While getting that fancy invite through the post to another wedding can be exciting at first, it can quickly start to fill you with dread.  Back in the day, being a guest at a wedding or civil partnership service would involve going to the local church or registry office, followed by a simple sandwich spread. 

Not anymore. New research reveals that the average person spends an eyewatering £700 on being a guest at each wedding.  That figure becomes even more painful when you consider that the average person went to three weddings in the last year – ouch! 

Younger wedding guests feel the pinch the most

Wedding guest costs particularly hit younger people as they are more likely to:

• have more friends getting married
• need to travel across the country or abroad for the event
• be in the wedding party
• go to hen and stag dos.  

But older guests 66+ are the most generous gifters!

As fun as getting dressed up, going to a new city and buying a nice outfit is, it can also feel like a big obligation – one you might not be able to afford, or even budget for.  

Sticking big ticket items on your credit card or using Buy Now Pay Later to meet these extra expenses can be very tempting, but beware of falling into a situation where you can’t afford the repayments. If you’re not sure – have a look at MoneyHelper's guide on Making sure you can afford to borrow.  

With a bit of organisation, time and commitment, you can budget and save what you need to avoid you getting into financial trouble. MoneyHelper's Budget planner and Savings calculator can help get you there.

It’s okay to be honest about how much you can afford

If you’re not in a situation to be able to come up with that kind of money – or simply don’t feel comfortable with the added expense, your best bet is to have some honest conversations about what you can and can’t do. 

For help, see MoneyHelper’s guide How to have a conversation about money. We explain how to have a difficult conversation, how to prepare and how to deal with negative reactions.