The No. 1 word Gen Z use to describe modern weddings

Weddings remain an important tradition, but Gen Z is increasingly questioning the expectations that come with them.A new survey of 2,000 Gen Z adults (aged 22+) found that nearly seven in 10 (69%) believe weddings today feel more like a production than a personal celebration.Commissioned by Affirm and conducted by Talker Research, the survey reveals a generation that isn’t rejecting weddings themselves — but is pushing back on the growing costs, obligations, and expectations surrounding them.In fact, when asked to describe modern weddings in a single word, “expensive” was the most common response (20%).For those who would like to get married, more than nine in 10 respondents (92%) said they would be willing to break from traditional wedding expectations if it meant reducing cost or stress, including 45% who said they are “very willing” to do so.Notably, 60% said they don’t feel pressure to match the scale or expectations of weddings they’ve seen others have, when thinking about their future wedding.“Wedding culture has ballooned into a performance, and Gen Z is pausing to ask: what parts of this actually matter to us, and what parts just feel like we’re doing them because we’re ‘supposed to?’” said Claire Battista, Gen Z Trends Expert at Affirm.“And what the data makes clear is: we’re not opting out of weddings or celebrations.

But we are being more intentional about what’s actually worth our time, energy and money.”For many respondents, wedding culture comes with significant financial pressure.Three-quarters (75%) said today’s wedding culture creates pressure to spend money they don’t actually want to spend.More than one in four (28%) said wedding expectations have created tension between them and a friend, with the most common source of friction being pressure to spend more money than they felt comfortable with (34%).Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

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