While weddings are expensive for the couple, it can also cost a lot of money to be a wedding guest. And with more than 2.5 million weddings in 2022 alone, there's a good chance you could be invited to see someone in your friend or family circle tie the knot in the next year or so.1 So how can you prepare for the expense of being a wedding guest without breaking the bank?
How Much Does It Cost to Attend a Wedding?
Attending a wedding can be costly. According to one survey, wedding guests plan to spend an average of $611 per wedding in 2023, including the cost of flights, hotels and gifts.2
With rising inflation and a surge in travel demand, the cost of transportation has also increased. This summer, prices for domestic flights are expected to reach around $350 round trip. And hotel prices have jumped over 50%, to $212 a night, on average.3 If the couple opts for a destination wedding, prices could increase even more for things like flights and hotels.
If you're attending a wedding, you'll also need to account for transportation to the venue. Depending on how far the venue is, you may spend around $50 for a car rental.3 Plus, there's the money spent on a wedding gift and a new dress or suit.
If you're in the bridal party, you'll need to account for spending money on your hair (around $130) and makeup (around $120), as well as any events leading up to the wedding (think: bachelorette/bachelor party, engagement party and wedding shower).4 Though the cost of these activities ranges, a person attending a bachelor or bachelorette party in the U.S. may spend over $1,000 for several days of festivities.5
Average cost to attend a wedding in the U.S.
| Wedding Guest Purchases | Average Cost |
| Flight | $350 round trip |
| Hotel | $212 per night |
| Hair | $130 |
| Makeup | $120 |
| Car rental | $50 |
| Bachelor or bachelorette party | $1000+ |
How to Save Money as a Wedding Guest
As the happy couple plans their wedding, there are things you can do ahead of time to keep costs down as an attendee. Whether you're attending your first wedding or you're a seasoned pro on the wedding dance floor, here are some tips for saving money as a wedding guest.
1. Set up alerts and start looking for deals early
As soon as you receive a wedding invite and lock the dates in your calendar, start looking for flights and hotels. You can set up alerts on Google Flights to be notified when prices go down. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to get a deal on the price.
In addition, start thinking about your wedding gift or clothes early so you can lock in good deals. Look for sales so you can get your wedding gift or attire at a discount. You can also set up alerts on Google Shopping to get notified when items go on sale.
2. Set a spending limit
When you're setting up your budget for attending a wedding, figure out your spending limit. That can include making a budget for how much you'll spend on gifts, outfits and related wedding outings, like going out to eat before or after the wedding.
Be honest with yourself about how much you can afford to spend so you don't end up overspending and taking on debt.
3. Split costs with other guests
You can save a bundle by sharing costs with other guests. For instance, consider ride-sharing to the venue. Using a ride-sharing service is a lot cheaper when there are four people compared to just one person taking a taxi or renting a car.
If you're attending as a solo guest, you can try to find out if there are other guests traveling alone. Reach out to them to see if they'd be willing to carpool or split accommodation costs.
And if the wedding is out of town, consider taking a road trip with other guests to save on gas and flight costs.
4. Do your own hair and makeup
If you're part of the bridal party, you might be expected to hire professionals to do your hair and makeup. And it can add up—the average cost for hair is $130, while makeup can cost as much as $120 per person.4
Skipping the salon can cut costs. You can find a lot of makeup tutorials on YouTube and get creative with the makeup and tools you already have. If you have a friend or family member with an interest in beauty, ask them to help you look fab for the big day.
5. Don't buy new clothes
While getting a new outfit might be exciting, shopping for yourself every time you attend a wedding can quickly eat into your budget. If you're not the bride, people are less likely to remember what you wore.
If you don't have a cocktail dress, suit or attire that fits with the wedding dress code, consider buying used or renting. You can find a great selection of clothing at your local thrift store and on secondhand shopping apps like Wallapop and Vinted for a fraction of the price of buying new.
With Americans throwing 11.3 million tons of textiles in landfills each year, giving a second life to clothes is also environmentally friendly.6 It keeps unnecessary waste out of the garbage and saves the resources and energy needed to create a new piece of clothing.
6. Set up a sinking fund
One way to prepare for the cost of attending a wedding is to set up a sinking fund. A sinking fund is a type of savings account in which you set aside a bit of money each month for a specific purpose. You can even set up a high yield savings account so you earn extra in interest.
If you know you're going to be attending a wedding or two this year or even next year, consider setting up a sinking fund. That way, you can start saving money slowly and have a great time at your friends' or family's nuptials without worrying about a sudden dent in your paycheck.
You can use Riverstones Vista Capital 's savings goal calculator to determine how much you'll need to save each month to reach your savings goal in time.
7. Organize a group gift
Do you know the other guests? You can potentially save money by combining your gift money with others and buying a bigger gift together. That way, the happy couple gets the wedding gift they want and you don't have to worry about overspending.
8. Don't be afraid to say no
If attending a wedding is out of your budget this year, that's OK. You don't have to say yes to every wedding invite or party. Before you send in your RSVP, take a look at your budget and see if it makes financial sense to attend. Consider who the wedding is for. If it's for a close friend or family member, you might want to consider ways to make it work.
It can be hard to say no to wedding invites. If you decide it doesn't make financial sense to attend a wedding, then decline politely, send a gift and celebrate their love from afar.
Bottom Line
While marriage is a great cause for celebration, going into debt to attend a wedding generally isn't wise. If you're invited to a wedding, check your budget to make sure you can afford it. Consider splitting costs with other guests, setting up a sinking fund in a high yield savings account and setting up alerts to find the best prices on flights and wedding gifts. And if going to a wedding is not financially feasible, you can always decline the invitation.
Moriah Costa is a personal finance and investing writer. Her work has appeared in Thomson Reuters, S&P Global, The Washington Business Journal and others.
READ MORE: Saving for a Wedding to Remember
Sources/references
1. Nowack, H. The Truth About the 2022 Wedding Boom From Real Couples and Pros. The Knot. Updated October 31, 2022.
2. Gailey, A. Survey: Americans can expect to spend over $600 to attend a wedding in 2023. Bankrate. Published March 27, 2023.
3. Berg, H. Consumer Travel Index - Q1 2023. Hopper. Published February 2, 2023.
4. Whalley, L. How Much Does Wedding Hair and Makeup Cost? Here's the Answer. The Knot. Updated February 28, 2023.
5. Hampson, L. Here's How Much Your Next Bach Party Could Cost You. The Knot. Updated June 29, 2021.