Almost half turn down wedding invites due to high costs

The wedding season is well on its way, and while that means plenty of happy days celebrating with friends and families, it can also come at a considerable cost.

New research from lovethesales.com has shown that a huge amount of people are now turning down wedding invites because they simply can't afford the day.

The new data suggests that most wedding guests won't get much change from £417 once they've covered all the costs associated with the big day... and that's before you've even spent anything on drinks!

A staggering 82% of people polled said they would spend between £70 and £100 on a wedding present.

The research also showed that while vouchers and cash are the preferred presents, only 7% of those asked said they would give the happy couple these gifts.

But it's not just the gifts that can cost a lot, there are plenty of other aspects of the big day that can set you back a fair bit too.

The breakdown includes £85 on accommodation, £113 on an outfit, £51 on travelling to and from the wedding, £75 on hen and stag nights as well as £14 on hair and beauty.

In 2015 Brides Magazine reported that the average cost of a British wedding has now hit the £24,000 mark.

The statistics also showed one of the main traditions is starting to take a back seat as more and more couples have started paying for their own weddings instead of relying on the bride's family, as tradition dictates.

Overall, £12 billion will be spent by Brits on attending weddings in 2016.