Bride & Groom Canceled Their Catering at the Last

A Last-Minute Change

As a newly promoted catering manager, I was overseeing a $7,500 steak dinner for a 150-guest wedding when I got a call from the bride, Camille, just one day before the event. “We want seafood instead of steak,” she demanded. When I explained the change wasn’t possible due to contractual terms and prep already underway, she exploded: “It’s MY wedding! We’re paying you almost $8,000!” Her fiancé, Blake, joined the call, shouting, “This is MY wedding, and I get what I want. Period.”

Fired Over the Phone

After I stood firm, Blake abruptly ended the conversation: “Forget it. You’re fired.” But I reminded him, “With less than 24 hours’ notice, you’re still responsible for 90 percent of the total amount.” We continued preparing the original steak menu, trusting they’d come crawling back.

The Turnaround

Sure enough, the next morning, Blake called. “You better be at the venue with our food today, or we’ll sue.” I replied, “That’s a new contract at our same-day rate, which is three times the original.” Forced to agree, Blake paid in full — $22,000 — but still tried to push for a menu change. I declined. “Steak at $22,000, or nothing at all.”

Standing Our Ground

At the venue, Blake harassed staff, even threatening deportation. I confronted him: “Threaten my staff again, and we walk. Contract or no contract.” The event went smoothly. Weeks later, Blake sued for “predatory pricing,” but we won easily in court. Even our legal fees were covered.

My boss Tom, recovering from chemotherapy, laughed when I told him. “You made more off that one wedding than I would’ve made in three!” And as a final twist — Camille and Blake divorced within three years. Karma, it seems, arrived right on time.