My Mother-in-Law Brought 38 Friends to My Restaurant and Ordered $23,289 of Food—She Stopped Smiling When I Put the Folder Beside Her Bill

But now?

I would handle it differently.

I would require the deposit before service.

Why?

Because healthy boundaries should prevent damage, not create a perfect stage for consequences.

That was part of my growth too.

The banquet worked.

It was also unnecessarily expensive drama.