MoneyHelper on why wedding guests are cutting back on costs

James Kelly - North West Manager for the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) – shares MaPS' latest figures on how much people spend to attend weddings and civil ceremonies and offers tips on keeping the costs down, with support from MoneyHelper, MaPS’ government-backed money guidance service.

"I do...not"

Weddings are joyful, emotional occasions. They are also, let's be honest, not always cheap.

As budgets have become more stretched, many people are cutting back on non-essentials, including weddings and civil ceremonies.

MaPS recently found that a third of people have turned down at least one wedding-related event, including stag or hen parties and engagement celebrations, specifically because of the cost.

A staggering two in five 25 to 34-year-olds decline at least one wedding event, highlighting the financial pressures this age group faces as they juggle social commitments, family responsibilities, and everyday living costs.

The price tag: more than £600 per event

According to MaPS' latest survey, guests spent an average of £613 attending weddings or civil partnerships in 2025.

The highest costs, on average, included travel and accommodation (£146), new clothes and accessories (£122) and gifts (£102).

And there are some differences in spending too.

It may not come as a surprise, but women typically spend more than men attending weddings, with average costs of £632 compared with £589.

Being in the wedding party can also come with a bigger bill. Bridesmaids, groomsmen, and other members of the bridal party spent an average of £806 per event, compared with £510 for other guests.

In other words, if you've been asked to walk down the aisle, hold flowers, coordinate group chats, and wear matching outfits – you're going to pay for the privilege.

James Kelly, Regional Manager for the Money and Pensions Service (Image: MoneyHelper)

The guest spend is down

The good news? Guest spending is down.

While £613 is still a significant amount, it's lower than last year's average of £692 - an 11 per cent fall.

We are also attending fewer events.

In 2025, guests went to three weddings or civil ceremonies on average, with a total annual cost of more than £2,000.

This year, people are only attending two on average, bringing annual spending down to around £1,200 – a dramatic 40 per cent drop.

Younger guests are also making trade-offs. While they spend more than other generations on pre-wedding events such as engagement parties, a quarter reported they spent nothing on gifts for the happy couple.

That doesn't mean they don't care – it may simply show how quickly the costs can add up before the day itself.

How to keep costs under control

While spend is down, spending over £1,200 on average to attend our nearest and dearest's special days is simply unmanageable financially for many.

You'll usually have a good amount of notice before a wedding, so use that time to plan. MoneyHelper's Savings Calculator can help you put money aside to celebrate your friends and family without stretching your budget too far

Some other things you can also consider are:

- Booking travel and accommodation early for the cheapest rates, and shopping around using comparison websites.

- Re-wearing or buying second-hand outfits – not every event needs a new one; just a few different accessories can make something feel different.

- Agreeing on spending limits for gifts with other friends or relatives attending.

- Being honest with the couple about what you can or can't afford to spend.

- Sharing travel costs – can you jump in the car with some friends?

MoneyHelper's Budget Planner is also a useful starting point to understand how much you have left over each month to put aside for savings.

Weddings are special occasions, but they shouldn’t leave you struggling financially. Planning ahead can help you celebrate with the people you love, without letting the costs get out of hand.