FBOY Island host Abbie Chatfield slams popular wedding tradition

Reality TV star Abbie Chatfield has controversially spoken out against the “entitled” expectation for guests to provide monetary gifts at weddings.

Abbie Chatfield says monetary gifts should be given out of love, not obligation. Picture: TikTok

Reality TV star Abbie Chatfield has ignited a fierce debate over whether monetary gifts should be compulsory at weddings.

The FBOY Island host posted a series of videos to TikTok last week, describing those who get upset about monetary gifts as “entitled”.

“I believe that expecting a certain amount of money at a wedding then reprimanding your friends, getting mad at your friends or being offended if that money isn’t quite enough is quite rude,” she said.

She continued to say that while she has given money to friends at weddings, she does so out of love, not obligation.

“I give gifts, I understand the customary notion of giving gifts at celebrations,” she said.

“I have always done this, as I’m a human who has lived in this world. My issue is with the obligation and expectation from the receiving party because if I were to have a wedding I would not be counting the amount of money that someone gave me.”

In another video, she asked whether people should react the same way with house-warming gifts.

“If I have a house-warming, can I ask for cash to help pay my stamp duty to set up my life,” she asked.

“If you love me, help me with the stamp duty, help me with the real estate fees.”

She continued to describe gift giving expectations as antiquated.

“You move into a new place, our registry is you need spoons, we need a nice wine decanter. That’s where the idea comes from, and now most people are living together after six months,” she said.

“However you want to give gifts is completely valid.”

Abbie Chatfield said wedding guests should not feel obligated to provide monetary gifts. Picture: TikTok

One commenter said their culture has an unspoken rule about monetary requirements at weddings.

“In my culture, will be seen as rude if you give less than $250, it is just well known that you need to give that out of respect and love,” she said.

A second commenter agreed that giving monetary gifts was also customary in their culture.

“You can’t go to a wedding and not give money regardless of who it is, when the event is over, and you go through the gifts it is absolutely unheard of to see $50 or nothing especially in my culture,” they said.

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The majority of commenters agreed that guests should not be expected to cover the cost of the wedding.

One commenter said she was completely cut off from a bride after not giving a gift at a wedding.

“I went to a wedding where I introduced the bride and the groom and when I didn’t give a gift, the bride has never spoken to me again post wedding. Babe, the gift is your husband,” she said.

Other commenters simply described the TV star as a “queen” for her take on gifting culture.