The Internet Is Calling Out a Couple for Crowd-Funding Their Wedding

It's easy to forget how pricey weddings can be. From finding the perfect dinner menu to getting every floral arrangement just right, all of those little details can add up to one big receipt. Edinburgh couple Natalie Borg, 36, and fiancé Richard McMurray, 37, learned this lesson the hard way, but their means of finding the funds to cover their wedding costs are getting some serious backlash.

According to Edinburgh News, the couple created a post on the crowd-funding site GoFundMe over two weeks ago explaining their situation and asking readers to contribute to their remaining wedding expenses.

"We’ve done the math and are still short of (and running out of time!!!) to cover our outgoings for our planned wedding on Saturday 27th April 2019," the couple's GoFundMe page reads. "Despite throwing all our wages at the wedding costs, selling our belongings, and taking as many extra shifts at work as are available we are still falling short of our final bills."

The couple continued, "As we can’t put off the wedding for another few months (everything is booked) we are asking in lieu of any wedding gifts if you are able to please contribute anything to our costs for the day that would be amazing. Final payments we are still trying to cover are mainly for the venue, photographer, cake, and dress alterations. We have no honeymoon budget and not worrying about this just want to be able to cover our bills for the day so it can go ahead."

So far, the couple has only raised £565 of the £4,500 goal. While their request has been met by some help, they have received dozens of critical comments about their efforts to raise money for their big day.

“You’re joking me?? Why should other people pay for their wedding?? Just wait till you can afford it like all of us or budget a cheaper wedding it can be done," one user wrote on social media, per Edinburgh News.

Another added, “Go to the registry office and have a pizza afterwards! It’s the marriage afterwards that counts, not the wedding!”

Some users were particularly frustrated with the couple's use of the site, which is typically focused on fundraising for charities, medical emergencies, and local community nonprofits.

“I could do with a new house and a holiday, maybe I should launch a GoFundMe page. This is getting ridiculous now," one user commented, another writing, “I will crowdfund for a child’s education, a family to assist an ill member, a needy child’s respite, a family to avoid homelessness but this smacks of entitlement and lack of empathy. Don’t hold the big fat Scottish wedding if you can’t afford it.”

The couple, hearing that their story has made headlines, has commented on the situation. The bride explained that the two have worked to make ends meet, but are only looking for contributions in lieu of gifts.

“I think if people had done a media campaign to pay for their wedding I would think that’s pretty cheeky, but if it’s to pay for the day instead of presents, it’s fine," Borg told Edinburgh News. “We don’t have a honeymoon booked, we’ve just booked two weeks off and will chill out and go out on walks to the beach. We’re not money-grabbing people, we’re people that have worked really hard for our big day."