GUESTS SPEND MORE WATCHING COUPLES WED UNDER THE MISTLETOE

Weddings outside the peak summer months may be more cost effective for the happy couple but guests spend more to attend winter weddings, paying out £1.5 billion* as a nation according to new research from American Express.

In the first half of the year, guests tighten their belts when it comes to wedding expenses, spending an average of just over £320 to attend each celebration in spring or summer. As summer holidays are done and the weather cools down, spending goes up, with winter celebrations being the priciest to attend.

When it comes to the number of invites guests receive, dates in summer months are the most popular, with 61% Brits attending at least one wedding. This compared to less than one in 10 (8%) attending at least one wedding in winter.

Gifts are the most expensive outlay for people attending a winter wedding, spending double the amount they would in summer – perhaps due to the fact that they attend less weddings in winter. After a day and night of celebrations and dancing, a room for the night is the second biggest expenditure. Wedding outfits in winter cost more than in summer, as guests layer up with shawls and accessories for cooler evenings.