The Real Cost of Being a Wedding Guest
Written by Zach Miller on May 6, 2025
When that beautiful wedding invitation arrives in your mailbox, your first thought might be excitement about celebrating with friends or family. But if you’re like most of our Froggy 102.7 listeners — especially you busy moms juggling work, kids, and everything in between — your second thought might be: “How much is this going to cost me?”
The Shocking Numbers
According to recent research by financial analyst Andy Cooper, attending someone’s big day comes with some serious expenses. The average single wedding guest spends a whopping $461 per wedding, while those attending with a partner spend about $273 per person.
Breaking this down by gender, women typically spend more than men when attending solo — $480 compared to $442 for men. Even when attending as a couple, women still outspend men ($292 versus $254).
Where Does All That Money Go?
The Outfit Situation
For us ladies, the clothing costs add up quickly. The average price for a formal dress across retailers like Walmart, TJ Maxx, and Nordstrom is about $131. Add in heels at an average of $183, and we’re looking at over $300 before we’ve even arrived at the ceremony!
Interestingly, most women rewear their wedding outfits only about three times, meaning the cost per wear for that dress comes to around $44 and for those heels about $61. That’s a hefty price for something sitting in your closet most of the year!
Travel & Accommodation
Whether the wedding is in your hometown or requires a destination trip makes a huge difference. Out-of-town guests should budget around $130 for transportation, while local guests might spend closer to $30.
Need a place to stay overnight? You’re not alone – 84% of wedding guests typically stay overnight at weddings they attend. With the average hotel room running about $145 per night, those travel and accommodation costs can quickly add up to $225 for a couple.
The Gift Budget
The typical wedding gift costs around $150, whether you’re contributing to a cash registry or purchasing something from their wishlist. While this might seem like a lot, remember that the average cost per guest for the couple hosting the wedding is about $232 – so they’re technically spending more on you than you are on them!
Being in the Wedding Party: The Ultimate Financial Commitment
If you’ve been asked to be a bridesmaid or groomsman, be prepared for even bigger expenses. A single member of the wedding party can expect to pay around $2,137 to attend both the wedding and pre-wedding celebrations like bachelor or bachelorette parties.
Weekend-long bachelor or bachelorette getaways have become the norm, with the average 2024 cost hitting $1,676 when you factor in airfare, hotel, food, drinks, and entertainment.
Money-Saving Tips for Wedding Season
For our hardworking Froggy 102.7 moms who might be facing multiple wedding invitations this year, here are some practical ways to celebrate without breaking the bank:
- Outfit Repeating is In: Instead of buying new for each event, consider renting dresses through services like Rent the Runway or creating a wedding capsule wardrobe with mix-and-match pieces.
- Split Travel Costs: Coordinate with other guests to share rides or split vacation rentals instead of booking individual hotel rooms.
- Set a Gift Budget Early: Decide at the beginning of wedding season how much you can spend on each couple and stick to it.
- DIY When Possible: Handmade gifts can be more meaningful and budget-friendly than registry items.
- Just Say No Sometimes: It’s okay to politely decline invitations, especially for destination weddings or when multiple events stack up in one season.
The Bottom Line
While celebrating love is beautiful, the reality is that attending weddings costs American adults a significant amount each year. With the average person attending about two weddings annually (and some years many more), these expenses can add up quickly.
Remember that your presence is what truly matters to the couple, not how much you spend. And if you’re feeling the financial pinch this wedding season, you’re definitely not alone – as our research shows, it’s a common challenge for many of us juggling family budgets!
Have you found creative ways to save on wedding expenses? Share your tips with us on the Froggy 102.7 Facebook page or call in during tomorrow’s morning show!
Source: “Cost of being a wedding guest” by Andy Cooper, Financial Analyst & Money-saving Expert. Published July 2, 2024 on CouponBirds.
