Wedding can be expensive not just for the couple getting married, but also for the wedding guest who will be in attendance (albeit on a far lower scale). Between finding an outfit for the big day, purchasing a wedding gift, booking into accommodation overnight and the travel involved in getting to the venue, not to mention how much you plan to spend on drinks, it can be a pricey celebration. The cost is effectively doubled for anyone attending pre-wedding events such as stag or hen parties.
Nationwide Building Society conducted a study on the average costs of attending a wedding in the UK and the results made for interesting reading. The average wedding day spent per person is £215, with the wedding gift and outfit generally the most expensive items. Men and women are likely to spend equal amounts on going to the wedding, although women will typically spend a good bit more on their outfit than men would. In terms of pre-wedding celebrations, men can expect to pay more for a stag party than women would for a hen, as stag parties generally involve more being spent on drink and a greater distance to travel (12% of stags take place abroad, compared to 6% of hens).
The good news is that there are ways in which you can lower the cost of wedding attendance without being perceived as a penny-pincher. When buying gifts, shop early as the least expensive items on the registry will naturally be snapped up first. If you find the hotel costs exorbitant, consider teaming up with a larger group to stay in a hostel or rent a house for the night.
This infographic from Gear Jewellers itemises the typical wedding costs and advises on how you can save a few pounds here and there without taking from the celebration.
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