21 Jun 2024

10 ways wedding guests can save money in 2024

From using a railcard to buying an outfit second-hand

If you’ve been invited to any weddings this summer you may want to check your bank balance, after new research found the average cost of attending as a guest is £451.

Credit reference agency Experian, who completed the research, said one in five guests are having to turn down invitations due to the costs involved.

Here, Which? reveals 10 ways to save money on travel, accommodation, gifts and outfits.

Wedding costs for guests 2024

Experian said £451 total was made up of the following:

Gifts: £108.10
Accommodation: £103
Outfit: £92.30
Travel: £79.50
Beauty treatments, eg haircut, nails, spray tan: £45.50
Other, eg babysitter: £22.90

The research found a quarter of guests admitted to cutting back on luxuries such as meals out to be able to attend the celebrations, and one in 10 don't buy gifts as they can't afford them.

Find out more: 10 ways to make money in June

1. Save on travel costs by planning ahead

Train tickets

Booking advance single tickets, which typically go on sale 12 weeks before the trip, can save you a lot of money.

You could also consider buying a railcard – it costs no more than £30 a year and could pay for itself with the money you save on your journey to the wedding. There are nine types of railcards available, with discounts varying from a third to 50% off.

A Two Together railcard might be ideal if you’re heading to the venue with a plus one, as you can both split the cost of the card and save one-third off fares.

Find out more: how to save money on transport in 2024

£2 bus journeys

You could consider a bus journey if the venue is near your accommodation.

Due to a government scheme, single bus journeys are currently capped at £2.

The cap covers bus routes with 130 participating operators, including Arriva and Stagecoach.

Car share

If you do end up driving, try to car share where possible.

You should also shop around for the cheapest fuel — generally, larger supermarket chains offer the lowest forecourt prices.

It's worth checking which petrol stations are the cheapest locally before you fill up. Websites such as PetrolPrices.com can help, and some sat nav apps such as Waze display live prices for stations nearby and on your route.

Find out more: money saving driving tips

2. Slash accommodation costs

Here’s our top tips for saving money on overnight stays:

Book early: Many hotels will let you reserve a room at a cheaper price and might offer the option to cancel it for free further down the line if plans change.
Use comparison websites: Try sites such as Travelzoo or Booking.com, but always contact the hotel directly to see if they have any good deals.
Buddy up: Link up with friends or family members as self-catering accommodation for four or more often works out cheaper per adult than smaller alternatives.
Use loyalty points: Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury’s Nectar have linked up with a number of accommodation providers so it’s possible to use your points in exchange for a hotel.

Find out more: best hotel booking sites

3. Shop second-hand for attire

There are plenty of ways you can shop around for occasion-wear without spending loads.

You could use second-hand platforms such as Depop, eBay and Vinted or more traditional routes such as charity shops and car boot sales.

Or you could look to upcycle an existing dress or suit if you have good sewing or customisation skills.

Find out more: best places to shop second-hand online

Get Which? Money magazine

Find the best deals, avoid scams and grow your money with our expert advice.

4. Rent your outfit

Apps such as By Rotation, My Wardrobe HQ and Hurr will let you rent clothes for a wedding for a fraction of the cost of buying a new outfit.

This is a great tip if you are unlikely to wear the outfit again. You could even rent out your own clothes to make some extra cash.

5. Get creative with presents

Are you a budding photographer, artist, hairdresser or cook? Perhaps instead of buying a gift you can offer your services to the happy couple.

For example, you could offer to do some DIY for them or drop them at the airport for free for their honeymoon.

Of course, if you really can’t afford any gift, then don’t buy one - most people will consider your presence at their wedding to be enough.

6. Give a group gift

If you can link up with other wedding guests, you can get a bigger, more expensive gift. This can be particularly handy if the couple has asked for something pricey.

Apps such as Splitwise are great for tracking who owes what.

Alternatively, you could donate any amount you choose towards the couple's honeymoon.

7. Get cashback on purchases

When you spend money on things such as wedding gifts, outfits and even hotels, there are ways to get rewarded for what you spend.

For instance, cashback sites pay you a cash reward when you click through from them to make a purchase.

Websites such as Quidco and TopCashback offer cashback on a variety of goods and services, and experience days.

You could also use a cashback credit card - some offer up to 5% on purchases.

Find out more: cashback sites explained

8. Volunteer to babysit

As so many people are likely to be struggling with the costs of weddings, setting up some reciprocal favours when other people attend weddings can be helpful when it's your turn.

For instance, if you're a parent and you know other parents who will be attending weddings this year, why not offer to babysit for them? It means that when you have a wedding they can return the favour, and you'll save money on childcare while you're at the wedding.

9. Spread the cost of expenses

For purchases you can't avoid to pay for outright, an interest-free credit card allows you to spread the cost.

Some credit card providers offer up to 21 months interest-free, which means you pay off a chunk of borrowing each month without paying extra interest.

However, you still need to make the minimum payment every month, and it's important not to spend more than you can afford.

Find out more: best interest-free purchase cards 2024

10. Say no

If you’re tempted to say no to the wedding invite due to the costs involved, you’re not alone.

One in five guests has declined a wedding invitation due to the costs involved, according to Experian.

James Jones, head of consumer affairs at Experian added: ‘Weddings and the accompanying festivities are wonderful moments that should be celebrated with family and friends, but not at a serious financial cost to the couple or their guests.

‘The fact some people are accumulating debt due to wedding celebrations is particularly concerning and highlights the pressure guests feel around these events.’