Declining a wedding invitation is usually a fairly simple, drama-free process.But for one guest, saying 'no' triggered a request so unexpected that it has reignited debate about modern wedding etiquette.After deciding not to attend a friend's wedding recently, a guest was asked if she could return her invitation so it could be re-issued to somebody else. The bride explained she didn't have the 'time, energy, or money' to create another one, leaving the guest wondering whether wedding expectations had officially gone too far.The story, shared by the guest on a bridal forum, struck a chord at a time when weddings are becoming increasingly elaborate and expensive, not only for the couples planning them but also for the friends and family expected to attend. Between interstate travel, accommodation, gifts, engagement parties, bridal showers, hens' weekends, outfits, and recovery brunches, accepting a wedding invitation can easily become a four-figure commitment for guests.According to the guest, none of that was initially a concern.When the couple first announced their wedding, she verbally accepted almost immediately and even booked a hotel because the venue was three hours away in an area she had never visited. After deciding not to attend a friend's wedding, a guest was asked if she could return her invitation so it could be given to somebody elsePart of what motivated her to commit so early was sympathy for the bride, who regularly shared posts online saying she had very little support and was struggling to convince people to come.'She was constantly posting about how nobody wanted to come to her wedding and how she had no friends or family support. My husband and I felt genuinely bad for her,' the guest explained.As the wedding drew closer, however, that sympathy gradually began to fade.The first surprise came when the guest was unable to attend the hen's party because of a holiday that had already been booked. Although around six people had RSVP'd, the bride reportedly took to social media asking complete strangers if they would like to join because, in her words, 'six people for a hen party is kinda pants'.The guest found the post particularly strange because the bride was also planning a separate European hen's trip with her bridesmaids.'This is obviously not someone without support. It's someone with unrealistic expectations,' she said. The official invitation only added to her doubts.