Going to a wedding this summer? That’ll be £600

It’s not just the bride and groom who shell out a packet on their wedding day, it’s also the guests, according to new research from Halifax Current Accounts. According to the report, Brits spend up to £624.10 on gifts, clothes, accommodation, travel, and reception drinks every time a friend or family member celebrates their big day. The pre-wedding parties are one big drain on cash, with increasingly extravagant activities means that attending a stag or hen party in the UK costs an average of £92.80, but if you choose to jet off for the weekend, it will cost you an average of £258.50. On the big day itself, clothing proves the biggest expense, with guests spending an average £113.30 on clothes. But gifts also prove costly, with the half of the wedding guests surveyed said they will be treating their loved ones to a gift worth £50 – £100. In addition, the average wedding guest spends £108.60 on hotel accommodation and £43.70 on reception drinks. Mike Regnier, Halifax head of banking, said: “The cost of attending other people’s weddings is often underestimated. It is clear that wedding guests are spending in order to be there for their loved ones.” To avoid getting hit with an unexpected bill this summer, start saving now and take advantage of improving interest rates. Just visit http://www.totallymoney.com/banking/ to compare great deals on bonds, ISAs and regular savings accounts. When you’ve decided on the right deal for you, just click Apply to be taken through the application process.