No one stops you from turning a dream wedding into reality. There are people who desire walking down the aisle and exchanging vows with the one they want to be with for eternity. But it is also a strange reality that having a grand wedding celebration can cost you huge sums of money.
From purchasing a stylish engagement ring to decorating the reception venue, almost everything you do entails some expense. One study shows that couples spend at least $32,641, which is believed to be an all-time high in comparison to the average amount in the previous years.
But it is not just the bride and the groom who are spending much for the wedding. While the expense of the newlyweds is incomparable, every wedding guest and those who are carefully chosen to become part of the entourage has a fair share in spending for the wedding.
GOBankingRates has previously researched on the spending history of wedding guests, and it observes that groomsmen are spending more money than their female counterparts, the bridesmaids, are. Here’s a brief breakdown on how groomsmen and bridesmaids spend their penny in a wedding.
Average Costs
On average, a bridesmaid or groomsman may spend at least $1,000 during their stint, according to the survey conducted by GOBankingRates. The same study shows that groomsmen spend more in all categories of expenses, particularly on clothing, parties, and wedding gifts.
In a research by Gotstyle, the groomsman in Canada spends more or less $1,300 in an average. It is, however, a different story if you attend a high-end wedding, as it may cost a groomsman more than $3,700.
More Expensive Men’s Clothing
While GOBankingRates finds that bridesmaids may spend an average of $214.58 on a dress, groomsmen spend more on tuxedos, which have an average cost of $245.50. In a particular age-group between 18 and 24, men spend $314.26 on average for a tuxedo.
Bachelor Parties Cost More
Bachelor parties generally require huge sums of money than bachelorette parties do. Groomsmen are expected to assume the role of becoming big spenders for the groom, paying for all the expenses of the party.
On average, an invited bachelor spends $682.13 in a party, which is spent on travel, food, entertainment, and drinks. The best man, who is, traditionally, the party planner, is expected to spend nearly $1,000 for a bachelor party. On the other hand, bridesmaids only spend an average of $386.89 on the bachelorette party, while a maid of honor spends an average of $552.33.
Men Prefer Cash
As to wedding gifts, GOBankingRates found out that men spend higher than women because the former prefer giving cash gifts. At least 31 percent of groomsmen who were part of the survey spent $200 or more for wedding gifts. Women opt to buy inexpensive small gifts for the couple. Some women even give do-it-yourself wedding gifts.
The Overspending Bridesmaid
While it has been established that groomsmen spend more than bridesmaids do, it has also been discovered that women are likely to spend more than they estimated. The GOBankingRates research found at least 32 percent of bridesmaids admitting to that kind of predicament. Bridesmaids may be required to spend on other miscellaneous expenses like makeup, shoes, and accessories.
Lessons to Learn
While perfect wedding celebrations are expected to require significant cash, there are better ways to handle the costs. For the bride and the groom, they may consider making it easier for the groomsmen and bridesmaids by shouldering some wardrobe costs.
The couple may also ask the entourage to wear simple but decent attires. After all, it is the presence of these important people during the wedding that matters and not the clothes they wear. In addition, the bride and the groom can give practical gifts to the groomsmen and other members of the wedding party, ones that can help reduce their expenses for the wedding.
For the groomsmen and the bridesmaids, they should think out of the box and be creative in dealing with wedding-related expenses. Do-it-yourself wedding gifts have become a trend lately, and these kinds of gifts are better appreciated because of their personal touch. They may also rent or borrow a wedding wardrobe to save costs.
If you’ve been asked to be a groomsman or a bridesmaid, you better consider the expenses first before you commit to that kind of responsibility.
