From booking travel and overnight stays to buying a snazzy new dress on top of gifting money towards the honeymoon, attending a wedding now comes with a hefty price tag.
Even before the cost of living crisis stretched our wallets, getting a wedding invitation in the post, or a 'save the date' fridge magnet, was a financially daunting moment for many.
And now, according to new statistics by American Express, those attending a wedding in 2023 anticipate spending a whopping £1,045 on average per event - that's 18 percent more than last year.
A gift for the newlyweds is predicted to be the biggest expense for guests this year, with attendees expecting to fork out roughly £217.90 on the happy couple.
In addition to the increasing spend per guest, the average number of guests per wedding is expected to rise from 66 to 74.
Accommodation is reportedly the second most expensive outgoing at approximately £203.90 per person - a third more than 2022.
And with destination weddings on the rise, inspired by Jamie Laing's lavish Marbella ceremony and Sofia Richie's French nuptials, it's rather unsurprising.
While there are numerous ways invitees can save money - by borrowing a suit, going teetotal or booking a hotel early - if your pal has their heart set on tying the knot abroad, it's near-impossible.
Average wedding guest expenses according to research:
- Gifts (including cash): £217.90
- Accommodation: £203.90
- Childcare: £202.70
- Travel: £196.20
- Outfits and accessories: £160.30
To find out whether attending a wedding is really worth a whopping grand, we spoke to five guests who've been or will be going to watch their family and friends get hitched for £1,000.
'I can only afford one wedding a year'
Business owner Sophie Thompson, 29, spent £1,200 on a four-day Indian wedding in Sweden - including £660 on accommodation and £300 on travel.
"It was a lot of money and I budgeted the cost over a few months to make sure I could afford it for my best friend," Sophie said.
"I'm saving for a house so it would be impossible if I had more than one wedding like that a year. I wouldn't spend it attending a wedding for someone that wasn't very close to me."
Sophie, from Birmingham, was most surprised by the cost of accommodation, and "didn't expect to pay nearly £1,000 before she got there".
'It was worth every penny'
Lifestyle expert Vicki Bahra, 30, attended a wedding in Mallorca, Spain, in August 2021 and spent roughly £1,200 - including £400 on accommodation and £300 spending money.
"It was a lot of money to spend but it was for my best friend and I was a bridesmaid," Vicki, from London, said.
"It was an amazing chance to spend a week with best friends and worth every penny. We also got so much in terms of what the bride and groom put on for us."
Vicki said she could afford it as she'd budgeted in advance, but the increasing price would put her off in future.
"It depends who the wedding is for. For special people in my life, I would pay anything to be there," she said.
'I regret the stag do, not the wedding'
Analyst Kristian Hoareau Foged, 32, spent approximately £1,100 attending a wedding in Tuscany, Italy, in September 2022 - including £90 on a gift and £200 on accommodation.
"I thought it was a lot of money but I was able to afford it and it was for a very good friend, so I was happy to make the trip," he said.
Kristian, from London, doesn't think the increasing cost would put him off a wedding and said that going abroad is worth it.
But he's far less excited about the financial strain of attending the stag do party before.
"I am starting to be put off by the stag dos that are equally as expensive and long," he said. "I've had a couple of stag dos abroad and one this year is costing me more than the wedding itself."
'£2k was what I expected to pay'
Beautician Kelly Vowles, 40, flew to Positano, Italy, in April 2022 with her husband for a friend's wedding and treated it like a holiday.
The couple spent £300 on flights, stayed in the bridal party's accommodation for free and spent around £1,000 on spending money over four days.
"It was what I would expect to pay for a short break. We enjoyed it as it was like a little holiday for us as well as a lovely time celebrating with two friends," Kelly, from Swindon, said.
"If I was invited to a wedding abroad again, I would go as we would tie it in with our holiday for that year. I would only do it for very close friends though."
'I've spent £250 on a dog sitter to go'
CEO Julia Starzyk, 32, has an upcoming wedding abroad in June and has spent nearly £1,500 already. This includes £440 on travel, £50 on a gift and £250 on a dog sitter.
"I didn't realise how much money it had cost me until I added it all up," Julia, from London, said.
Though, it probably wouldn't put her off celebrating with friends as she thinks "it's worth much more than money ever will".
"I can understand why people would think twice. I would certainly not do more than one wedding a year," she said.
Do you have a wedding story to share? Get in touch. Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
