Americans spend an average of about $673 to attend a wedding — double the amount of just a few years ago — and going to the bachelorette party often costs a lot more, not to mention the humiliation inherent in a lot of the bachelorette rituals, explains MarketWatch Moneyologist Quentin Fottrell to The Wall Street Journal's Tanya Rivero in the video below.
In his latest column, Fottrell said that about 45 percent of invitees beg out of bachelor or bachelorette parties due to the cost (and 14 percent said they were then kicked out of the bridal or groomsmen party). Rivero said she understands why brides might be upset when friends opt out. But Fottrell stood his ground. "I really feel like if you can't afford it, you can't afford it," he said, but there are some ground rules.
First, Fottrell said, you have to "be honest, to say I love you, I'm looking forward to your wedding, but I can't afford the bachelorette party." But you also need to deliver that message in person, preferably with a hug, not over email or the phone. It would be best to tell her while taking her out to dinner, he suggested, and just saying you can't afford it is plenty. "I feel the more explanation you give, the worse it becomes." Watch and learn below. Peter Weber
The Week
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