Wedding guests are usually people closest to the newlyweds. Sometimes, though, those people are the ones who ruin the special day. Sometimes it’s unhinged MILs, other times it’s unruly bridesmaids or groomsmen. In this case, it was a couple of friends who decided to ruin a lesbian couple’s wedding day.
Their reason? Apparently, gay people don’t deserve to get married. In an act of truly unhinged bigotry, the so-called friends stole the couple’s dresses and cut them up. What the homophobes probably didn’t expect was for the couple to demand $5,000 back or be taken to court if they don’t. Afterward, the brides asked the internet whether their demand was over the top.
A lesbian couple had planned the wedding of their dreams
But two of their bigoted friends showed their true colors and tried to stop the wedding by ruining their wedding dresses
LGBTQ+ people still experience disproportionate amounts of hateful behavior compared to straight people
It’s heartbreaking that even today queer couples face this kind of discrimination and behavior. Perhaps the most surprising part of this story might be that the hate comes from the couple’s friends. However, statistics show that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience bigotry and prejudice from someone in their close circle rather than from strangers.
According to the 2017-2019 National Crime Victimization Survey, more hate and violent crimes against LGBTQ+ people are perpetrated by those whom they know personally. The data show that 49% of victims knew their assailants, and only 11% were attacked by strangers.
It’s 2026, but many LGBTQ+ people still get rejected by their family members, friends, and other members of the community when they come out. In the UK, for example, half of LGBTQ+ young adults are estranged from at least one family member. A 2019 American school climate survey showed that 86% of LGBTQ+ youth have been harassed or bullied by their peers, and a 2022 Trevor Project report found that only 37% of LGBTQ+ youth say their home environment is an LGBTQ+-safe space.
On a brighter note, attitudes of LGBTQ+ persons were more uplifting in a 2025 Pew survey. In it, the majority of LGBTQ+ adults said that they see and experience more acceptance for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people in their everyday lives. However, the same couldn’t be said about attitudes toward transgender people. At the same time, 73% of gay or lesbian adults admitted that they’ve been the subject of derogatory slurs, jokes, and other comments.
Custom wedding dresses make the day more special, but added touches like embroidery have an added level of intimacy and uniqueness
The main problem in this story isn’t just about the dresses being stolen and destroyed or the blatant act of homophobia. For many LGBTQ+ couples, their wedding attire is especially meaningful and symbolic. The couple in this story tailored their dresses specifically for them, so the theft and the fact that they couldn’t wear them on their wedding day especially hurt.
Both brides wearing dresses isn’t uncommon in lesbian weddings, although statistically, more LGBTQ+ weddings feature mixed attire. According to a 2014 survey, in 36% of lesbian weddings, the newlyweds wear a mix of a gown and a tuxedo or a suit, and both brides wear dresses in about 27% of lesbian weddings. In 8% of weddings, they opt for something entirely different: beach attire, period clothes, or traditional ethnic garb.
A personal touch always makes a piece of clothing that much more important. “Personalized elements add a touch of intimacy and uniqueness to the wedding day, making the attire even more special,” the experts at the Rockleigh wedding venue write.
“We bought our dresses again and had a photoshoot with those dresses,” the OP added, as support poured out in the comments
