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Weddings: 2012-2014 trends in gifts, getting there, and bridal attendant costs ...



Weddings can be extravagantly costly or cheap-and-cheerful. But what are Americans spending, on average, on weddings and gifts? American Express Spending & Saving Tracker conducted a survey on trends, as well as the average costs involved, mainly for guests (The Financial, finchannel.com, April 28, 2014).
First up, more than 67 million Americans plan to attend at least one wedding in 2014.
The American couples getting married are still trying to control costs but the do-it-yourself trend is declining – 74% of couples in 2013 said they were keeping tabs on the cost which is comparable with 72% in 2014.


Wedding party attendants will spend more in 2014, expecting to spend an average of $618 (this is 64% more than people spent in 2012). For female bridal attendants, 78% will purchase a new dress, although nearly 74% said that they would only wear it for that occasion. Half (49%) will choose to give the dress to a second-hand store or to a friend after the event, and 23% said that it will stay in their closet.
Wedding guests also expect to spend more in 2014. Guests expect to spend on average $592 (up 10% from 2013, and up 75% from 2012). Most of this budget will be spent on travel and accommodation to attend the event ($308), and on special clothes and accessories ($164), leaving $120 remaining. Guests will spend on average $109 on a wedding gift in 2014 (similar to 2013 with $108, and up 16% on 2012 with $94). If the recipient is a close family member, says the American Express survey, the average cost of the gift will double to $200 on average (up 20% from 2012).


The choice of wedding gift is likely to be what the couple wants. Couples generally make a list, or registry within a store or stores, of what they hope to receive. A third of guests (33%) will purchase a gift listed in the couple’s registry, with another third of guests (33%) giving money. Couples also indicate that they would like money as a wedding gift – 55% of couples wanted cash gifts from guests (which is similar to 2013 with 52%).
Wedding guests have high expectations for 2014 celebrations. Most guests (70% of them) think that delicious food is the most important component to a great wedding. This is an increasing trend over the last three years with 62% in 2012 saying food is critical and 67% in 2013. The survey didn’t indicate what type of “delicious” food would be required to make it a great day, but it’s probably best to ensure that they don’t go home hungry!


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