A bride has shared her emotional experience after nearly all the guests she invited to her wedding failed to attend, leaving her and her husband in shock.
Kalina Marie gained attention when her TikTok video went viral, depicting the empty wedding venue she and her spouse had anticipated filling with loved ones.
Though they extended invitations to 100 people, only a small number actually attended the celebration.
Kalina expressed her feelings on TikTok, stating: “This is our entrance to our Masquerade ball. The Masquerade ball that I have talked EXCESSIVELY about for the last 10 months. The same ball that I not only digitally invited over 75 people to. But ALSO spent money to send 25 beautiful invitations out to.
“FIVE PEOPLE SHOWED UP!!!!!!! Like, are you kidding me!?!? As you see in the video, we enter the venue. And no one is there. The invite said 1pm. My mom messaged me at 1:15 that no one was there. My husband and I finally showed up at 2 o’clock, to 5 people.”
The heartbreaking video has attracted nearly eight million views, with many viewers curious about why so few attendees came.
A week after the wedding, Kalina addressed this question, explaining why only five guests attended.
She clarified that the invites for their October wedding were sent out in January, and she had been discussing the event on social media since then.
“I had 40 RSVPs, so that’s what we planned for,” Kalina explained further.
“We set up the venue for 40 people. My mom made enough food for 40 people. I checked in with everyone the week of [the wedding] and at least 20 people had gotten back to me saying that they had an outfit and that they were coming.”
@kalina_marie_23 Replying to @ivysnana1 today one week since that happened. And I still ask myself why every day. But I am thankful that I have my husband and my son to remind me exactly why we will get past this and we will get through this. Thank you all for your questions and I truly hope this clears some things up for eveyone. Edit: my mom is a chef and that’s why she made all of the food. And it is very common nowadays to have a private wedding ceremony and a reception after the fact. So for those who say they wouldn’t come to the reception because they werent invited to the wedding. I’m sorry that’s your attitude. but it’s kind of the Trent nowadays to have two separate events.
“The biggest question is why,” Kalina continued. “And I don’t know. If I could answer that, I would tell you. And no, I haven’t really received a lot of messages explaining why people weren’t there or giving me excuses. And I’m kind of thankful for that.”
Following the unexpected turnout, Kalina and her husband have been reflecting on their relationships and making changes in their lives.
Support has poured in for Kalina, with many criticizing the absent guests.
One individual commented: “Those people that said they’d be there that simply just didn’t show up should be ashamed of themselves. Hope you have a wonderful life together.”
Another added: “Now you know who is the real people in your life.”