Look What You Made Me Do: Is being a wedding guest getting too expensive?

Taylor Swift’s rumoured to be getting married in New York this weekend, and the A-listers descending on the city probably aren’t that worried about the cost of celebrating her love story.

But us mere mortals will know all too well how expensive going to a wedding can be.

Costs like travel, accommodation, gifts and presents can quickly mount up, so it’s no surprise that financial pressures are forcing many people to turn wedding invites down.

Friends and family don’t want to be in the red

New research from Tesco Bank shows that nearly one in three people (31%) have declined a wedding invitation because of the cost.

And notably, younger people seem more willing than most to say no for financial reasons.

In fact, almost half of Gen Z adults (48%) who’ve been invited to a wedding have turned it down, along with more than four in ten millennials (43%).

Others, meanwhile, are making sacrifices to make sure they can afford to go.

For example, 16 per cent are cutting back on luxuries, 14% have cut day-to-day spending and 11% have stopped buying new clothes.

How much does it cost to attend a wedding?

On average, the cost of attending a wedding is £316 per person.

That’s a lot of money for just one wedding.

But almost one in five people say they expect to go to several weddings this year.

So if you go to, say, three weddings in a single summer, you could be forking out around £1,000.

And we haven’t even factored in the cost of hen and stag dos yet.

Plus some weddings might cost a lot more than the average.

Figures show that more than one in eight guests spent over £500 at the last wedding they went to.

Wedding guests don’t want bad blood

Of course, saying no can be awkward, particularly when it’s mainly for financial reasons.

Nearly one in ten people (8%) who’d turned down a wedding invite said they felt guilty about it.

But nearly twice as many (14%) said they felt relieved after declining an invitation.

So if you’re worried about saying no, be fearless and speak now.

Tell the couple that although you’d love to celebrate with them, the cost makes it difficult for you right now.

They’ll understand and there’s no reason you can’t still let them know you’re thinking of them, such as by sending them a small gift, a handwritten note, a video message or a bunch of flowers.

It’s an inexpensive and personal way to let them know they’re in your thoughts on their big day.

Don't let wedding season become a cruel summer

If you’re under financial pressure and decide you still want to go a wedding, there are a few other practical steps you can take.

Don’t spend more than you can afford

Many of us will earn far less than some of our closest friends, even if you’re best friends with Taylor Swift.

So while the happy couple might be able to go all-out for their wedding, that doesn’t mean you can do the same just to be there.

Set boundaries and stick to a budget, rather than risk leaving a blank space in your bank account.

Your real friends will understand.

Explore cost-saving options

If you’re determined to go but need to keep costs down, then look at options like sharing accommodation with other guests, or clubbing together to buy a joint gift.

Or maybe you could cover your travel costs by cashing in any loyalty points you’ve built up, and book early for cheaper flights and hotels.

And remember you don’t have to buy a new outfit.

You can rent, borrow or rewear something that’s already in your wardrobe and you’ll still look fabulous.