( NewsNation ) — As wedding costs continue to rise, nearly half of Americans are hoping to dodge invitations to join bridal parties this year, according to a new study.
The financial services company Empower surveyed 1,160 American adults over the summer and found that 48% hope they aren’t asked to be part of a bridal or groomsman party in 2024 due to the associated expenses .
The Knot , a wedding planning website, estimates the average cost of being a bridesmaid is about $1,900 when factoring in attire and additional events. Similarly, the discount platform Coupon Birds reported that members of a wedding party typically spend about $2,137 each. Meanwhile, the Empower study noted that the price can soar to $3,430.
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According to Empower, the average wedding cost reached $35,000 in 2023, but couples were planning to spend slightly less this year, with an average budget of $31,281. Millennials are bucking this trend, saying they’d spend an average of $51,130 on their nuptials…