--- title: Wedding party economics are getting out of hand - The Hustle description: Macroeconomic factors have turned being a bridesmaid or groomsman into a costly affair. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1931486028-HS-News-Brief_2022-05-26T012243.238Z.webp --- # Wedding party economics are getting out of hand ![Rob Litterst](https://thehustle.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rob-Litterst-pic.png?width=48&height=48&name=Rob-Litterst-pic.png) [Rob Litterst](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/rob-litterst) [Rob Litterst Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/robbylit) Published: May 26, 2022 Updated: October 11, 2023 Being asked to be a bridesmaid or groomsman *should* be an honor. It means you get to play a special part in somebody’s big day. ![Wedding party economics are getting out of hand](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1931486028-HS-News-Brief_2022-05-26T012243.238Z.webp?width=595&height=400&name=1931486028-HS-News-Brief_2022-05-26T012243.238Z.webp) But thanks to a number of factors, more people are looking at the role as an obligation due to the [high costs](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/25/being-in-a-wedding-party-costs-an-average-825.html) it entails, per *CNBC*. #### **On average…** … bridesmaids and groomsmen spend **$825** to be in a wedding party, according to a [recent survey by LendingTree](https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/study/bridal-party-survey/). Some factors contributing to that expense include: - **Rising fuel prices,** which have made traveling to bachelor(ette) parties and weddings more expensive. In April, [flight prices were up](https://thehustle.co/05192022-airfare-prices/) 33% YoY. - **Inflation,** which has led to increased costs for wedding attire, which 32% of bridal party members say was their biggest cost. - **Supply chain issues,** which have led to limited inventory for wedding attire, complicating matters further Of the consumers that were surveyed, 50% incurred debt to participate in a wedding party, and 40% regret spending some of that money. #### **Making matters worse…** … this year there are expected to be [**~2.6m** weddings](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/30/business/weddings-comeback-2022/index.html) in the US, compared to 2.2m weddings in 2019. The jump is partly due to postponed ceremonies caused by the pandemic. That means there’s a good chance some bridesmaids and groomsmen will take on those duties in multiple ceremonies, leading to an even steeper financial burden. #### **But just because you get asked…** … doesn’t mean you have to say yes. Roughly 20% of people who were asked have turned down a wedding party invitation, and of those folks, 69% say the decision didn’t hurt their relationship with the bride or groom. If you do decide to go that route, here are [some tips](https://www.wellandgood.com/how-to-politely-say-no-bridesmaid/) to politely decline an invitation. 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