Matrimonial money pits

Posted by Anita Brook at 14:48 on 12 May 2010

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According to a recent online poll by Direct Line, wedding guests spend an average of £290 attending weddings - made up of a new dress (one you'll probably never wear again), a gift, transport and booze. As the invitations flood in, wedding fever is looking like a serious hole in my bank balance.

However, there are ways to save when it comes to matrimonial celebrations, you just need to be a bit creative.

First things first, the outfit: This is a tricky customer, you want to look nice, you don't want to upset the bride, if you're going to lots of weddings with the same group of friends you can't be seen in the same thing twice, will it rain? Is it hot? Are you inside or outside - phew!

If you need to impress, but after wedding number five the designer dress is going to give your credit card a heart attack, Girl Meet Dress is an online hire shop featuring some seriously top designer gear. Herve Leger, Alexandra McQueen, Jimmy Choo, Roberto Cavalli, to name a few. Your outfit will be delivered with a pre-paid envelope, so when you're done, just stick it in the post.

If you'd rather buy something for keeps, a good option is to choose one classic dress for all weddings that can be accessorised with gorgeous things for each occasion. Accessories Online is a one-stop shop for some seriously fabulous jewellery and handbags. Team your outfit with a new scarf, a funky broach and a different pair of shoes and away you go.

The gift is the next cash eater to contend with, again a mind field of etiquette and confusion. If there's a wedding list, you don't want to choose the cheapest item, but if cash is really tight then creative and cost-effective ideas might be a better option. For budding cooks, offer to make a delicious meal, waiting on the happy couple discretely while they gaze lovingly into each other's eyes. Provide your services as a taxi driver to and from the airport or put together a photo album of their relationship history. All of these options will be original, should pull on your loved-up friends heart strings and save you money to boot.

For fun (if a bit cheesy) gift options, Getting Personal offers a wide range of personalised gifts for all occasions, think doormats, champagne flutes and even tea and chocolate bars - items suited to budgets large and small.

Weddings don't have to be matrimonial money pits, with a bit of ingenuity you can look great and give an original gift, leaving you free to spend far too much money at the bar.

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