They are saying “I don’t” – to be a bridesmaid.
Amidst the high costs of weddings for lovebirds, the financial burden and time commitment placed on bridal parties are forcing Gen Z and millennial bridesmaids to reject the once-coveted role.
According to Zola, reports Business Insider, the cost of weddings has increased by approximately 13% this year alone, averaging around $33,000 for the big day.
Allison Cullman, vice president of brand marketing and strategy for the wedding planning platform, told the media that weddings have become a multi-day event, with an increase in destination weddings and a 23% increase in welcome parties over the year. passed.
The extravagant ceremonies and three-day ordeals are partly the result of social media.
“Back when you had magazines and wedding binders — now you have a lot of social platforms that are always at your fingertips,” Cullman told BI.
The lovebirds, she said, are now trying to live up to an “unrealistic” idea of what their big day should be, which is “outside” of their budget – and their wedding celebrations.
Along with the time-consuming nature of helping the bride prepare and plan, bridesmaids are starting to refuse to join the bridal party.
Afrakomah Darko, 27, told BI that being a bridesmaid cost her $12,000. The financial strain has prompted her to vow an indefinite drop on all bridal party invitations from now on, she said in a TikTok video.
“We need to normalize saying no to being people’s bridesmaids,” UK-based content creator Stephanie Greenstreet, 27, said in a recent TikTok.
After being her sister’s maid of honor, she realized the job was “hard work,” time-consuming, and one last test of friendship. She couldn’t imagine having the same responsibilities for someone else after that.
“I think we’re finally seeing that shift where people say, ‘No, I don’t know if I’m capable of doing this,'” Greenstreet told BI.
To mitigate any unexpected costs or burdens on their wallets, Greenstreet’s sister explained the financial costs of attending to each bridesmaid when she asked them to be part of the wedding party.
According to Cullman, bridal party members are expected to attend over six or seven wedding-related events — bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, the welcome party, the rehearsal dinner and, of course, the ceremony. Not to mention, wedding parties often meet with the bride-to-be to help plan.
“To the brides out there: If someone says no to being your maid of honor or bridesmaid or whatever, I honestly think you appreciate if that was for the best,” Greenstreet said online.
“I know it’s a really painful thing when you’ve asked someone out and you’ve gone out of your way and you think this person is really special to you, but if you need what you’re going to need from them and they think that I can’t give, you’re saving yourself in the long run.”
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Image Source : nypost.com