- A survey reveals the new celebrations that have soared in popularity since the early 2000s, including gender reveal parties, pet birthdays, ‘Galentine’s Day’ and divorce parties
- Brits are spending an average of £400 a year on organising special occasions
- VistaPrint is working with celebrity Charlotte Crosby to help Brits maximise their celebration potential without breaking the bank
Brits love to mark a special moment as research from VistaPrint reveals the way we celebrate has changed dramatically in recent years, with events such as pet birthday parties (15%) proving even more popular than christenings (14%)1 .
The VistaPrint survey of 2,000 people finds individuals are increasingly driven by a desire to create unique, memorable experiences with 53% saying that ‘Galentine’s Day’ – the relatively recent phenomenon of celebrating female friendship – and divorce parties (47%) are more popular than 20 years ago2 .
To showcase these celebrations, VistaPrint is working with popular TV and social media personality, Charlotte Crosby, to highlight the nation’s passion for celebrating and to provide ways to maximise these occasions without breaking the bank.
The celebration tax
The research finds that Brits are spending an average of £400 a year to organise celebrations (excluding Christmas). Gen Z are spending the most, splashing an average of £482 a year and those aged between 60 and 78 are spending the least (£259). Weddings, birthdays and anniversaries are ranked as the most expensive events.
The majority (55%) feel that spending on celebrations has gone too far, with two thirds (66%) of those aged between 60 and 78 feeling this way. This might be because attending parties and events is costing the nation a pretty penny, with respondents saying they are splashing out an average of £897 to attend weddings each year – 2.5% of the average annual UK salary3.
Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to put money aside for these events, showcasing a shift toward planning and prioritising social gatherings. Those aged between 60 and 78 are the least likely to factor this into their spending (64%) potentially leaving an unexpected hole in their finances.
Charlotte Crosby, UK celebrity and broadcaster comments: “As a nation, we know how to throw a good party, and VistaPrint’s research proves this.
“Instagram moments are important, and sharing these precious moments online has become the norm. Given all the challenges everyone faces in daily life, it’s important to make time to celebrate properly, creating memories with the ones we love. VistaPrint is a huge help in personalising these moments, at an affordable price.”
Research shows visually pleasing parties more important than time with friends and family for some generations
Brits are celebrating every moment, from divorce parties to gender reveals with identifiable trends emerging in different generations.
Gen Z also cares the most about how everything looks on the day with over one-fifth (21%) admitting that making their celebration aesthetically pleasing was important to them when celebrating. This number could be driven by the fact that nearly 1 in 10 (9%) of Gen Z also prioritise how the party looks on social media.
72% of Boomers said that spending time with family and friends at celebrations is their main concern, while Gen Z cares the least, with only 50% admitting this is an important part of a celebration for them.
Making these moments extra special
Brits are investing in personalised, creative gifts and materials for their celebrations, reflecting a trend toward making each event feel special and unique.
Personalised banners (38%), invites (29%) and thank you cards (25%) are the most purchased celebration add-ons and are becoming celebration staples. Over 1 in 10 (11%) Brits have even purchased an item with someone’s face on it for a celebration.
Katie Eldred, UK Senior Country Marketing Manager at VistaPrint commented on the findings: “We’ve noticed a huge shift towards event personalisation in the UK. While people have always loved to celebrate key dates in their lives such as anniversaries and birthdays, we’re now seeing people choosing to celebrate other important moments like pet birthdays and even divorces. At VistaPrint, we believe any moment is worth celebrating and we have created the perfect suite of products to make them memorable.”
For ways to make your celebrations extra memorable, browse VistaPrints celebrations products HERE.
The landing page with the most relevant survey data is available at THIS LINK.