Wedding season is here - and so are the expenses that come with it! From outfits to accomodation, there's a lot to think about as a guest, not forgetting a wedding gift for the happy couple.
Last year, research carried out by Experian found the average cost of attending a wedding to be £451 setting guests back a staggering 19% of their monthly salary. While accommodation (£103) and outfits (£92) aren't cheap, the biggest amount of money was actually spent on gifts, with a median spend of £108.
Based on the most recent UK inflation rate of 3.5% (as reported by ONS) we can estimate that in 2025, the average cost of attending a wedding is around £461 with guests splashing out around £111 on gifts.
But do you need to spend that much?
According to Hitched, monetary gifts for weddings are becoming the norm, as couples move away from asking for traditional homeware items. It can be tricky to know how much to give and there's no set rule. Some people give enough to cover the cost of their meal, while others factor in how much they've paid to attend overall and give much less.
Hitched asked couples their thoughts and over half said between £50-£100 was a reasonable amount to give, whilst almost a thousand couples said between £20-£50.
Emily Clarke, a City & Guilds certified etiquette trainer and founder of Busy Bee Well believes that:
"The amount should always be in proportion to your relationship with the couple, but you need to take your own finances into consideration as well."
Makes sense!
She added: "While some believe that the amount you give should be a reflection of your attendance and the overall cost of the wedding, it's not your responsibility to foot the bill of the party and you should only give what you feel comfortable with. Close friends and relatives may give anything from £100, but anything over £75 is considered generous."
What do we think?
First and foremost, attending the wedding will mean far more to the couple than the amount of cash you put inside the wedding card. Don't feel pressured to give more than you can afford or compromise your financial situation. Aside from this, consider how close you are to the couple. You might want to give more to your best friends compared to work colleagues, for example.
Also, just because there isn't a specific gift list, it doesn't mean you can't opt to buy a thoughtful gift instead of giving money! Below, we've got some fabulous wedding gift ideas as well as tips on how to save.
What if there's a wedding registry?
Although less common these days, some couples still opt for more traditional wedding registry. It's basically a wish list of wedding gifts they would like to receive.
Liza Baucher is a gift guru at The Wedding Shop and believes that a gift list reduces waste by eliminating unwanted presents that could end up in landfill, so sticking to the registry is a win-win for the planet and for the couple. We get it. There are only so many glasses one couple can use!
Our top tip: act fast. Don't wait until last minute and find you're left with only the most expensive options on the list.
5 unique wedding gift ideas:
If there isn't a registry and you don't want to give cash, we've got you covered with some unique wedding gift ideas that won't break the bank and will be appreciated by the couple.
1. A couples' experience gift:
Help them get married life off to a great start with a unique couples' experience. Virgin Experience Days offers a wide range of experience gifts for couples costing £50 or less! Our top picks include a Stargazing Experience for Two (£50) and a luxury Afternoon Tea (£40).
Red Letter Days has some brilliant options too, with something for every couple and every budget. If they're foodies, you can treat them to a Dining Experience for Two at Marco Pierre White for £59.99 or if they love music you can get them Entry to the British Music Experience for Two for £38.
2. A monthly subscription box:
A subscription box is a gift that keeps on giving and will make them smile long after the party's over.
Not on The High Street is our go-to for unique subscription gifts such as the Three Month Baking Subscription (£35) by Baker Boxx. There are more than 200 gift subscriptions available and other top picks that would make perfect wedding gifts include a Three Month Food Truck Recipe Kit Subscription (£28), Letterbox Sweets Gift Box Subscription (£42), and The Ultimate Coffee Lovers Gift Subscription (£32.90).
3. A charity donation:
If there's a charity which means a lot to the couple, you could make a donation in their names. This is a thoughtful alternative to giving cash as a gift and you will also be supporting a good cause, so it's a win-win.
4. A personalised gift:
When it comes to gifting, it's the thought that counts, and a personalised keepsake gift is always sure to be appreciated.
We love this Personalised Wedding Platter from ShopKiwiTreasures on Etsy, starting at £18.59. The Personalised Wedding Wooden Paddle Board from Dunelm is practical and thoughtful, currently on offer for £13.60.
Here are some more of our top personalised picks under £30:
1. Personalised Wedding Iced Cookies - £21.95, Baked by Steph
2. Retro Gig Style Personalised Wedding Print - from £20, Not on The High Street
3. Personalised Family and Pets Watercolour Portrait - from £26.14, Etsy
5. A handwritten letter:
If you're looking for something especially personal and from the heart, write a letter to the couple for them to keep. You could always frame it to make it extra special. This is a great option if you really don't have money in the budget to buy a gift or give money, and it's something they can look back on and treasure for years to come.
Affordable wedding gift ideas for your best friend:
If you're part of the bridal party you might be looking for a little something to gift the bride and when it comes to shopping for your bestie, it's easy to overthink it, or panic and end up overspending. Don't worry, we've got you! Here are some gorgeous gifts perfect to give your best friend on her wedding day - all for less than £30.
Bride Off Duty Silk Eye Mask - £25, Gigi and Olive | Personalised To My Bestie On Your Wedding Day Card - £2.99, Etsy | Pink Set of 2 Heart Champagne Flutes Glassware - £16, Next | Something Blue Bridal Wedding Keepsake Gift - £23, Not on the High Street | Gift For Best Friend On Her Wedding Day - from £6.79, Etsy | Personalised Wifey Travel Set - £20, Made Yours | Wifey Statement Tee - £29.99, Six Stories | Personalised Mrs Necklace - £29.99, Hey Big Day | Letters to the Bride from Bridesmaids Personalised Photo Name & Wedding Date Journal - £25.66, Etsy
Tips to save on wedding gifts:
1. Team up with friends/family:
One of the easiest ways to save on wedding gifts is by teaming up with friends/family to buy a joint gift and splitting the cost. This can work whether you're shopping from a registry or not, and you could even give a joint monetary gift.
2. Shop with discount codes:
At VoucherCodes, we work closely with merchants and build strong, long-lasting partnerships. This enables us to negotiate the best savings for our users - including exclusive promo codes that won't be found anywhere else.
Before wedding gift shopping, check out our Top 10 UK voucher codes this month or simply search the merchant you want to shop at to see what discounts are available. We're always adding new codes, so if you can't find a saving that works, star the page and check back in a few days.
3. Become a VoucherCodes VIP:
We also recommend joining our free VIP loyalty programme. As a VoucherCodes VIP, you'll get bigger discounts and more rewards than anyone else, all year round. If you haven't joined already, make sure you sign up before shopping and you could earn a £5 gift card for any two shops with hundreds of VIP retailers, up to five times per month.
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