While weddings are expensive for the couple, it can also cost a lot of money to be a wedding guest. Although there's been a general downward trend in the number of marriages since the early 2000s, there were still over two million marriages per year in the U.S. in 2022.1 And destination weddings are even more popular for those who decide to tie the knot. In fact, the destination wedding market is expected to grow 32% by the end of 2024.2
Fortunately, you can prepare for the expense of being a wedding guest without breaking the bank, even if you're invited to a destination wedding. Here are several ways to save, so you can celebrate with the happy couple while staying on budget.
How Much Does It Cost To Attend a Wedding?
Attending a wedding can be costly. According to one survey, in 2023, wedding guests spent an average of $580 per wedding. Those who attended a wedding in their hometown spent less, while those who flew to a destination wedding reported spending an average of $1,600 per wedding.3
Average cost to attend a wedding in the U.S.
| Wedding Guest Purchases |
Average Cost |
| Flight |
$277 round trip4 |
| Hotel |
$171 per night5 |
| Hair |
$956 |
| Makeup |
$906 |
| Car rental |
$46 per day7 |
| Bachelor or bachelorette party |
$1,000+8 |
| Gift |
$1503 |
| Childcare |
$30-$1303 |
Travel can be one of the biggest costs of attending a wedding, depending on whether you're driving to a venue in town or flying to another locale. The average price of a domestic flight is $277 round trip,4 while a night at a hotel costs an average of $171.5 If the couple opts for a destination wedding, flights and hotel prices could increase even more.
How To Save Money as a Wedding Guest
While the happy couple plans their wedding, there are things you can do ahead of time to keep costs down as an attendee. Whether you're attending your first wedding or you're a seasoned pro on the wedding dance floor, here are some tips for saving money as a wedding guest.
1. Set up alerts and start looking for deals early
As soon as you receive a wedding invite and lock the dates in your calendar, start looking for flights and hotels. You can set up alerts on Google Flights to notify you when prices go down. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to get a deal on the price. If you have credit card rewards or points, consider using them to offset your travel costs.
In addition, start thinking about your wedding gift or clothes early to lock in good deals. Look for sales so you can get your wedding gift or attire at a discount. You can also set up alerts on Google Shopping to notify you when items go on sale.
2. Set a spending limit
When you're setting up your budget for attending a wedding, figure out your spending limit. That can include making a budget for how much you'll spend on gifts, outfits and related wedding outings, like dining out before or after the wedding.
Be honest with yourself about how much you can afford to spend so you don't end up overspending and taking on debt. If you're invited to be part of the bridal party or asked to go to a destination wedding, be honest with the wedding couple. If you can't afford to partake in everything, be up front at the beginning so each of you can budget accordingly.
3. Split costs with other guests
You can save a bundle by sharing costs with other guests. For instance, consider ride-sharing to the venue. Using a ride-sharing service can be cheaper when there are four people compared to just one person taking a taxi or renting a car.
If you're attending as a solo guest, you can try to find out if there are other guests traveling alone. Reach out to them to see if they'd be willing to carpool or split accommodation costs.
And if the wedding is out of town, consider taking a road trip with other guests to save on gas and flight costs.
4. Do your own hair and makeup
If you're part of the bridal party, you might be expected to hire professionals to do your hair and makeup. And it can add up—the average cost for hair and makeup is $185.6
Skipping the salon can cut costs. You can find a lot of makeup tutorials on YouTube and get creative with the makeup and tools you already have. If you have a friend or family member who's talented in beauty, ask them to help you look fab for the big day.
5. Don't buy new clothes
While getting a new outfit might be exciting, shopping for yourself every time you attend a wedding can quickly eat into your budget. People are less likely to remember what you wore if you're not the bride.
If you don't have a cocktail dress, suit or attire that fits with the wedding dress code, consider buying a used one or renting one. You may find a great selection of clothing at your local thrift store and on secondhand shopping apps like Wallapop and Vinted for a fraction of the price of buying new. There are also rental sites like Rent the Runway, where you can rent a dress for a fraction of its retail price.
With Americans throwing millions of tons of textiles into landfills each year, giving clothes a second life is also environmentally friendly.9 It keeps unnecessary waste out of the garbage and saves the resources and energy needed to create a new piece of clothing.
6. Set up a sinking fund
If you know you'll be attending a wedding or two this year or the next, consider setting up a sinking fund. A sinking fund is a type of savings account in which you set aside a bit of money each month for a specific purpose. You can even set up a high yield savings account to earn extra interest. That way, you can save money slowly and have a great time at your friend's or family's weddings without worrying about a sudden dent in your bank account.
Use Synchrony Bank's savings goal calculator to determine how much you'll need to save each month to reach your savings goal in time.
7. Organize a group gift
Do you know the other guests? You can potentially save money by combining your gift money with others and buying a bigger gift together. With guests spending an average of $150 on gifts,3 pooling your money together gives you more purchasing power. That way, the happy couple gets the wedding gift they want, and you don't have to worry about overspending.
8. Look for hotel alternatives
With hotels averaging $171 a night,5 you may save money by looking at options besides hotels, such as Airbnb or Vrbo. And if you're driving with a group, consider looking at hotels or rentals farther away that might be cheaper. Just make sure to calculate how much you will spend on renting a car, getting gas or taking taxis to ensure you're actually saving money.
You can also see if the wedding party has set up a hotel room block, which may offer a group rate that's lower than the listed prices. Usually, the hotel is close to the wedding venue, meaning you may be able to save on taxi costs.
9. Offer services instead of gifts
Are you a professional photographer, do you have a knack for floral arrangements or are you a talented painter? Offer your services instead of a gift, either on the wedding day or after.
For example, you can offer to take photos for the wedding, paint the couple's favorite place or help with gardening or yard work at their home.
10. Don't be afraid to say no
If attending a wedding is out of your budget this year, that's OK—you don't have to say yes to every wedding invite or party. So, before you send in your RSVP, take a look at your budget and see if it makes financial sense to attend. Consider whom the wedding is for. If it's for a close friend or family member, you might want to find a way to make it work.
It can be hard to say no to wedding invites. If you decide it doesn't make financial sense to attend a wedding, decline politely in person or over the phone. Thank them for inviting you and tell them you can't attend. You don't have to tell them you can't afford to attend. Then, make sure to send a gift and celebrate their love from afar.
The Bottom Line
While marriage is a great cause for celebration, going into debt to attend a wedding generally isn't wise. Before sending your RSVP, check your budget to make sure you can afford it. Consider splitting costs with other guests, creating a sinking fund in a high yield savings account, setting up price alerts and offering a service instead of buying a gift. And if it turns out you can't afford to attend a wedding, you can politely decline the invitation and send a gift instead.
Moriah Costa is a personal finance and investing writer. Her work has appeared in Thomson Reuters, S&P Global, The Washington Business Journal and others.
Planning your own wedding soon? Find out ways to save for a wedding to remember.
Sources/references
1. Provisional number of marriages and marriage rate: United States, 2000-2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. March 13, 2024.
2. Destination Wedding Global Market Report 2024. The Business Research Company. February 2024.
3. Johnson, C. Here's the Average Wedding Guest Cost & How to Budget for It. The Knot. January 10, 2024.
4. Airline fares in U.S. city average, all urban consumers, not seasonally adjusted. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed June 7, 2024.
5. USA Average Hotel Costs: Nightly Room Prices by Accommodation Type. Budget Your Trip. Accessed June 7, 2024.
6. Whalley, L. How Much Does Wedding Hair and Makeup Cost? Here's the Answer. The Knot. February 22, 2024.
7. Berg, H. 2024 Summer Travel Outlook. Hopper. May 2, 2024.
10. Forrest, K. Here's How Much Your Next Bach Party Could Cost You. The Knot. July 12, 2023.
11. Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling. United States Environmental Protection Agency. November 22, 2023.
Need to make a payment?
Use the Log In button to find your account login
portal.