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“Like A Loyal Dog”: 50 People Reveal Wedding Red Flags That Spell Disaster
Occasions,WeddingMAR 15, 2025

“Like A Loyal Dog”: 50 People Reveal Wedding Red Flags That Spell Disaster

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Humans have already attached a lot of “baggage” to weddings, from the understandable emotional heft, to all kinds of somewhat strange superstitions. But in the 21st century, there are a whole host of other things that might be foreshadowing of something being clearly off.
Someone asked “What are some red flags at a wedding?” and netizens shared their best (and worst) stories. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to add your own thoughts and experiences to the discussion in the comments section below.

#1

Elderly couple kissing at a wedding, woman in blue gown holding sunflowers, outdoors with trees in the background.
My grandfather (he had 15 kids) used to tell the young people getting married this advise:

He would look at the guy and tell him, "You need to do everything you can to make her the happiest woman on earth, and she, in turn will make you the happiest man."

He said he could tell the ones that wouldn't last because they would interrupt him after the first part.

It's noteworthy to say that my grandfather love my grandmother very much.
102points

#2

Bride in an elegant lace dress standing outdoors, looking serious; wedding red flag concept.
The bride is losing her s**t over every little thing that isn't exactly as she wanted it. Some people are more concerned with the idea of being married than they are about who they're marrying. These are the people that have a "dream wedding" in mind.
81points

#3

Goldfish in a centerpiece bowl on a wedding table, symbolizing potential red flag decorations.
Small fish in inadequate glass containers as center pieces. We all walk into the hall and find our tables, each with a belly up, totally dead, bloated guppy floating in its little glass coffin. Lots of people lost their appetites. Marriage didn't last a year.
69points

#4

Bride smashes cake on groom's face at wedding, laughing, with friends in formal attire, signaling a potential red flag moment.
When the bride/groom shoves cake in the other’s face.
67points

#5

Bride in elegant gown holding a champagne glass, highlighting wedding red flags theme.
Mother in law in a white lace dress.
62points

#6

Person holding cash in an envelope, suggesting a wedding red flag moment.
The bride and groom asked for cash only on the invitations, and then COUNTED the money given to them at breakfast the next morning in front of everyone.
60points

#7

Outdoor wedding scene with people seated at a decorated table, celebrating under trees with hanging lanterns.
The speeches all end up being about times they were very drunk, including how drunk they were when they met.
56points

#8

Envelope with dollar bills peeking out, suggesting a wedding red flag.
The bride and groom expect people to pay to attend.
55points

#9

Woman in floral dress and glasses with red earrings at an outdoor wedding setting, symbolizing red flag moments.
The mother of the bride/groom trying to control *anything* as if it’s her day.. not a good sign at all.
55points

#10

Group of groomsmen taking a selfie at a wedding, showcasing potential red flag moments.
I’ve been to a lot of wedding, two of which I vividly recall the groom spending 98 percent of the reception and dance with his friends rather the bride, both ended in quick divorce.
54points

#11

Groom wiping tears at a wedding, while standing beside a bride in a white dress, hinting at potential red flags.
Crying..

I was at a wedding once where the bride and groom were weeping, the priest and altar servers were sobbing, the whole congregation was blubbering. Even later on at the reception, the cake was in tiers..
51points

#12

Bride and groom smiling, toasting with champagne; potential wedding red flag in cheerful outdoor setting.
I went to a wedding where the bride gave a heartfelt sincere speech about how the groom is "like a loyal dog": always listens, is always around, does what she asks, etc etc

She meant it to be cute or something. I found it kinda f****d up and demeaning lmao. Yes she did literally say "like a good loyal dog" im not interpreting that.
51points

#13

Bride and groom embracing on a staircase, holding a bouquet, smiling warmly at their wedding.
Went to a wedding where the groom talked about how much he loved the bride and the bride ALSO talked about how much the groom loved her.

A year in and she cheated, they're divorcing.
51points

#14

Man in a suit and tie sitting pensively, highlighting a potential wedding red flag moment.
I went to a wedding where the bride was happy, glowing, flitting around the room talking to everyone excitedly. The groom was staring off into space almost catatonic.. Two days later he left to go to the store and didn't come back, they got the marriage annulled and never spoke to each other again. And didn't return the presents.
51points

#15

Wedding scene with a guest speaking, bride and groom at a table, surrounded by floral decorations and natural light.
They're still together so I guess it wasn't a red flag for their *marriage* but I attended a wedding where *all* of the speeches were about how great and funny and smart and creative and nice and sweet the bride was... and the groom got "good job finding such a catch!" as his highest compliment. on *his* wedding day. just seemed off to me.
45points

#16

Wedding spread with appetizers, sandwiches, and desserts on elegant tables, highlighting possible red flag elements.
I went to a wedding that had a buffet and they ran out of food when there were still about 50 people left to eat. And they weren’t at all concerned about feeding the rest of their guests. Not feeding your guests properly is a total red flag.
44points

#17

Smiling bartender serving Aperol spritz cocktails, potential wedding red flag with vibrant orange drinks in glasses.
The groom with a cocktail waitress on his lap.
43points

#18

“Like A Loyal Dog”: 50 People Reveal Wedding Red Flags That Spell Disaster
My husband refused to show up for our pre-wedding shoot because his family wanted to have a family lunch with him. My siblings and I were rightfully upset because my dad paid 20k for photos and 200k for wedding alone. Husband was insulted and refused to leave bridal suite for entry. He then reprimanded me during the entire wedding about my siblings disrespecting him. He wouldn’t let me take photos alone with my friends “because we are married now”.

Fast forward one year exactly, right now, he wants me to cut off my family completely or we can’t be together. We just separated this week and will be filing for divorce. I never imagined I’d be divorced at 27, still processing but he is a garbage narcissistic human :(.
41points

#19

Man in a suit looking concerned out a window, possibly reflecting on wedding red flag moments.
One of my best friends: took the wedding ages and ages to start. We all had a bad feeling about it but soldiered on and waited and waited. (Turns out the groom was melting down and they talked him into it. I wish they hadn't, for my friend's sake.)

Later that day at the luncheon, the bride is nowhere to be found. I hunt around a bit and she's sitting with the groom in a side room while he eats because he "wanted to be alone."

Those of us close to the bride knew she'd been saving money for years as a nest egg. We watched on social media as they spent extravagant amounts of her money on their 3 month honeymoon in Europe (after he convinced her to quit her job).

More happened as the years went on (including a sweet little baby who's nearly an adult now), but that wedding was a red flag. And when she finally told me she was getting divorced I couldn't help but blurt "oh thank goodness", at which point she laughed. Got my friend back.
39points

#20

Bride in an elegant wedding dress twirling in a vintage room, highlighting red flag moments wedding theme.
Typically if it feels more of a birthday party for one of the couple than a wedding. I went to a wedding once where it just felt like a belated brides 21st. Everything was about her. She spoke nothing about her new husband and spent most of the night getting drunk with her bridesmaids. Even the bridesmaids speech’s were all about her, again very rarely mentioning the groom. She even made sure his parents were sat at the back of the venue and her parents front and centre was very bizarre. They divorced a few months later.
36points
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