Organising a wedding can be an expensive business for the couple in question, but being a guest at those nuptials also comes with a considerable cost.
It is always a compliment to be invited to be a part of a happy couple’s special day, but attending a wedding this year will set guests back by an average of $1,523 (Dh5,593), according to a new study by American Express Middle East. The study revealed that wedding guests will spend an average of $330 on pre-wedding celebrations, such as bridal showers and luncheons, and close to $223 on gifts.
The survey involved 1,655 individuals across Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon and the UAE, and revealed that respondents expect to attend an average of four weddings this year, whether locally or abroad. That adds up to a total annual bill of $5,500.
Nonetheless, while 48 per cent of respondents admitted to considering the expense before accepting a wedding invite, 38 per cent say they would not turn it down solely because of cost.
The stakes are higher for destination weddings, where 60 per cent of guests would be unlikely to accept an invitation due to costs, unless it's a close family member. On average, travelling expenses for a destination wedding amount to $408, while hotel stays and accommodation cost an average $252. On the upside, if the happy couple chooses a destination that doubles as a mini-vacation for the guests, 57 per cent are likely to show up.
When it comes to gifts for the big day, 21 per cent of respondents say they would opt for items for the home, such as appliances, glasses and cutlery; only nine per cent would go for gifts from the official registry and six per cent would give their hosts a gift voucher. A sensible five per cent said they would like to contribute to the couple’s honeymoon fund.
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Read more:
Emaar invites Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas to say wedding vows again at top of Burj Khalifa
New pictures of the Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal wedding
All of the pictures from Priyanka Chopra's New Delhi reception
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Brief scores:
Toss: Northern Warriors, elected to field first
Bengal Tigers 130-1 (10 ov)
Roy 60 not out, Rutherford 47 not out
Northern Warriors 94-7 (10 ov)
Simmons 44; Yamin 4-4
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
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Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Manchester United v Young Boys, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
