Wedding bells herald £1,000 cost for each guest – survey

The average wedding guest is set to spend more than £1,000 this year.

Those attending a wedding in 2023 anticipate spending £1,045 on average per wedding, according to an American Express survey.

This is an 18% jump compared with the average spend people were anticipating last year when guests were expecting to spend £883.

Just over half (52%) of guests said they are attending a wedding in 2023 that had been postponed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gifts for the newlywed couple will be the biggest expense with guests expecting to spend an average of £217.90 on the happy couple.

Cash, couples’ experiences and kitchen appliances are among the popular gifts guests are planning to make this year.

Accommodation is the second biggest anticipated cost for guests, at £203.90 on average.

Wedding guests expect to spend around a third (32%) more on accommodation this year than they did in 2022, the research found.

In addition to increasing guest spend this year, the average number of guests per wedding is expected to rise this year.

The research found the average guest count for weddings in 2023 is 74, increasing from 66 in 2022.

Many couples are taking the opportunity to get married abroad, with Spain and Ireland being among the popular destinations.

Some 2,000 people were surveyed across the UK by Opinium in March.

The top five costs were: Gifts for the couple, including cash gifts, £217.90; accommodation, £203.90; childcare, £202.70; travel, £196.20; outfits and accessories, £160.30.

HAPPY DAY: Weddings are expected to cost guests 18% more than last year – up from £883 on average.