The majority of brides regretted spending extra money on venue upgrades and fancy linens. What is this? At the end of the day, your guests don't really care which napkins you used, how your chair covers looked, or if your charger plates were cast in gold.
If you think you'll be unfulfilled or regretful if you don't go all out for your wedding day, that's where you're going to put your money . But if you're willing to compromise on some of those matrimonial must-haves, reigning in your wedding budget makes good financial sense.
Out of 2,000 newlyweds, married in or after 2010, surveyed by Dana Rebecca Designs, a whopping 76 percent said there were things they would do differently and 43 percent said they actually have regrets about some aspects of the wedding. See, told you you're not alone.
Big guest lists
Naturally, the more people you invite to a wedding, the more expensive it will be. With more heads to feed, a larger venue to accommodate and more people to entertain, this can be a big reason as to why weddings can increase in price.
Expensive weddings often result in shorter marriages.
Believe it or not, there is evidence that marriage duration is inversely associated with spending on the engagement ring and wedding ceremony. Couples who spend less on their ceremony are more likely to remain together longer.
They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family, or if you are in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.
Wedding-industry experts shared things couples should stop wasting money on for their big day. Favors, photo booths, and champagne toasts are all potentially unnecessary extras. Some professionals said elaborate invitations are oftentimes not worth the high price tag. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Some say asking for money is a definite no-no, while others don't mind at all. It seems the answer to this question depends on who you ask. Brides, guests and etiquette gurus have all had their say, and it appears that neither of them is in agreement.
While the amount you should gift a couple depends on a number of factors, data from The Knot reveals that U.S. wedding guests spend an average of $160 on cash gifts. "It's common to give anywhere from $100 to $1,000. I often see the card box on the gift table oozing with overstuffed envelopes," Burton says.
Wedding costs in 2022
The average wedding held in 2022, including both the ceremony and reception, cost $30,000, according to The Knot. That's the most couples have spent since 2018 ($33,931), before COVID-19. It's also $2,000 more than the 2021 average, which totaled $28,000 for the ceremony and reception.
"While you should never feel obligated to attend a wedding you don't want to be a part of, think carefully if the reason you are using will hold up years later when you look back on it," Gottsman says. Once you decide to decline, you should ideally share the news in person, not through the mail.
“Just be gentle, be honest, and talk about it. There could be financial reasons you can't participate, or it could be that you don't have enough time to do it and you don't want to disappoint. Explain that gently, and the bride will understand.”
The easiest route would be just to send a gift from the couple's registry, but if you'd prefer to send cash or a check, you can totally do so. We recommend spending around $50 on a gift if you're not attending the wedding, though you should spend a bit more if you're a close friend or relative of the couple.
Benefits of a Big Wedding
A big wedding is ideal for the social butterflies among us! If you have a large family or circle of friends, there'll be fewer difficult guest list decisions and less chance of hurt feelings. It will also be easier to accommodate plus ones and children so no one misses out.
There are many reasons, but the most important one is that they represent a very special moment in a person's life. They are a time when couples come together to celebrate their love for each other, and they are also a time when families and friends get together to support the couple on this big day.
What is a good cash wedding gift amount for one person? If you're flying solo and just a casual friend of the bride or groom, then you can spend $75-$100 on your gift. Even if you're a super close friend of the couple, $500 is the most you should give. $2,000 might be too much.
For a colleague or acquaintance, $50 to $75 is acceptable. You can work within that range at your discretion. For family or someone close to you, $75 to $100 and even as high as $150 is perfect. Then if you're going as a couple, it's routine to double the amount or keep it at $200.
If you're wondering about the average amount to spend on a wedding gift in 2023, here's the answer. For a wedding gift amount, most couples give anywhere from $75 to $300, give or take, depending on the formality of the wedding, closeness in relationship to the couple, and the formality of the wedding.
'If you're inviting people you should feed them. They also shouldn't have to give a present as flights and accommodation just to get there is enough in my opinion,' one woman said. 'Definitely bad manners to ask guests to pay for their own meal,' another said.
Yes, it's always acceptable to give cash as a wedding gift.
According to EmilyPost.com, it is not proper wedding etiquette to list “No gifts, please” on a wedding invitation. They state, “The moment you mention gifts, you put an emphasis on gifts, which is the opposite of your intent.”
Planning your wedding party should be fun, but it's often a source of stress when the venue and budget limit how many people you can invite. This is one of the main causes of bride anxiety, the fear of upsetting or offending their friends and family when they are unable to offer a plus one invite.
You don't respect the religious rituals.
Regardless of your own beliefs, it's important to respect the couple's choices on such a sacred day. "When you refuse to participate in or respect religious rituals during the ceremony it can offend not only the bride and groom, but also their family members," says Swann.
But if you look at the list, you get a very telling testimonial of what most brides want for their wedding days: experiences, uniqueness, food and lots of fun. They also want some nostalgia with the bouncy house and ball pit callouts.