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Wedding guests across the UK are spending hundreds of pounds just to attend a single wedding, with new research revealing the growing financial strain placed on friends and family.
Research* commissioned by The Insurance Emporium, conducted by Censuswide, has revealed among people who have attended a wedding in the last five years shows that guests spend £348 on average to attend a wedding - with costs rising even higher in major cities.
The wedding insurance specialist’s findings reveal that 72% of guests now say attending weddings has become a financial burden, while 38.2% admit they have felt pressured to overspend in order to attend.
Regional differences are stark. Guests attending weddings in Greater London spend more than £420 on average, while Northern Ireland tops the list for perceived financial strain, with around eight in ten guests saying weddings are a financial burden.
The research also suggests a shift in behaviour, with guests saying they would prefer to spend less in future, indicating changing attitudes around wedding attendance as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.
Francis Martin, Chief Executive Officer at The Insurance Emporium, commented: “Weddings are meant to be joyful occasions, but for many guests they’re starting to feel like a significant financial commitment. With costs rising across travel, accommodation and everyday living, it’s understandable that people are becoming more conscious of how much they can realistically afford to spend on attending a wedding.
"For couples planning a wedding, being mindful of the financial pressure on guests, as well as planning for the unexpected, is becoming more important than ever.”
The findings come as wedding celebrations continue to evolve, with destination-style UK weddings, dress codes and multi-day events becoming more common, all of which can add to the overall cost for guests.
The complete survey findings can be seen here. For further information on wedding insurance, visit: theinsuranceemporium.co.uk/products/wedding/uk-wedding
