Abbie Chatfield calls out 'sad' new wedding trend: 'I didn't know this was real'

Abbie Chatfield has spoken out against a controversial wedding trend that’s becoming more and more common in Australia. During this week’s episode of her podcast It’s A Lot, the media personality expressed her outrage over how much money wedding guests are expected to spend in 2024.

In addition to accommodation and travel costs to attend the main event, Abbie said it’s “wild” that people are also expected to pay for engagement parties, hens weekends and bridal showers. She was particularly outraged by the current trend that brides won’t pay for their own hens party, which is often a weekend away, and the maid of honour will instead organise everything.

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“Why is the bride not paying for the hens? Genuinely, when I heard this I got lockjaw. I didn't know this was real,” she said. “The entitlement of thinking that you are owed, that everyone else organises and pays for you to have a little party. Why? Because you're getting married? Sad. Patriarchy, sad.

“It's like, why is this the biggest achievement, and why is the maid of honour then also given a full-time job to organise something?”

Abbie also said she believes weddings have the power to “break friendships up” because of how much the bride expects from her bridesmaids.

“Honestly, I think just because you're getting married it doesn't mean your god’s gift that day,” she remarked. “People seem to think because they're getting married, they can treat everyone else like s**t.

“Am I being a c**t? I’m gonna get f**king bullied online for this.”

How much does it actually cost to attend a wedding?

A Finder survey from 2023 found that the average cost of attending a wedding is a whopping $1,993, which includes buying a gift, an outfit, and participating in pre-wedding festivities.

Abbie certainly isn’t the only person annoyed with how much guests have to fork out on a wedding nowadays, with fans taking to the comments to share their thoughts.

“Don’t get me started on an engagement party and having to buy a gift for that event too. What is the point of an engagement party?! Cool, you’re getting married, I’ll catch you at the wedding - I shouldn’t have to dress up twice, buy gifts twice and celebrate your marriage twice,” one follower wrote.

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“What about the tradition of the bridesmaids having to pay for their dress?” another added. “I think that’s a bit rich too. It’s YOUR wedding, YOU want me to be a bridesmaid but I have to buy a crazy expensive dress I’ll only wear once?”

“It’s all too much now. There’s something for everything now. Engagement party, bridal shower and hens day, the wedding, baby showers, gender reveals. So much money. Nothing is simple anymore,” a third said.

Abbie also posted a poll asking her followers whether people should be expected to pay for a destination hens and wedding while the bride pays nothing, with 94% of people responding “no”.

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