Expensive not only to get married, but also to attend a celebration: how much does it cost to be a guest at a wedding in the USA

There comes a time in life when the weddings of our friends and family seem to dominate our calendars and our budgets. And it's a huge expense that we can see increase as pandemic-postponed weddings finally take place. Bankrate.

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According to the latest data from the Wedding Report, experts are predicting a historic number of weddings for 2022. An estimated 2,5 million Americans are planning to tie the knot this year, the most since 1984.

The average cost of a wedding in 2020 was $20, down $300 from a year earlier. There are many factors that affect the cost of a wedding, including the size and location of the venue, the number of guests, food and entertainment, not to mention additional costs that depend on the preferences of the wedding party hosts. ValuePenguin.

And the financial burden doesn't just fall on those who say yes. A 2018 Bankrate survey found that the average cost to attend a close friend or family member's wedding was $627. For distant friends and family, that figure has dropped to $370—still a significant expense.

Main numbers

• Average amount a wedding attendee spends on a single wedding: $460.
• The average cost of participating in a wedding outside the city where you need to go: $660.
• Average cost of attending a wedding to attend: $1270.
• Average cost for a wedding that does not require travel or accommodation: $270.
• Average amount spent by a wedding party on a wedding gift: $160.
• Average amount guests spend on wedding attire: $155
• Average cost per stay for guests: $322
• 61% of American adults said they plan to attend at least one holiday event this year.
• 17% of men reported having to spend more on holiday events this year, compared to 13% of women.
• Average guest list size: 105 guests.

Here are some tips on how to spend the wedding season without getting into debt.

The meaning and functions of a guest at a wedding

As a wedding guest, you are invited to witness and share one of the most special moments in the life of your friend or loved one. However, your participation and financial responsibility may vary depending on whether you are a casual acquaintance, close friend, family member, or wedding party attendee.

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While the reason for the big day has remained the same, the cost of hosting and attending a wedding has changed dramatically over time. Wedding gifts, for example, have risen in price. While some were of the opinion that a reasonable amount to spend on a gift was the cost of your banquet seat, that cost now starts at around $150 and can increase depending on your personal relationship with the couple getting married.

The prospect of cost overruns can scare invited guests. Especially if they don't factor it into their budget. Young people are the hardest hit, with 28% of Gen Zers and 23% of millennials feeling the need to overspend on an event this year. Conversely, only 5% of boomers think so.

Typical expenses for wedding guests

The amount you spend on a friend or loved one's wedding will vary depending on how well you know the couple getting married, how many pre-wedding events you attend, whether the wedding is local or requires you to move out of town, and more. . Here are the average costs for a few common expense categories for wedding guests:

• Hair and makeup $150-$600.
• Travel and accommodation: $660–$1270.
• Outfit $95 - $160.
• Wedding gift $100 - $150.

wedding guest etiquette

Part of what makes a couple's wedding day so special is that their guests will be quick, present and ready to take part in their special occasion just like themselves. It starts before the big day. Several ways to make the event run smoothly.

Timely response to an invitation: The exact number of guests is a key consideration for organizers when planning their seating arrangement. Once you receive your invitation in the mail, try to respond as quickly as possible with the exact number of participants.

Only RSVP for those who were invited: if your invitation does not include a plus one, you should plan your visit alone.

Buy a wedding gift: if the invitation lists a wedding website or registry, take the time to research it carefully beforehand. Thus, you will have a wider choice of gift options and you will not risk coming to the event empty-handed.

Write down important dates and details. When you receive an invitation, try not to put it on the refrigerator and forget about it. Write down the date, time of the ceremony and reception, addresses, and dress requirements.

Come early: unless you're walking down the aisle, you should avoid being fashionably late. Try to arrive 15-20 minutes early to use the restroom, socialize and find your seat before the ceremony to avoid any disturbance.

Ask how you can help at the end of the evening: Whether it's helping waiters clean up, transporting gifts, or driving a friend or family member home, look for ways to be of service to event hosts as a "thank you" for including you on their special day.

Tips on how to spend the wedding season without getting into debt

Couples typically send out postcards to guests six to eight months before the event, but is this the right time to start saving?

Recent research has shown that guests can expect over $1000 to attend a wedding outside of their city, so the sooner you start saving, the better. If you can afford to save $100 a month for your wedding after you pay your bills and set aside money for your savings goals, you may have plenty of time to prepare.

But if you can't afford to save that much money each month, or are saving up for multiple weddings, you really should start planning ahead. According to wedding planning website The Knot, the average engagement lasts 14 months. If you start planning from the moment your first ring selfie hits social media, you can get through wedding season debt-free.

Is it presumptuous to start saving before you are invited or asked to attend the wedding? Possibly, but there is no real downside.

Decide where to invest your savings

Figuring out when to start saving is of course only part of the equation. You also need a strategy for where to keep your savings. You may be disciplined enough to leave your best friend's wedding money in your shared savings account, but it might be a good idea to keep it separate.

“I would suggest opening a dedicated savings account for the expenses you plan to incur and putting a portion of every paycheck in there,” says Bankrate chief financial analyst Greg McBride, CFA. Indeed, this may be a good opportunity to try an online bank that can offer higher interest rates.

Several neobank and savings apps also allow you to create dedicated purpose-based pockets in your account for everything from a down payment on a house to a vacation in the Bahamas. Let's say you plan to attend four weddings next summer. You can tell apps like Qapital, Chime, or Mint to transfer $20 each month to targeted pools.

Be practical

While going into debt to celebrate your wedding isn't ideal, sometimes you may just need to put some of the cost on your credit card.

“Can you value a friendship that lasts 25 years or more? McBride asks. — Going into debt for something like a wedding is a personal decision. Of course, weddings don't just creep up suddenly; you have time to plan. But even if you need to overcome a financial shortfall with a loan, you must develop a game plan to pay it off quickly.”

However, in addition to taking on debt, you should look for ways to save money where possible. Use points for traveling or use bonus points for registering on cards.

A few additional money saving tips:

Take a look at your wardrobe: Before you shell out a few hundred for a brand new outfit, see if you already have something suitable for the wedding. If not, ask a friend or family member if they have something in their closet that will suit your needs. This will help you save some money that could be spent on a gift or shipping costs.

Agree on a group gift: find out if other guests or family members are willing to share the cost of one of the nicest gifts on the couple's registry. This is a win-win option for the couple and other guests looking to cut costs.

Use the gift register as inspiration: If all of the available gifts on the roster have been sold out, see if you can find a more affordable gift for hosts based on what they have added to their list. Perhaps they like a certain style of home decor or they have signed up for baking materials.

Use this information to buy a gift that they will love and that won't burn a hole in your budget.

Divide the cost of accommodation and transportation: if you are going to a wedding out of town, find out if there is someone you know at the wedding with whom it would be convenient for you to spend the night or share the cost of gas or travel.

Know when to say "no": you can always say no. This may mean that you miss the bachelorette party or simply don't go to it. It's okay, especially when the cost of attending a wedding gets in the way of your own financial priorities.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.

Wedding season can be an exciting time, full of lifelong memories. However, if you're not careful, you could run into cost overruns and end up in debt that is hard to get out of. By setting a budget for yourself and learning smart ways to cut costs ahead of time, you can avoid the financial hardship that will ruin your memories of your big day.

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