their favorite cuisines from all over the world at fun, station-style dinner tables, along with cocktail-style seating for guests. It was a great way to let people mingle and explore the beautiful garden area. Naturally, the family and older guests got the actual dinner tables, while the younger crowd roamed and explored the festivities. All seemed wonderful—until it wasn’t.

As dinner came to a close, my assistant and I noticed a few female guests placing their personal belongings under the photo booth prop table. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time since they weren’t obstructing anything or creating any chaos, so we didn’t think much of it. Guests flocked to the dance floor, the photo booth was a hit, and everyone was having a blast!

But as we began to pack up at the end of the night, I made sure to tell my assistant to let the guests retrieve their items before we started breaking down the prop table. We worked quickly to pack decor and help guide the last lingering guests out so the catering team could begin clearing tables. Then, we heard it—a loud yell.

I immediately went over to see what was going on, only to find the Groom's sister — let’s call her “Stacy”—screaming at another guest. Before I could even ask what was happening, I became the target of Stacy's rage. Turns out, Stacy had left her wallet under the prop table while enjoying the evening. Now, her wallet was missing. And, of course, the table had been stripped down along with the rest of the room.

Trying to stay calm amidst Stacy's intoxicated fury, I suggested we walk around the room together in case her wallet had been moved by someone else. Unfortunately, it wasn’t anywhere to be found.

At that point, I knew I had to notify the venue manager to see if anyone had found and turned in the wallet. The manager came over and did a sweep of the room, but no luck. When I went back to Stacy to let her know we had notified everyone, she turned her frustration on me. “Aren’t you the wedding planner? You’re in charge of everything!” she yelled, adding a few colorful expletives for good measure.

I calmly stepped back and explained that, while I was the wedding planner, I was not responsible for guest behavior or their decision to leave personal items unattended. I made it clear that I would not tolerate being spoken to in such a disrespectful way. I also suggested that if Stacy felt it was necessary, she could contact the police and file a report, as the venue was about to lock up for the night, and the last guests had already left.

Stacy, still fuming, continued to yell as she and her friend made their way to the car. Whether Stacy made her flight (which was the very next morning) or found her wallet is still a mystery. The next day, the bride texted me, apologizing after hearing the whole story from a bridesmaid.

So, what’s the takeaway from this little nightmare? Here’s how you can avoid a similar fiasco at your wedding:

1. Clear Communication: If you opt for cocktail-style seating, be sure to explain this to your guests beforehand. Put it on your invitations, your wedding website, and make sure your family and friends know what to expect. This way, no one will be surprised by the lack of seating or the setup.

2. Hire Security: If your venue is hosting multiple events or has public access, consider hiring security. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting your guests' personal belongings.

3. Don’t Leave Personal Items Unattended: This one seems obvious, but trust me, it’s crucial—never leave your wallet or other valuables under a random table, especially in a setting where you’re not sure who has access to it. And if something does go wrong, remember, screaming and cussing at someone who’s trying to help won’t get you very far.

Consider this your friendly public service announcement from all of us wedding planners. We're here to make your big day run smoothly, but we can't be responsible for every guest’s decision-making process!

Stay tuned for more Wedding Horror Stories this month! Have a horror story of your own? We’d love to hear it! Contact us here!