"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

With soaring prices, the cost of attending weddings has risen significantly, increasing the burden on guests. In the UK, there has been a surge in cases where people are declining wedding invitations because they cannot afford the associated expenses, including cash gifts.

Wedding ceremony stock photo. Getty Images

Average Guest Spending Per Wedding: 640,000 won... 1 in 8 Spent Over 1,000,000 won

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

The average amount a guest spends per wedding in the UK has been calculated at 316 pounds (about 640,000 won) per person. This figure includes not only the cash gift but also transportation, accommodation, and attire expenses. Spending is especially high when factoring in the UK’s unique pre-wedding tradition of bachelor and bachelorette parties, which has pushed costs to an unaffordable level for many. In fact, more than 1 in 8 respondents said they had spent over 500 pounds (about 1,000,000 won) at a recent wedding.

This trend is particularly pronounced among the younger generation, whose asset base is relatively weak. The survey found that 48% of Gen Z and 43% of Millennials had given up attending a friend’s wedding due to cost concerns.

"Just Three Weddings, and It’s Already 2,000,000 won"... Guests Cut Back on Food and Forgo New Outfits

The burden becomes even greater when multiple weddings are clustered together. About 20% of respondents said they planned to attend more than two weddings this year, with 15% of Gen Z reporting invitations to three or more. If one attends all three, total spending could exceed 1,000 pounds (about 2,000,000 won).

As a result, some guests are covering the costs by cutting back on discretionary spending, such as dining out, travel, or daily living expenses. In fact, 16% of respondents said they had reduced leisure spending, 14% had started saving on food and living expenses, and 11% had given up buying new clothes.

Wedding photo. Getty Images Bank

Declining an invitation does not always leave guests feeling at ease. While 14% of respondents felt relief at saving money after refusing an invitation, a significant number also reported feelings of guilt (8%) for not supporting important relationships, or social isolation (5%). Furthermore, 15% of respondents said they forced themselves to bear the costs and attend the wedding out of concern for damaging relationships, despite feeling emotionally burdened, highlighting the complex emotions involved.

Wedding Costs Surpass 40,000,000 won... The Burden Grows for Both Bride and Groom

The burden is also increasing for those preparing for the wedding itself. Industry estimates put the average wedding cost in the UK at more than 20,000 pounds (about 40,000,000 won).

Ultimately, as the overall cost structure of weddings rises, the financial burden is being passed on to both guests and couples. Some voices are calling for a reassessment of the excessive wedding culture.

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