The cost of attending a bachelorette party has surged to an average of $1,300 (£1,040) per person, up $600 since 2019, according to data from wedding website The Knot. Once a simple night out, these celebrations have evolved into multi-day luxury trips involving flights, accommodation, and themed activities, putting financial strain on attendees.
Social media is driving the trend, with platforms like TikTok and Instagram inspiring highly curated, Instagrammable experiences. Esther Lee, editorial director of The Knot Worldwide, said Gen Z is particularly influenced by online trends, leading to “highly stylized, themed itineraries.” Brides often opt for multiple themes across several nights, requiring guests to purchase additional outfits.
Ashley Herman, a 28-year-old real estate broker, told The Independent that declining such trips can strain friendships. “People say, ‘You can say no’ if you don’t want to go… but that weighs on a friendship as well,” she said. Herman has attended several out-of-state bachelorette trips costing $1,000 or more.
Comedian Mike Mancusi, 35, said wedding culture has “gotten completely out of hand” after a five-day Las Vegas bachelor party. He told The Independent he turned down a recent trip to Las Vegas that included Wrestlemania and the Sphere, saying, “I do not want to do any of those things.”
New York content creator Isabel Beck, 27, reconsidered her own bachelorette plans after seeing negative reactions online. The trend reflects a broader shift in how younger generations prioritise milestone events as investments in relationships, but the rising costs are causing some to push back.
