Kalina Marie, a TikTok user from Oregon, has gone viral after sharing her devastating wedding experience on social media. The bride, who had been dreaming of a perfect wedding day for years, was left heartbroken when only five of the 75 invited guests showed up for her big day.
In a TikTok video that has since garnered significant attention, Kalina walks hand-in-hand with her husband, Shane, and their young son into a lavishly decorated reception hall, only to find an almost empty venue. Despite the couple’s excitement, the scene was far from what they had imagined.
Kalina captioned the video, “This is our entrance to our masquerade ball… FIVE PEOPLE SHOWED UP!!!! Like, are you kidding me!?” The video shows the couple walking down the aisle in a nearly empty hall, with only a few scattered guests in attendance.
The couple, who have been together for nine years and share a four-year-old son, had planned their wedding for months. They had eagerly sent out 75 digital invitations and personally mailed 25 more, anticipating a grand celebration with friends and family. However, despite their expectations, the reality was far from what they had dreamed.
Kalina and Shane waited for over an hour, hoping that late arrivals would help fill the empty seats. But when they finally made their entrance, it became clear that the turnout was much smaller than anticipated. Only five people, including Kalina’s mother, showed up to witness the couple’s vows.
“I dreamed that I would walk into a bunch of people cheering us on, hooting and hollering for us in celebration,” Kalina wrote in her TikTok post. “Instead, it was just five people. This was not the fairytale I had envisioned.”
Despite the disappointment, Kalina and Shane did their best to salvage the day. After walking down the aisle, the couple shared their first dance together, with their son accompanying them. The small group of guests who did attend joined the couple on the dancefloor, helping to make the most of the situation.
But the emptiness of the venue and the wasted food and drinks weighed heavily on Kalina. “We still made the most of it, but I just couldn’t understand why no one showed up. What did we do to deserve this?” she reflected in her video.
Days after the wedding, Kalina posted an update on her emotional journey. She admitted feeling embarrassed but expressed her gratitude for the few people who did attend, including her husband, son, and mother. “I have my man. My baby. And family that shows up when I need them. And for that, I will be thankful,” she wrote.
The couple’s heartbreaking wedding story has sparked widespread sympathy and discussion online, with many people offering support and sharing their own experiences of wedding disappointments. Despite the low turnout, Kalina remains hopeful, finding solace in her close-knit family and the love she shares with her husband.
