Why Californians Are Avoiding Going to Weddings in 2024

Going to a wedding is an event that many anticipate and often enjoy. Most enjoy a night of seeing their friends or family say, 'I do,' followed by food, drinks, dancing, and a night of memories. Being invited to a wedding is fun, but being in a wedding is often more fun. It is an honor to be a part of someone's special day, and the fun that comes with it leads to stories that are told for years. With weddings being so fun, why is it that so many in California are looking to avoid attending them and miss out on people's special days?

Why Are Californians Skipping Weddings?

A wedding is meant to be a special day. A once is a lifetime moment for you, a family member, a close friend, or perhaps a coworker. It is a fun day, but also a stressful day. A recent survey by datingnews.com revealed that many Californians are deciding to skip out on attending weddings, and the common reason many give is due to money. Of those surveyed, 54% stated that they believe weddings are getting too expensive, with 1 in 3 admitting to skipping a wedding so far in 2024 due to finances, and 1 in 10 saying they went into debt to attend someone's special day. According to the survey, the average cost of being in a wedding in 2024 is $1,131, which is likely why 29 percent surveyed admitted to turning down the opportunity to be in a wedding when offered. 

California Weddings Are Too Expensive

Not only is being in a wedding expensive but so is attending one. On average, the cost to attend a local wedding is $360, but if traveling to a wedding, the cost is around $901. Besides cost, some feel that they are only invited for the sole purpose of a gift. Of those surveyed, 30 percent said they assumed they were invited only to give a gift, with 31 percent saying that there are not enough affordable options on the registry, and 42 percent saying if they RSVPed to a wedding, they didn't bring a gift. In an interesting statistic, 59 percent said they think it is ok to attend a wedding without a gift, with each generation having a different opinion. The younger the generation, the less likely a gift is brought to a wedding, compared to the older generations, who are more likely to bring one. 

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Everything is getting expensive these days, and residents of California are having to make tough choices on what to spend their hard-earned money on, and what to say no to. Weddings are no exception and have gotten so expensive, that people are missing out on being at weddings and even attending that special day for their loved ones and friends. To see the full survey, make sure to click on the link in the second paragraph above.