- Wedding guests spend an average of $776 per wedding, while members of the wedding party spend an average of $851.
- The most costly expenses for wedding guests are travel costs, accommodations, and wedding gifts.
- Costs don't deter people from wanting to attend weddings - 70% reported they enjoyed the last wedding they attended.
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Love is in the air. It's summer and, for many, that means a season filled with friends' and family's wedding celebrations. Weddings can be a great way to spend time with your nearest and dearest, as well as show your love to the happy couple. However, attending a wedding can cost you. A lot!
Read more: The 25 most expensive places in the US to get married
According to a recent study by The Knot, wedding guests may spend more to attend a wedding than you might realize. Between wedding gifts, travel, accommodations, attire, and more, attending a wedding can make a serious dent in your wallet.
The Knot surveyed over 1,300 people who've been a wedding guest or attendant in the past to determine how much, on average, they spend per wedding on travel, accommodations, gifts, attire, and accessories.
Here's what wedding guests and bridal party members spend on average, per wedding - plus some tips on how you can save money next time a friend of family member ties the knot.
Here's exactly what wedding guests and members of the wedding party spend per wedding:
Guests and wedding party members reported spending the most money on travel and accommodations. Overall, wedding party members reported spending 9.7% more per wedding than wedding guests do, averaging a difference of $75.
Wedding guests who travel to the wedding spend over $900 per wedding they attend, and members of the wedding party spend even more
If you have to travel to attend the wedding, costs add up to an even higher number for both wedding guests and wedding party members. Guests that are traveling for a wedding spend an average of $901 per wedding, including costs for travel, accommodations, wedding gifts, attire, and accessories, while members of the wedding party spend an average of $928.
Travel costs don't necessarily deter people from going to weddings, but people do think about the money they'd spend to attend a wedding
According to The Knot's Wedding Guest report, 1 in 3 wedding guests consider the costs of travel (40%) and accommodations (36%) before RSVPing to a wedding. If a wedding is too far away, guests may factor that into their choice to attend.
Many wedding attendees have to travel or spend money on accommodations close to the wedding venue. On average, 1 in 3 (41%) members of the wedding party book accommodations for the celebration. Members of the wedding party are also booking travel (15%) to get to the wedding ceremony and reception, spending an average of $308.
Wedding guests also pay for travel and accommodations. 28% reported booking accommodations and 14% book travel for weddings, spending an average of $234 and $303, respectively.
However, even though attending a wedding can be pricey, this doesn't prevent guests from enjoying themselves. 70% of the wedding guests surveyed reported that they enjoyed the last wedding they attended.
There are a few ways to save money as a wedding guest, while still making the bride and groom happy
There are a variety of ways to save a little money when attending a wedding. The Knot recently shared their tips for saving money, as well as valuable resources that let you save on your attire and travel costs. We also came up with a few ways to cut costs when attending a wedding as either a guest or a member of the wedding party. Here they are: