Spanish man starts business to ruin weddings as a joke, says is now fully booked until December: ‘You just need to tell me the time, place, date’

What started as a joke has become a full-fledged business for Ernesto Reinares Varea, a Spanish man who gets paid to ‘ruin’ weddings. 

According to The Independent, the man charges €500 (around $550 USD) to ruin weddings, usually to help brides who feel unsure about how to call off their nuptials at the last minute. According to Spanish news outlet Antena 3, Varea released an ad that mentioned, “If you have doubts or don’t want to get married and don’t know how to refuse, don’t worry anymore, I’ll object to your wedding.”

“You just need to tell me the time, place, and date,” the ad continued. “I will appear in the middle of the ceremony saying that I am the great love of your life, and we will run away together hand in hand.”

The ad started out as a joke until brides started contacting him for help. Since then, he has constantly been receiving offers, he revealed to the outlet. Surprisingly, his unconventional service has garnered enough demand to keep him booked until December.

Varea also mentioned charging extra money for family members to “slap him”. “Each slap is worth 50 euros,” he said, clarifying that his services are not just limited to brides but apply to grooms as well. 

While some may find humour in the idea, the growing number of couples paying to sabotage their weddings raises serious questions about pre-wedding jitters and relationship doubts. Gurleen Baruah, occupational psychologist and executive coach at That Culture Thing says, “It’s natural to experience doubts, especially when approaching a big step like marriage. Society often portrays love as straightforward and full of certainty, but the reality is far more nuanced. Many couples go through periods of doubt, sometimes silently. Recognising these signs can be the first step toward understanding what’s happening beneath the surface.”

According to Baruah, common signs of doubt in a relationship can include frequent conflicts, where minor disagreements escalate into major arguments, reflecting deeper concerns about the relationship’s future. Emotional distance may also grow, with less physical affection, shallow conversations, or more time spent apart, creating an invisible wall between partners.

“Talking negatively about the partner, focusing on their flaws to friends, is another red flag. Overcompensating by portraying the relationship as perfect on social media can be a way to mask internal doubts. Insecurity and anxiety about the future may emerge, along with frequent thoughts of life without the partner, signaling deeper internal struggles,” she addresses.

Pre-wedding nerves often focus on the event or the idea of change, like worries about the day running smoothly or how marriage will affect the relationship. (Source: Freepik)

Normal pre-wedding nerves and more serious issues that need to be resolved before marriage

Baruah tells indianexpress.com, “Pre-wedding nerves often focus on the event or the idea of change, like worries about the day running smoothly or how marriage will affect the relationship. These feelings are usually tied to the stress of planning and adjusting to a new phase, similar to the nervousness before a job interview.” 

However, she adds that deeper issues — such as thoughts of life without the partner or anxiety over core differences like children or career priorities — signal more serious concerns. “A lack of trust or emotional distance, or constantly focusing on the partner’s flaws, suggests deeper dissatisfaction beyond typical pre-wedding jitters. Recognising these signs is crucial for addressing them.”

Addressing any doubts

Addressing doubts takes intentional effort and honest communication, says Baruah. Some strategies include:

Open communication: Initiating a calm, honest conversation about feelings can be the key to clearing up misunderstandings. Sharing thoughts without blame creates a safe space for both partners to express what they’re experiencing.

Journaling: Reflecting on doubts through journaling helps sort through emotions and identify whether they are rooted in personal insecurities or relationship issues. Writing with the intention of understanding rather than venting can provide valuable insights.

Balancing perspective: Focusing on what is working in the relationship alongside what isn’t can provide a more balanced view. Recognising the positive aspects may help appreciate the relationship’s strengths.

Seek therapy: Couples therapy can be a safe space to explore concerns together, while individual therapy can help work through personal fears or past experiences that may be affecting the relationship.

Take it slow: Doubts don’t always require immediate action. Sometimes, allowing space to think and reflect before jumping to conclusions can prevent hasty decisions that might

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