Why weddings are shrinking
Why it matters: Some couples are skipping big weddings to save money and throw a more intimate gathering.
By the numbers: The average guest count nationwide was 131 in 2024, down from 184 in 2006, according to data shared with Axios by The Wedding Report.
And smaller celebrations, those with 50 guests or fewer, made up 18% of nuptials last year, compared to 10% in 2013, per the research company.
What we're hearing: Courthouse ceremonies and parties in cozy restaurants or backyards let couples spend more time with loved ones.
Downsizing can also limit stress, plus free up cash for that open bar or unforgettable carving station.
Zoom in: Vegas-style chapels and businesses offering curated micro weddings and elopements have opened in Boston, Dallas, Portland, Oregon, Richmond, Virginia and beyond.
Reality check: While certain people "just like low-key events," most go smaller to spend less, Shane McMurray, CEO of The Wedding Report, tells Axios.
The big picture: Cutting the guest list is the best way to save, with prices for meals, venues, invitations and more usually based on headcount, McMurray says.
Pros estimate micro weddings can cost over 50% less than traditional ones.
Between the lines: Many brides and grooms-to-be are bracing for pricier nuptials as tariffs stand to hike the $33,000 cost of an average U.S. wedding, according to The Knot, a planning and registry site.
Those worrying about their jobs or finances may delay celebrations altogether.
The bottom line: No need to invite the roommate you haven't talked to since graduation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
12 hours ago
- Fox News
HGTV stars flaunt bikini bodies on social media while remaining unfazed by network cancellations
Heather El Moussa and Christina Haack seem unbothered in their bikinis after HGTV pulled the plug on their shows. "What happens in Vegas…ends up on Instagram," Heather captioned her photo dump that included a bikini shot with her husband's ex-wife. El Moussa wore a pink bikini with a matching sarong while holding a glass of champagne. Haack wore a black bikini with silver, circle details and large black sunglasses. "Too much fun and perfect song choice," Haack commented on El Moussa's post, shouting her out for using Katy Perry's "Waking Up In Vegas." In one of the photos, Haack was seen wearing a birthday sash that said, "I'm 21 bit--es." The reality TV star turned 42 on July 9. "What happens in Vegas…ends up on Instagram." "The Flipping El Moussas" was canceled after two seasons and the network also axed Haack's "Christina on the Coast." Christina appeared to joke about the cancellation in a separate Instagram post, writing: "Summer so far. Basically just eating and laughing. Canceled looks good on me…. Only kidding only kidding." However, Heather and Christina will continue to appear alongside Tarek El Moussa in their HGTV series, "The Flip Off," which was recently renewed for a second season. Earlier this month, El Moussa told Fox News Digital how she's able to maintain a bikini body after welcoming her son, Tristan, with Tarek in early 2023. "Well, I'm vegan. I've been vegan since I was in my 20s. So, I eat very clean. I think that's a big part of it," she said. The 37-year-old revealed that it had taken time to find her rhythm again after giving birth. "After Tristan, it took me a little bit to get back into my workout routine, having a newborn and figuring out the balance of that," she explained. "I would walk a lot. And then I met my trainer, Paulina, and she started coming to my house. We would do workout routines at home. We added in weights." For the reality star, weight training was a game-changer. "I was never a weights girl," she admitted. "I was always like Pilates or running and cardio … I restricted carbs … I was really strict with what I ate. And after I started lifting weights and after I had Tristan, I really just needed — I wanted — to nourish my body… I just needed calories. I wanted healthy calories … I wanted to feel strong and empowered." In a social media video, El Moussa showed off her transformation and some of her routine. "I have 3 meals and 2 snacks, all with some sort of protein," she shared in the caption. "Smoothies are my [go-to], or I love rice cakes with avocado and hemp hearts! I eat a [balanced] diet with healthy carbs."
New York Post
13 hours ago
- New York Post
Hamptons housing crunch forcing even wealthy buyers to settle for less-glamorous LI spot — where sales are surging
The North Fork doesn't want to be the Hamptons 2.0, but the area's record-setting sales say otherwise. The 30-mile-long Long Island peninsula enjoyed another historically high season for home sales last quarter. The North Fork earned a median sale price of $1.09 million between April and June, according to a new report by Miller Samuel for Douglas Elliman. That's a 13% jump from last spring. Advertisement 5 Houses on the waterfront in the North Fork's Cutchogue. Stefano Giovannini 5 The North Fork is increasingly popular as a getaway destination, with some visitors decided to stay. Stefano Giovannini 5 The peninsula spans 30 miles along the eastern end of Long Island. Bf2002/Wikimedia Commons Advertisement This marks the region's third record-high quarter within the last year. Todd Bourgard, Douglas Elliman's CEO of Long Island, Hamptons and North Fork, told The Post that his agents are reporting lightning-fast listings that earn multiple bids on million-dollar price tags. Deep-pocketed buyers are making all-cash offers and agreeing to forgo contingencies, like home inspections. Perhaps it's time for the Surf Lodge to open up a North Fork location. Strong luxury home sales and dwindling inventory in the Hamptons are sending wealthy buyers to North Fork, The Real Deal reported. Advertisement 5 The North Fork offers a slower-paced lifestyle than the Hamptons, but less housing inventory. Stefano Giovannini The local uptick in prices charts with excess demand in the Hamptons, report author Jonathan Miller told the outlet. Would-be Hamptons buyers with money to spend are trading Southampton for Southold and Montauk for Mattituck. But Bourgard said that lifestyles in the two regions remain distinct. Essentially, people who want the North Fork want to live there precisely because it's the North Fork. 'North Fork is now, and always has been, a beautiful place to live,' Bourgard said. 'People are discovering it more and more every single day. We're certainly seeing the prices going up, because, like everywhere else, it lacks inventory.' Advertisement Listing inventory in the North Fork consequently declined 43% from last spring. 5 Homes in the North Fork are getting more expensive and, according to some locals, more Hamptons-like. Izanbar photos – Massive Hamptons-style homes and similarly posh crowds began to overtake the quiet community in the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, locals told The Post in 2022. Thanks to the continued interest of the well-to-do, the North Fork earned its highest ever share of sales above $1 million last quarter.
Wall Street Journal
14 hours ago
- Wall Street Journal
Got a Bit of a Belly? Style Tips for Men About Pants, Polos and More
Loads of men can relate to having a bit of a belly—and how that affects getting dressed. New York personal stylist Peter Nguyen called this an especially common conundrum for his clients. Though you can find style guides for bigger guys, few pay much attention to the waist. Which suit jackets complement a pear-shaped torso? What's a winning polo for a dad bod? Are there ways to look more svelte without resorting to Spanx? We hit up pros and regular stylish guys for tips.
