Four weddings equals a financial funeral

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New Zealanders are having to dig deep into their pockets to attend their mates' weddings, a new survey reveals.

The survey, by hotel booking website Hotels.com, shows tying the knot is not just a pricey affair for the bride and groom but their guests as well.

It found 15 per cent of New Zealanders spend more than a $1000 a year attending weddings, taking into account the cost of outfits, gifts, travel and accommodation.

It noted a growing trend of extravagant hens and bucks parties as well as "destination weddings" - ceremonies held overseas.

Marketing manager of Hotels.com Katherine Birch said the financial burden of attending weddings was often underestimated.

Well over half of those surveyed, 58 per cent, said they had travelled within New Zealand to attend a wedding and almost two in five respondents had travelled overseas.

Weddings appear to be too costly for many, with almost half of survey respondents turning a wedding invite down due to the cost.

The Pacific Islands ranked as the most popular "destination wedding" location, followed by Europe, Asia, America and Canada.

The survey interviewed 500 New Zealanders.

- NZPA