Anyone lucky enough to be organising - or even attending - a wedding in the coming months will be painfully aware of the extortionate costs behind such an extravagant event.
With that in mind, a bridesmaid has this week been forced to have a pretty excruciating conversation with a soon-to-be bride, after she billed her a staggering £230 just for an invite to her upcoming wedding shower.
The 'nearlywed' has since found herself in hot water with spectators, who have hit out at her outlandish expectation.
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There's no doubt that in just the last 50 years alone, the cost of tying the knot has sky-rocketed from a few hundred pounds to a sometimes six-figure sum.
In 2022 alone, it was declared that the average cost of UK nuptials would set a couple back a staggering £18,400.
But, as we say, it can also cost wedding guests a pretty penny to attend ceremonies nowadays, due to the increasing popularity of overseas nuptials, as well as the standard costs of travel, outfits, transport and gifts - not to mention the hen/stag dos which often take place abroad.
As such, one wife-to-be is being slammed online for requesting that her bridal party also cough up the equivalent of £230 for a wedding shower invite.
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The controversial request has been raised by one of the bridesmaids, who also happens to be the bride's cousin, who took to Reddit to ask for advice on the matter.
"My cousin is getting married and I am expected to attend her bridal shower at the end of July," the unnamed woman explained.
"She sent me a link last week to reserve my spot at the venue. When I went to do it, it required me to pay $300. I asked her about it and she said that everyone is paying their own way."
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The bridesmaid then went on to admit she's been left 'beyond annoyed' by the request, explaining that 'not going isn't an option' due to her role in the big day.
"Also it is at a winery and I don’t drink so I’m paying for something that I will not be consuming," she explained.
"To say I’m beyond annoyed is an understatement. Am i justified in feeling this way?".
The disgruntled guest also went on to add that she'd planned on gifting the happy couple $500, had paid over $1,000 for the bachelorette party, and had to pay for her own bridesmaid dress.
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"I feel like she keeps piling on more things that I have to shell out money for and I’m sick of it," she continued.
Within a matter of minutes, hundreds fled to the comments, reassuring the woman that she wasn't wrong to feel outraged by her cousin's request.
"This is not 'normal'. It's rude to expect people to fork over this kind of money for a shower," one reader hit out.
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"You do not invite guests to an event and charge them $300," a second person commented. "That's not how inviting guests works. When you invite, you pay. When you plan a group outing together, everyone pays."
A third added: "When did we start booking expensive venues for a shower??? I understand there are some costs for a bachelorette, but I've always just been to showers at someone's house and you decorate to make it festive. When did we become so extra?"
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Wedding, Money
Rhianna Benson