Latest news with #TheKnotWorldwide
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Bachelorette parties can now cost thousands to attend. Here's how to keep the madness in check
When one of Aleah Balas's closest friends decided to go big for her bachelorette party, Balas was ready to go all in for the celebrations. The 27-year-old communications consultant and Toronto resident ended up spending more than $1,000 on a four-day trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake. She chipped in for the cost of the Airbnb, a winery tour, a private shuttle and a dinner made by a private chef. She also bought a new outfit for the tour. 'It does add up really quick,' Balas says, adding that she has zero regrets about spending the money for such a good friend. 'I would have done it if I had to travel across the world and spend a lot more.' Attending a wedding usually means buying a gift for the couple and perhaps a new outfit. These days, however, guests of bachelorette parties are emptying their wallets before the main event, with costs including hotel stays, flights and private tours. A 2023 study from The Knot Worldwide , a global tech company that provides products, services and content for celebration planning, found people spend an average of $1,300 (U.S.) on bachelorette parties, including food, lodging and activities. Shannon Lee Simmons, a Toronto-based certified financial planner and author of 'Making Bank: Money Skills for Real Life,' says social media is the main reason that bachelorette costs have risen so much over the past 20 years. Before Facebook and Instagram, couples kept their photos at home in wedding albums, to be shared mainly with family and close friends. 'Social media has really put us on display,' she says. 'We're hyper aware of what other people are doing for their bachelor and bachelorette parties in a way that we just weren't before.' There's also a herd mentality when it comes to pre-wedding celebrations within friend groups. 'You have these bridesmaids or groomsmen who want to make it special and they're competing against the expectations that have been set by the general group,' Simmons says. 'You're willing to make these extravagant plans to show your love. The emotional stakes are really high.' Planning well in advance, setting and sticking to a budget, and knowing where to draw the line are key to avoiding overspending and going into debt when celebrating a friend's big day. A public service announcement to anyone getting married: Let your wedding party know about bachelorette party plans as soon as possible so that your guests have plenty of time to save. 'The more time you have, the less you have to sacrifice on a month-to-month basis,' Simmons says. For her sister's five-day bachelorette getaway to Disneyland in California, Vancouver resident and money coach Parween Mander had six months to plan. She says it's key for party planners to lay out clear expectations from the beginning of where the trip will be and how much it will cost. Are you a Gen Z or Millennial (18 to 44) living in the Toronto area who needs help with a financial challenge or goal? Do you have questions and want some free advice from a financial adviser? Email Lora Grady at lgrady@ and you could be featured in an upcoming story. Include bridal party members in the early planning process — especially those struggling with their finances. 'If you can get in there as early as possible, get the key details, or be able to contribute ideas that might be a little bit more affordable, you can try to support the outcome,' Mander says. Desjardins financial planner Angela Iermieri says it's a good idea to start setting money aside as soon as you get a save-the-date notice. If you put aside $50 a week for six months, you'll have saved about $1,200. 'Always plan in advance for your projects and avoid credit,' Iermieri says. Mander saved up for the bachelorette trip by dividing the estimated cost by the number of months remaining, and decided to contribute around $300 a month to a savings account she uses solely for travel expenses. When discussing costs and finances with bachelorette guests, check in with them individually over the phone before announcing plans in the group chat. 'The group chat is a stress point that can be avoided with one calm conversation on the phone,' Simmons says. 'When it comes to money, surprise is terrible.' If you want to be part of the celebrations but you're worried about costs, Simmons suggests talking to other guests about potential hacks. 'You're probably not the only person panicking,' Simmons says. One of her clients who couldn't afford a pricey hotel decided to stay in a more affordable hotel down the street with two other bachelorette attendees. 'It saved them $1,000 and they had just as much fun.' Mander spent a total of $2,867.55 on her sister's bachelorette getaway. She had to pay $660 to rebook a return flight after the original flight was cancelled due to an airline strike. Luckily, she had some buffer room in her budget. 'I try to put an additional $500 to $1,000 in my savings account just in case,' she says. Iermieri says there will always be unexpected last-minute expenses when it comes to bachelorette celebrations. 'It could be a cab ride or a meal, or a need to replace something,' she says. Those extras are usually the reason for going over budget. Iermieri recommends saving an additional 10 to 20 per cent on top of the set costs for unexpected purchases. Balas is planning to attend a wedding in the south of France in August, and had to turn down an invitation to the bachelorette party in London, England. 'I just couldn't make it work,' she says. Luckily, her friends were understanding. 'It was actually a very easy conversation.' People should feel comfortable saying no without blame or guilt, Simmons says. 'At the end of the day, the shared goal is that everyone wants to be together and celebrate this person. I think that person, at the end of day, wouldn't want it to be a stressful situation.'
Business Wire
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Engine Becomes Exclusive Lodging Partner for The Knot to Simplify Hotel Bookings for Weddings
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Engine, the modern business and group travel platform trusted by over one million travelers, today announced a partnership with The Knot — a leading all-in-one wedding planning tech platform within The Knot Worldwide 's family of brands. Through this partnership, Engine will provide seamless group travel planning to millions of couples and wedding guests across the U.S. Engine combines state-of-the-art technology with white-glove customer service to provide a seamless group booking experience to couples and their guests. Through this integration, more than 1.6 million couples who use The Knot annually to plan their weddings and nearly 100 million traveling guests that need accommodations will be able to utilize Engine to remove the friction that typically comes with securing room blocks for their big day. For couples, planning wedding accommodations traditionally involves hours of calling multiple hotels, negotiating rates, comparing terms, and managing guest bookings. Engine eliminates this hassle by allowing couples to digitally enter their preferences and instantly view multiple hotel options. Unlike traditional methods that can take days or weeks for responses, hotels respond in record time by using Engine's Partner Hub platform, where hotels receive and respond to room block requests directly without the need for back-and-forth calls and emails. Once a couple selects the accommodations for their big day, guests can easily book their stay with savings up to 22%. 'Weddings are meant to be a joyful time, but the burden of travel planning can often overshadow the moment," said Elia Wallen, CEO and founder of Engine. 'With this integration between Engine and The Knot, we'll be alongside couples through the entire process to ensure that it's simple and stress-free. Engine has already helped large groups book 2.5 million nights and we are excited to help millions more make their wedding planning experience more enjoyable.' According to The Knot, there are roughly 2 million weddings per year in the U.S. with each hosting an average of 116 guests. In 2025, the most searched-for U.S. wedding destinations on The Knot Vendor Marketplace are Santa Barbara, San Diego, Chicago, New Orleans, and Long Island. 'Through this integration with Engine, we hope to reduce the stress associated with booking accommodations for wedding guests,' said Swapna Manne, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy at The Knot Worldwide. 'The Knot and Engine share strong synergies as tech-driven platforms centered around customer needs, making this partnership a natural and strategic fit. We feel that Engine's extensive network of hotel partners, combined with its dedication to supporting couples as they source hotel options and guests as they book, will add significant value to our user experience." About Engine Engine is the modern business and group travel platform trusted by over one million travelers. In addition to weddings, Engine also helps coordinate room blocks for corporate offsites, family reunions, sports teams and more to help people get together in person. It saves businesses time and money through an intuitive travel network that connects to nearly every hotel, airline, and car rental company in the U.S. It offers single invoice billing, the flexibility to modify trips at any time without sunk costs, and a unified view of all company travel and spend. Customers rely on Engine to not only make travel easier to manage but also to make it enjoyable for everyone involved. The company is backed by Telescope Partners, Blackstone, Elefund, and Permira. Learn more at About The Knot The Knot is a leading all-in-one wedding planning resource offering a comprehensive suite of digital tools to help couples throughout their planning journey. Powering wedding celebrations through technology, the brand offers The Knot Vendor Marketplace, which connects couples with nearly 200,000 local wedding professionals, and personalized wedding websites, invitations, and registry services. The most trusted authority on wedding planning, The Knot reaches a majority of engaged couples in the U.S. through a leading wedding planning app with the most 5-star reviews on iOS and Android, The Knot Wedding Planner; The Knot national wedding magazine; and The Knot book series. Since its inception, The Knot has inspired approximately 25 million couples to plan a wedding that's authentic to them. Visit The Knot online at and follow on social media: @TheKnot on TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, and
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Popular Wedding Website Hit With 'Fake Brides' Lawsuit
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Popular wedding website The Knot Worldwide, or "The Knot," has been hit with a lawsuit over allegations of defrauding small businesses. Why It Matters The suit, which was brought by events and photography companies "concerning [The Knot Worldwide's] fraudulent and otherwise unfair business practice of inducing various wedding businesses and vendors to pay thousands of dollars for lead-generating services and advertising when The Knot either does not generate any leads or the leads that it does generate are predominantly fake." Mark Rodman of Rodman Wedding Photography, Alana Banner, the founder of A Salon Santa Fe, Elite Casino Events, Emme Photo Booth, and the owners of Morina Photography, allege that they paid for a specific lead-generating service on The Knot, only to receive false enquiries and non-existent leads from "fake brides." A spokesperson at The Knot Worldwide told Newsweek: "The Knot Worldwide team does not, and has never, sent fake leads to vendors, under any circumstances. Nobody benefits from fake leads—not our vendors, couples, or The Knot Worldwide as a business." Stock image of "Just married" sign on a car. Stock image of "Just married" sign on a car. Arno Burgi/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images What To Know The Knot's alleged business practices caught the attention of Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, who called for a federal investigation into the company in March 2025, following accusations of "deceptive business practices." Now, the wedding site is also facing a lawsuit from merchants who used their services in the past. It has denied the accusations put forth in the suit. The events groups suing The Knot and their WeddingPro service claim they were told they would be connected with more wedding parties if they signed up for the more expensive lead-generating advertising package on the site. Although, according to the suit, The Knot "purports to connect '4 million+ couples with nearly 850,000 vendors within its global wedding marketplace,'" signing up for their higher tier advertising package left the plaintiffs without any additional business. This package cost the plaintiffs thousands of dollars, but they allege that they uncovered after signing up for the package "The Knot's lead-generating and advertising services are nothing more than a sham, as they are either left without any meaningful leads or come to realize that many of the leads they do receive are in fact fake." The plaintiffs have sued in California, claiming that the company is violating the state's Unfair Competition Law and that The Knot's conduct "constitutes intentional misrepresentation and unjust enrichment." The plaintiffs shared their stories of working with The Knot in their lawsuit. Rodman said not only did he see a fall in clients, from nine to two, following a purchase of their ad package ,but he never saw the Banner Ad Spotlight that he purchased from the company. According to Rodman, The Knot told him the ad would only appear at certain times. According to Rodman, and covered by reports in The New Yorker, he received calls that were "formulaic in nature," and when he reached out to leads they did not respond. According to sources familiar with the suit, The Knot provides pre-written questions to customers when they are reaching out to vendors. Additionally, users of The Knot may reach out to more vendors than they intend to use, and then "ghost" the people they do not end up choosing. This can result in what may appear to be a bogus message. Banner had a similar experience to Rodman. Although she initially saw a rise in clients after joining the service, she then saw her leads dry up. She tried to cancel her subscription, but found the company to be unresponsive. Elite Casinos and Emme Photo Booth, who throw casino-themed parties in the Pittsburgh area, believe the leads they were generating from The Knot were fake, as, "In the approximately six years Elite Casino utilized The Knot's Storefront service, it only received 19 total clients from the various leads that populated on The Knot's platform. And, in general, only one out of eight leads Elite Casino received on The Knot for its Emme Photo Booth service would actually respond to its messages." Morina Photography, which was ranked one of the U.S.' top 30 wedding photography firms for 2023, is claiming that not only did The Knot fail to hold up its end of the bargain, but also engaged in "unethical billing practices." "Morina agreed to pay The Knot $1,648.90 per month for its services, but was instead charged $1,798.80 per month," according to the suit. The Knot is also accused of raising the price for its services when Morina canceled one of its other items. Meaning, despite canceling some requested services, Morina was still paying the same amount to The Knot for less. These allegations have been backed by a team of The Knot whistleblowers. Jennifer Davidson, who, according to her website, was a "former global fashion director with nearly 21 years at The Knot across both local and national sales teams," told Newsweek: "We believe the harm currently being inflicted on the wedding industry is a direct result of the company evading accountability for years." The whistleblowers are not involved in this lawsuit, but have been lobbying for the federal government to investigate the company. What People Are Saying Abbas Kazerounian, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told Newsweek: "We hope to reimburse our clients and putative class members, that are mostly small business owners, for the alleged misrepresentations outlined in our complaint." A spokesperson for The Knot Worldwide told Newsweek: "While we are disappointed that this group of four vendors did not have a positive experience with us, we strongly dispute the claims made, which do not reflect the integrity of our business. "We will respond to their complaint and intend to show that the legal claims are baseless. Our commitment to the wedding professional community is unwavering. Feedback from our community of more than 900,000 small businesses and wedding professionals will continue to guide our decision-making." Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley: "I have recently been alerted of alleged deceptive business practices by The Knot from several Iowa small businesses that suspect they have been defrauded. "Namely, they separately told my staff that they entered into a contract with The Knot which assured the businesses it would advertise them on its website and then provide the businesses with a monthly supply of high-quality leads. However, according to the businesses, The Knot defrauded them by providing leads that were either largely worthless or completely fake." Lawsuit against The Knot Worldwide: "At all times relevant hereto, The Knot has and continues to bait and switch wedding vendors into spending thousands of dollars for lead-generating and advertising services that are promised to deliver meaningful results when, in reality, such services either generate no leads or leads that are fake." What Happens Next The plaintiffs are suing for relief, and have called for a trial by jury for all claims in their suit which are triable. It is unclear whether, or when, this trial will happen. Kazerounian told Newsweek that he had been contacted by several other businesses. He said: "we may decide to amend the complaint to add others, should we decide it serves the class."
