Rent or RSVP? Gen Z, millennials make housing sacrifices to attend wedding events

New Zillow Rentals analysis finds attending a wedding and bachelor or bachelorette party costs as much as rent

• One wedding + one bachelor(ette) party = $2,010. Typical U.S. monthly rent = $2,072.
• A Zillow Rentals survey finds 45% of Gen Z and millennials have made a housing sacrifice to afford to attend wedding events. 
• One in 4 Gen Z and millennials have turned down an invite to a wedding event because of the cost.

SEATTLE, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The cost of celebrating your best friend's big day now rivals the price of keeping a roof over your head. A new Zillow® Rentals analysis finds that attending just one wedding and a bachelor or bachelorette weekend can set you back about $2,010 (The Knot, Bankrate). That's comparable to the typical U.S. monthly rent of $2,072. In fact, celebrating a single wedding costs more than a month of rent in nearly 70% of the largest U.S. metros.

For Gen Z and millennial renters, the sticker shock of wedding season is real. A new Zillow Rentals survey shows: 

• 59% of Gen Z and millennials attended at least one wedding in the past year.
• 28% attended two or more.
• Nearly half of millennials (48%) and more than one-third of Gen Z (36%) attended at least one bachelor or bachelorette party. 

Nearly half of Gen Z and millennials (45%) say they've made a housing sacrifice to afford these celebrations. The most common trade-offs include renting or buying a smaller home (15%) and living with roommates (11%). One-quarter (25%) say they've declined to attend at least one wedding event because of the cost.

"This data highlights a generation making tough choices and facing a unique set of financial pressures," said Emily McDonald, Zillow Rentals expert. "Celebrating friends and their big life milestones is important and meaningful, so it's critical that renters approach wedding season with intention. Set a realistic rent budget, prioritize the events that matter most, and get creative to cut costs and keep financial goals on track."

It's an expensive stage of life. The median age of renters who moved in the past year is 33, nearly identical to the U.S. median age of marriage (32). Many young adults are juggling rent, student loans, saving for the future, and wedding celebrations all at once. Still, there are ways to manage the cash crunch:

• Put rent first. Before booking flights or buying gifts, set a realistic rent budget. Zillow's Rent Affordability Calculator can help renters figure out what's comfortable for their income and lifestyle so wedding season doesn't push them over the edge.
• Plan ahead and look for deals. Anticipating a busy wedding season? Before signing a new lease, seek out concessions like free parking or a month of free rent. Zillow's latest rental market report finds a record number of rentals offered a concession in July (36%), so be sure to ask what deals are available.
• Make paying rent work for you. Eligible renters who make their on-time rent payments through Zillow can have those payments reported to credit bureaus. This can help build credit and pave the way for future financial wins.
• Get creative with celebrating. Split costs with friends, attend just part of a bachelor(ette) weekend or offer a thoughtful nonmonetary gift, such as helping with setting up the wedding day. The memories will still mean just as much.

As wedding season expenses continue to rise, Zillow Rentals offers renters the tools they need to balance life's biggest milestones with confidence, ensuring that celebrating with friends doesn't come at the expense of their own housing stability.

About Zillow Group

Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate app and website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated real estate professionals, and easier buying, selling, financing, and renting experiences. 

Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Zillow Rentals®, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+℠, Spruce®, and Follow Up Boss®. 

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2025 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.