"Birthdayzillas" Trend: Epic Birthdays at Huge Cost to Guests
The Guardian reports on the rise of "birthdayzillas" — people turning their birthdays into epic multi-day events that place significant financial and time burdens on guests. Oyinda sent save-the-dates almost a year in advance for a four-day 30th birthday celebration in Mykonos, treating it "like a wedding" with personalised gift bags, a printed itinerary, a private chef, and beach club visits .
The trend is attributed to delayed traditional milestones. ONS data shows marriage rates falling, the median age of first marriage at historic highs (34.8 for men, 33 for women), and the average age of first-time homeownership climbing to 34. One guest, Polly, described feeling "backed into a corner" by her friend's many invitations, saying she "really struggled to tell her that I couldn't afford that much" and now feels "like the poor friend holding back the group" .
