You’re right, Trent. It became cheaper to fly to Europe and enjoy cheap beer than use public transport and pay UK prices. Then there is the rise of the wedding ‘lifestyle’ magazines which have taken the hen and stag dos up a notch. The last wedding I had any involvement with, the groom had paint balling and clay pigeon shooting, and the bride had both a spa weekend and wine tasting.
Guests for both are expected to pay their way these days, which can add up to several hundred pounds for activity weekends or even weeks. Add to that the fact that many people need travel expenses and accommodation for the wedding itself (which may or may not be in the UK) plus gifts, and it becomes apparent that attending a wedding can leave someone seriously out of pocket.