Couple Asks Their Wedding Photographer To Pay S$150 For Eating Food Served At Wedding Without Permission

Should wedding vendors be allowed to eat the food served at the reception? That's what some netizens are debating after this viral incident in Malaysia. 

A freelance photographer from Malaysia who was working at a wedding last Sunday (Jul 19) was asked by the wedding couple to pay for the food he ate at the reception without asking for permission. 

According to the photographer, the couple requested that he compensate them for the food and issue a public apology.

He has since paid the couple RM500 (S$158) for the food, and posted a public apology on Threads: "As requested by my clients, I have paid them back for the aforementioned food."

He also acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate while he was on the job. “I admit that I had taken food without invitation or permission from my clients. I realise that my actions were wrong and that it shouldn't have happened,” he wrote. 

He later shared proof of a RM500 payment made to the couple, adding that he deeply regretted his actions and would take the incident as a lesson.

He added: “Hopefully, [this] serves as a reminder for all photographers and videographers to maintain decorum and professionalism while working. Once again, I would like to apologise for my mistake.”

The post quickly gained attention online, with netizens questioning whether it was reasonable to ask a wedding photographer to pay RM500 for eating food provided at the event.

Some felt that providing meals for vendors is common practice when hiring them for long events such as weddings, while others argued that the amount of food he took likely would not have cost that much.

“It wouldn’t have reached RM500 even if he [packed] some of it to go,” one commenter quipped.

However, others pointed out that vendors should still ask for permission instead of assuming they could help themselves to food meant for guests.

After keeping the post online for 24 hours, the photographer eventually removed it. He later clarified that it was not intended as ragebait, but was meant as a sincere apology for his mistake rather than an attempt to gain sympathy.

Do you think what he was asked to do was fair?

Photos: Pinterest, Raqeeb Ahmed/ Pexels