Discover Card's annual Wedding Shopping Survey, just released, reveals that the average cost of participating in a wedding party is higher for men than women.
Groomsmen spend an average of
$1,009 on wedding expenses--including pre-wedding festivities--while bridesmaids spend an average of $963.
Only 5 percent of brides and grooms said they would want crystal and china--traditional
favorites. Gift cards came in second on both newlywed and guests' gift lists; 47% of all respondents would be "thrilled" to receive a gift card as a wedding gift because they could buy anything they
wanted. An additional 43% would be "pleased" to receive one.
--Karl Greenberg