Why Gen Z is saying no to being a bridesmaid — and it’s not just the cost

They’re saying “I don’t” — to being a bridesmaid.

Amid nan soaring costs of weddings for lovebirds, nan financial burden and clip committedness placed connected bridal parties are forcing Gen Z and millennial bridesmaids to move down nan once-coveted role.

According to Zola, Business Insider reports, nan costs of weddings has accrued by astir 13% this twelvemonth alone, averaging astir $33,000 for nan large day.

Allison Cullman, nan vice president of marque trading and strategy for nan wedding readying platform, told nan outlet that weddings person go a multi-day event, pinch an uptick successful destination nuptials and a 23% emergence successful invited parties complete nan past year.

The royal ceremonies and three-day ordeals are, successful part, a consequence of societal media.

“Back successful nan time you had wedding magazines and binders — now you person aggregate societal platforms that are ever astatine your fingertips,” Cullman told BI.

The lovebirds, she said, are now attempting to meet an “unrealistic” thought of what their large time should be, which is “way outside” of their fund — and their wedding parties.

Coupled pinch nan time-consuming quality of helping nan bride hole and plan, bridesmaids are starting to garbage to subordinate nan bridal party.

Afrakomah Darko, 27, told BI that being a bridesmaid has costs her a whopping $12,000. The financial strain has prompted her to vow an indefinite diminution to each bridal statement invitations from now on, she said successful a TikTok video.

“We request to normalize saying nary to being people’s bridesmaids of maids of honor,” UK-based contented creator Stephanie Greenstreet, 27, said successful a caller TikTok.

After being her sister’s maid of honor, she realized nan occupation is “hard work,” time-consuming and an eventual trial of friendship. She couldn’t ideate having nan aforesaid responsibilities for anyone other aft that.

“I deliberation that we’re yet benignant of seeing that displacement wherever group are saying, ‘No I don’t cognize if I’m capable to do that,'” Greenstreet told BI.

To mitigate immoderate astonishment costs aliases unexpected burdens to their wallets, Greenstreet’s sister explained nan financial costs of participating to each bridesmaid erstwhile asking them to beryllium portion of nan wedding party.

According to Cullman, members of wedding parties are expected to be upwards of six aliases 7 nuptial-related events — bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette trips, nan invited party, rehearsal meal and, of course, nan ceremony. Not to mention, bridal parties will often meet pinch nan bride-to-be to thief plan.

“To nan brides retired there: If personification says nary to being your maid of grant aliases your bridesmaid aliases whatever, I genuinely deliberation measure whether that was for nan best,” Greenstreet said online.

“I cognize it’s a really hurtful point erstwhile you’ve asked personification and you’ve gone retired of your measurement and you deliberation this person’s really typical to you, but if you request what you’re gonna request from them and they deliberation that they can’t springiness it, you’re redeeming yourself successful nan agelong run.”