‘My parents gave me $50k for my wedding but I eloped and kept the cash’

"They're furious that they didn't get a big wedding for all their friends and family to attend."

Some are labelling it as selfish.

Others call it a stroke of genius. 

Whatever you think, one woman is $50k better off, and her parents are not happy about it.

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Double standards?

The woman, who took to Reddit to spill the tea, sparked a heated debate after revealing a jaw-dropping family drama involving a large sum of cash and a wedding that never was.

She wrote, “My parents gave each of my brothers $50,000 when they graduated from university as a downpayment on their home.” 

“When I graduated, they did not do the same for me. I asked about it, and they said my husband should provide it. I wasn't married [and] I still lived at home.

“Three years later, I met my husband. We dated for a year, and then we got engaged. My parents were overjoyed. 

“When we set a date, they gave me a check for $50,000 to pay for the wedding.

“I took the check, and we eloped,” she informed the forum. 

“We then used the check for a downpayment on a house [and] my husband had a similar amount saved up, so we are in a good spot with equity.

“My parents are furious that they didn't get a big wedding for all their friends and family to attend.

“They said that they gave me the money for a wedding. My argument is that I got married and had leftover money.

She ended the post wondering, “My brothers are on their side, so I am here to ask if I'm in the wrong?”

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“Welcome to the 21st century”

The thread has amassed over 1.5k comments sharing disbelief and confusion at the woman’s situation.

One suggested she tell her parents, “Welcome to the 21st century where daughters and sons are equal.”

Another added, “That’s a horrible double standard for your parents to set.”

“If anything, they should be proud of you being fiscally responsible,” joked one.

However, not everyone was on the woman’s side; “You know very well what they gave you this money for, and that's not what you used it for, so you basically conned them.

“But they shouldn't have put conditions on the check that were so wildly different from those your brothers had; that's truly unfair. 

“I'd say just apologise, keep the money and move on.”

RELATED: ‘My brother proposed to his partner at my wedding’

Smart or savage? Source: iStock

It’s not black and white

We hit the streets to ask the Kidspot community what they thought about this woman’s decision to take the cash and elope, and it was a mixed bag of responses.

Sydney woman Megan said, “Wow, talk about a plot twist! While I get her point, I can't help but feel sorry for her parents. That's gotta hurt!”

“I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't consider doing the same thing if I were in her shoes. But still, it's pretty brutal,” said Brisbane Dad, Craig.

“Her parents must be heartbroken. I mean, imagine saving up all that money for your child's big day only to have them elope and spend it on a house,” complained mum of three, Pia.

“I don't know how she sleeps at night! I mean, that's a huge betrayal,” said mum-to-be Francesca.

“She should've just talked to her parents about it.”

An opportunity to educate?

While it’s easy to point the finger at the parents and their outdated beliefs around gender, the woman could use this as the perfect opportunity to educate her parents on how they have offended her.

While it’s easy to disagree and shut down a conversation, understanding their perspective without necessarily agreeing with it can be a moment of growth for the family. 

Change often happens gradually, and maintaining open communication is key to fostering understanding and mutual respect.

We hope the woman was able to have a constructive conversation with her parents and that it was a learning experience for everyone involved.

Originally published as ‘My parents gave me $50k for my wedding but I eloped and kept the cash’