While putting on your own wedding is, of course, costly, being a bridesmaid or groomsman, or even just a guest, also costs a pretty penny.
According to The Knot’s 2018 Wedding Guest Study, which surveyed more than 1,300 people who have been a wedding guest or attendant in the past, on average, members of the wedding party spend $295 in total on wedding gifts for the bachelor and bachelorette parties, wedding shower and wedding day. Wedding guests spend a similar amount: $289.
However, wedding party members tend to spend more on the wedding gift itself. The average guest spends $88, while members of the wedding party spend $107. Here’s how it breaks down:
- 34 percent of guests give a gift from the couple’s registry
- 29 percent give cash or a check in a wedding card or envelope
- 10 percent give gift cards
The data seem to show that it pays to register. Plus, you’ll get the exact items you want!
So far, both guests and attendants have spent similar amounts of money. The real price difference comes on wedding-day attire. Wedding guests spend an average of $98 on clothing and an additional $53 on accessories such as shoes, ties and handbags. Members of the wedding party, however, spend 63 percent more—$160 on attire and $64 on accessories. Those tuxedos and bridesmaid’s dresses sure add up!
And while a bachelor or bachelorette party is a right of passage, it can be expensive. Attendees spend an average of $537 on these parties, which includes travel, accommodations and gifts. Yikes!
However, both guests and attendants shell out the most money for out-of-town weddings. The average guest spends about $901 for these festivities, which includes costs for travel, accommodations, gifts, attire and accessories.
Members of the wedding party spend similarly, with an average of $928. In fact, when broken down, members of the wedding party and guests spend about the same on travel and accommodations. Wedding attendants report spending $308 on travel and $212 on accommodations, while guests report spending $303 on travel and $234 on accommodations.