"I'm Afraid of Being Invited"... In This Country, Attending a Wedding Costs 640,000 Won

Average Wedding Attendance Cost in the UK: 640,000 Won
"Declined Due to Financial Burden"... Nearly 31% Say No

As inflation continues to soar, the cost of attending weddings has also increased significantly, putting a greater financial burden on guests. In the United Kingdom, there has been a surge in cases where people are declining wedding invitations because they cannot afford expenses such as monetary gifts for the newlyweds and other related costs.

Wedding ceremony stock photo. Getty Images

Average Wedding Guest Spends 640,000 Won per Event... 1 in 8 Spent Over 1 Million Won

According to The Times on June 28 (local time), a survey conducted by Tesco Bank of 2,000 adults revealed that 31% of respondents had declined a wedding invitation due to the financial burden.

The average amount spent by a wedding guest in the UK per event was calculated at 316 pounds (approximately 640,000 won) per person. This figure includes not only monetary gifts but also transportation, accommodation, and clothing purchases. Notably, the additional cost of bachelor and bachelorette parties, which are a unique British pre-wedding tradition, has pushed total expenses to what many consider unmanageable levels. In fact, more than 1 in 8 respondents reported spending over 500 pounds (about 1 million won) at a recent wedding.

This trend is even more pronounced among younger people with weaker financial foundations. The survey found that 48% of Generation Z and 43% of Millennials said they had given up attending a friend’s wedding due to cost concerns.

"Just Three Weddings Cost 2 Million Won"... Guests Cut Food Spending and Skip Buying Outfits

The burden becomes even heavier when multiple weddings are scheduled in a short period. About 20% of respondents said they planned to attend more than two weddings this year, and 15% of Generation Z reported being invited to three or more. Attending three weddings could result in total expenses surpassing 1,000 pounds (about 2 million won).

As a result, some guests are covering these costs by cutting back on leisure spending such as dining out and travel, or by saving on living expenses. In fact, 16% of respondents said they had reduced spending on leisure activities, 14% began saving on food and living expenses, and 11% decided not to buy new clothes.

Wedding photo. Getty Images Bank

However, guests who declined invitations did not always feel at ease. While 14% of respondents said they felt relief at saving money, a significant number also reported feelings of guilt (8%) for not supporting someone special, or social isolation (5%). Additionally, 15% admitted that, despite their discomfort, they forced themselves to bear the costs and attend the wedding for fear of damaging relationships—highlighting the complex emotions involved.

Wedding Costs Exceed 40 Million Won... Financial Pressure Grows for Couples as Well

The burden is also growing for the couples preparing for their weddings. Industry estimates indicate that the average wedding cost in the UK has now surpassed 20,000 pounds (over 40 million won).

Ultimately, as the overall cost structure of weddings rises, both guests and couples are shouldering increasing financial strain. Some have even begun to call for a reassessment of the excessive culture surrounding weddings.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.